Poetry Slam! preview: Read last year's winning poems

It’s raining and it’s December, which can mean only one thing – the first night of the DC SCORES Poetry Slam!.

Don’t let the weather keep you from attending the 13th Annual Slam!, which is free to the public and will be held at 6 p.m. tonight at Columbia Heights Education Campus (map) and tomorrow night at Kelly Miller Middle School (map).

To give you a taste of what to expect, below is a trio of award-winning poems from last year’s Slam! – sorry, no sneak previews of this year’s performances; you’ll have to come see for yourself.

Last year, Brookland won the Golden Mic trophy for the Westside Slam!; Arts and Technology Academy took home the trophy for the second consecutive year on the Eastside; and Jasia S. of Burrville won the Shine Award for the Eastside’s best individual performance.

For a full review of last year's Slam!, check out the Westside and Eastside recaps. 

Beavers vs. Bulldogs

Beavers

We are the Beavers

Mighty, Mighty Beavers

We work all day

We move rocks and build damns

Beavers rock the world from left to right

We are energetic and really bright

Bulldogs

We are Bulldogs

Mighty and strong

Laid back and courageous

We’re used to hard work

Because we wrestle bulls

You may talk the talk

But we walk the walk

Together

We’re not that different

Can’t you see?

We’re both hard workers on land and sea

Together, with our talents

We can be a dynamite team

DON’T YOU AGREE?!

Group Poem

Brookland Education Campus

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Let’s All Save the World Together

Do you like nature?

Do you like playing outside?

Do you like hiking or watching the beach tides?

So Let’s Save the World Together!

It’s getting warmer nowadays

So don’t let the hot weather carry you away.

Reuse, Recycle, Reduce and don’t litter.

So tell this to relatives, friends and baby sitters!

So let’s save the world Together!

Go green, plant gardens, plant bushes or even a rose

And bring back that fresh natural smell to your nose.

Save electricity and cut off the lights and bring back those peaceful and cooler nights.

Don’t waste the water we need to drink

So please don’t let those precious drops go down the sink!

So Let’s Save the World Together!

Jasia S.

Burrville Elementary School

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Stop the Violence

ATA Scores had to stay inside

because of the violence that happened outside

It isn’t fair that we couldn’t have our game

Man oh man…the violence, what a shame!

STOP THE VIOLENCE…SPEAK UP, DON’T BE SILENT, STOP THE VIOLENCE

There are innocent children dying

and way too many parents crying

We’re tired of suffering in silence

How can we stop the violence?

STOP THE VIOLENCE…SPEAK UP, DON’T BE SILENT, STOP THE VIOLENCE

We want to hear the sounds of soccer playing and children’s laughter rather than guns spraying in our community

What happened to the love and unity?

Black on black crime is a waste of our time

Let’s stop… and focus on educating our minds!

It is our prayer that we will stop the violence

Not tomorrow

Not next week

Today….Right Now

STOP THE VIOLENCE…SPEAK UP, DON’T BE SILENT, STOP THE VIOLENCE!

Group Poem

Arts and Technology Academy