This year, the Extension Writers have been learning about Slam Poetry. Slam poems are basically a poem that is written to be performed in front of an audience.

In the first week of Term 1, we got the amazing opportunity to have a real slam poet, Ben Stokes, come and talk to us and even give us a recital of some of his original work. We also went to a presentation by Anis Mojgani, a two-time American Slam Poet Champion, as part of the NZ Festival. After being inspired by several other slam poets as well, and learning a bit more about them, we took on the daring and adventurous task of writing and performing our own.

Last Monday evening, the Extension Writers performed their slam poems at Raroa’s very own Poetry Cafe! Mahi Ako was transformed from a set of classrooms into a San Francisco-style cafe and friends and family gathered for a night packed with sad, heartfelt, upbeat, loving, insightful, passionate, funny and moving Slam Poems. The night was AMAZING ! There were poems about poverty, feminism, homelessness, family, the color blue and much, much more. All the parents were moved and entertained by the quality and variety of each and every one of the 20 poems.

We all loved the experience of writing and performing slam poems. Thank you to Ms Dunn, the Extension Writing teacher, and all of the other Extension Writers who helped make the Poetry Cafe a success.