Several nationwide poets spit deep emotions into the air throughout the first annual “Gods and Goddesses Poetry Slam: A National Competition” Saturday evening at the Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St. in Rockford.
Slam poetry is a spoken word performance art competition where creatives attempt to pierce the cores of their audience with their words.
Dianna Tyler is an award-winning Chicago artist who goes by the name of Goddess Warrior The Poet. Her company, Words of a Warrior Productions, produced the slam. She said she’s appreciative for the congregation of poets.
“I have such an attitude of gratitude right now. Just looking at awe of God,” Tyler explained. “Because this was just a vision, something that God put on my heart to do and then to see it all unfold shows me that he's guiding me and leading me just where I need to go.”
Bridgette Prunty was in the crowd. She said the event represented the Black community in the city.
“That's always a breath of fresh air,” she said. “We don't get it as often. And it's a neutral zone, you know, where everybody can get those things off their chest, you know, like one of the poets said, ‘sometimes we can’t’ so spoken word being that avenue for them.”
Prunty said one poet in particular spoke to her heart, Ques Hammonds.
If hands up to me means shoot like gun range targets
and if you run from me Hispanic or not
the cops throw parties
a quinceañera plus one is a hot topic
ask Laquan McDonald got trumped with 16 shots
Had you thinking it was 16 cops instead of one
That’s an excerpt from one of his poems.
Hammonds goes by the stage name Vinnom. He is from Chicago and has written lyrics for about 12 years. He said he’s like a superhero when he steps in front of the mic.
“So that stage means more than just the stage to me,” he mentioned. “It’s where I not only practice or not only perform but it's like I now have my cape on, and I know how powerful my words are.”
Hammonds said he is connected to God and sharing his gift is a form of obedience for him.
“I deal with everything spiritually. And this is something that I actually asked God for realistically. I love the passion. I love the art form,” he added. “And I know, when God grants you a gift, there's certain levels that you have to pass.”
And boy did he pass.
Hammonds effortlessly spilled his heart into the mic and this dedication helped him snag the title for the affair’s inaugural "Slam God of the Year." He took home the grand prize of $2000.
The evening was tear jerking for Tyler. At one point she ran and hugged Simba the Poet and held on to him for a while after he finished his poem about gender identity.
“Honestly, for me it was confirming and affirming. With me being a lesbian and a stud mom, someone who embraces both femininity and masculinity,” Tyler explained, “it resonated with me as a mother who possesses both energies.”
One poet grabbed Tyler’s soul when he laid face down on the ground reciting a poem about being shot by authorities. She said this reminded her of when her mom laid in that same position.
“I'm somebody who lost my parents at the same time. My father shot and killed my mother and then he committed suicide and took his own life,” she shared. “So, poetry has been a healing platform for myself. It has been therapeutic.”
Tyler said poetry has helped her walk through doors that she may not otherwise have been able to enter, and she encourages people to “walk in faith and not fear.”
Sheri Purpose Hall from Kansas City, Missouri snagged third place and poet Arrie Lanefrom Detroit, Michigan took home the second-place prize. Tyler surprised the crowd and handed Hall the award for Slam Goddess of the Year.
Rockford Poet Laureate Christine Swanberg kicked off the competition by sharing a few words.
The performance was recorded and will be available for viewing on Open Mic TV. The actual release date hasn’t been announced.
- Yvonne Boose is a current corps member for Report for America, an initiative of the GroundTruth Project. It's a national service program that places talented journalists in local newsrooms like WNIJ. You can learn more about Report for America at wnij.org.
