at the moment
SPEAK YOUR TRUTH: THE MILLENNIAL WAY
The Power of Spoken Word Poetry
Every period in history is defined by its own distinctive literary style be it 17th century Shakespearean literature or 18th century Romanticism. As every period in history is defined by its own distinctive literary style, so is the 21st century. The 21st century can be defined as the age of Spoken Word Poetry.
Spoken Word Poetry is poetry that is performed. Rather than focusing on how the poem presents on paper, Spoken Word Poetry focuses more on how the poem sounds. While Spoken Word Poetry has been around for a while, it is only recently that it has started gaining popularity, especially among the youth.
Hiba Javad performing Spoken Word Poetry
Spoken word is something that an artist works really hard for. We have to observe, write and make sense out of it. And then when we’re finally willing to become vulnerable and show it to the world- the people watching understand what it means.
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- Hiba Javad, Spoken Word Poet
​The rising popularity of Spoken Word Poetry can be attributed to many factors. Spoken Word is free; it has no strict format or style of writing. Another reason could be its relatability. Literature is a reflection of the time it’s written in. By speaking about experiences that are relatable, Spoken Word is reaching out to the youth and connecting with them. “I believe Spoken Word makes poetry more accessible and relatable. When the younger generations are told of poetry, they often think that has to mean complex and pretentious language. Spoken Word is different that way. It is complex ideas in simple yet beautiful words. It does not exclude anyone from its rhetoric,” says spoken word poet Minal Sukumar.
Spoken Word performance at Under25 youth summit
With a pool of writers consisting mainly of young adults, this new form of literature mainly addresses contemporary concerns. Spoken Word addresses themes of mental health, climate change and even political issues. Various poets use Spoken Word to voice out their opinions, dissent or even to protest against unjust political and social situations. “It’s [Spoken Word] a very powerful tool and has the ability to reach a lot of people, even those with little interest in poetry or literature. Strong spoken word performances are felt in the moment as well as long after, which is why I think it’s a great tool for any form of dissent. It works to get a message across in the loveliest way and has the power to open minds to new perspectives and beliefs, which is something the world always needs, in my opinion,” says Minal. As all works of poetry are inadvertently filled with emotion, by using Spoken Word to address contemporary issues, the poet helps inculcate a sense of empathy within the listener and helps them gain a deeper understanding of the issue at hand.
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Minal performing at the Louder Than Words spoken word event
Hiba performing at the Mental Health Literary Collective
As Spoken Word Poetry gains its momentum, its bringing together people- all of whom are probably very different from one another yet find their commonality in their love and appreciation for this new art form. It’s creating communities based on the values of love and acceptance and helps people cope with the happenings of this crazy world, better and together. Speaking on this, Hiba said, “The feeling of being in a community that wants to listen to what I have to say and support me really changes everything. I have met some of the greatest people at slams and Spoken Word events. We’re all looking for something to give us a purpose in life, and I have never been more sure that this is mine.”
"Spoken Word allowed me to indulge in my passion for theatre as well as writing. It brought two great loves together which was fantastic. it also helped me express myself better and believe in the strength of my own thoughts and ideas."
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Minal Sukumar
Hiba performing at the Under25 Youth Summit
-written and compiled by Simran Preetham