9 Slam Poetry Topics & Ideas

Help with writing slam poetry series

Writers block fucking sucks!

Its like sitting in traffic - there is a destination, but the best way to get there is unbeknownst.

I come across that blockage often - it's frustrating (and that's why I created a whole section dedicated to topics for slam poems).

Sometimes creative arteries clot. For me it's usually not mid-stream while I'm fiercely penning a spoken word poem that trips me up; getting off the start line and out of the gate is the most problematic.

So good news: That initial leap of generating ideas for your poem doesn't have to be so tough!

Coming up with a captivating topic for slam poetry can be thorny because you know you're about to pour your heart and soul into a masterpiece and you don't want to screw that up!

Yet at the same time its actually quite easy to select subject matter for your piece; slam poetry provides a forum to write about anything - you have the opportunity to let your mind get looser than its ever been and expand to distant corners of unexplored territory, uncover deeper roots everyday in-front-of-your-face issues, and be so imaginative that you might even shock yourself.

What I have always been attracted to in slam is that the performer owns the moment.

You're given an audience and you can portray to them any topic you want and they automatically tune in.

If you love poetry, love the spoken word and thrive on being in front of an audience (and being judged), but just can't get out of the gate when it comes to your topic, I am here to help. Here are a few topics and ides to give you inspiration for your next piece.

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9 Topics & Ideas for Your Next Slam Poem

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1. Write a letter. When I was in grade school, the teacher once asked us to write a letter to anyone who is no longer with us. Slam poetry allows me to take that topic even a step further. Try writing a letter to someone who has either passed or is no longer in your life. I did this in my piece titled "The Letter Never Delivered" and the subject matter was my absent father.
2. I'm sorry. Think about words and sentiments that are tough for you to say. For me its things like "I'm sorry" and "I love you". Write a slam poem about those words and why its so hard to get them out - this usually proliferates some deeper issues and can really take you on a journey.
3. Religion. This is a difficult one - approach with caution. But don't worry about who you might offend, the piece is yours and no one can tell you how you should feel. It doesn't matter if the poem is for or against religion, or if its about a ramification of a religion - actually, religion can probably lead to a series of poems. I used religion in "Ashkenaze".
4. Social Issues. This topic can cover a wide range of sub-topics such as racism, hunger, economy, government, abortion, homosexuality, addiction, birth control/abortion, euthanasia, suicide, poverty. OK, so this slam poetry topic is actually dozens of slam poetry topics - which means you have so much opportunity to expand on this! Here's a piece of advice - try to avoid blanket statements with no personal experience or factual backing. Broad statements like "our government is killing our youth" really don't mean anything. But they will catch attention - so if you use it, back it up!! I have some examples of social issues poems on my site - you can read a few here.
5. An incident that shaped you or changed you. Were you ever bullied? Abused? Ever have a conversation where someone spoke just one line that impacted everything you've ever done since? Ever seen a movie that influenced and really impacted the way you live? These are great moments to expand upon in a slam poem. I did this in my poem Strength, and I actually never mentioned the moment - I just spoke to it.
6. Love. The most utilized topic in the history of poetry, yet still to this day a love poem is an art that is marveled upon. What's great about love poems, when done correctly and in spoken word form, is they take the shape and persona of the artist. So its not always gushy - it could be funny, it could be erotic, heck, sometimes its downright raunchy, It also doesn't have to be about someone; you can write about how you love something. There, let that one take you for a ride! Here are a few love poems I've done: Digital Poet's Poems About Love
7. The Biography. Pick a person that has been a part of your life. It can be someone as close as family, as distant as a sports superstar, or as instantaneous as a passing stranger. Use the person that's in your head right now. Start your poem with the reasons you thought of that person. I don't mean "I love my sister, she's not a mister, she's great, she's lovely and I hope she doesn't get caught in a twister". Be more abstract. Talk about the influence, talk about why it bubbles within you. Good opportunity to be a mature poet here!
8. Frustration or Anger. I know its just me, but these tend to be my favorites. It gives an opportunity to just fucking go off on something! It could be about sitting in traffic, losing an argument, not being able to prove your innocence, a divorce in the family, someone or something you loathe - the list can go on forever. Whatever you choose to vent on, be sure to hit the analogies and verbs hard in this one - oh, and alliteration goes a long way as well! You'll probably feel a lot better after you write this poem, and each time you perform it a relive the emotion will actually help make you a stronger person.
9. The Story. Pick an event in your life, and make it a dramatic one if possible. Ever commit a crime? Get in a fight? Witness a fight or crime? Ever have sex with someone you shouldn't be sleeping with? Cut class? Almost die? Car crash? Keep on thinking and see what images come to mind - you can even make one up if its a topic of interest. What usually happens in that case is your own truth gets tied into it. I did this with Tornado, He and a few others.

I hope this initial list can help you find a good topic or at least an idea to go on for your next spoken word piece.

If you're looking for some more or some different ideas and topics that you can write a slam poem about, check out this page for a bunch of articles. Great help if you're writing your first slam poem, or just ran into a drought on ideas - I'll keep you drought free!

Part Two: 5 More Slam Poetry Topics & Ideas

7 Characteristics That Make Good Slam Poets Great Ones

5 Slam Poetry Tips That Will Help You Command an Audience