All styles are welcome and encouraged: acapella hip-hop, theatrical monologues, literary poetry, sound poetry, dubpoetry, rants, haikus, power raps, etc. Whatever you like. Remember you'll be judged on delivery as well as content.
While competition is a main feature of the slam, remember the points are not the point; the poetry is the point.
Audiences are encouraged to be vocal and enthusiastic about the work they are witnessing, so, performers: expect for a more engaged crowd than the ones found at literary readings. And audience: don't be afraid to say what's on your mind! Slams are all about energy and a deep relationship between poet and listener. It's beautiful.
If you need to leave during the competition, please wait for an appropriate pause between action.

Hope to see you all there!!!

April 17th, 2008
SPEAK! Series is back at Ginger's Tavern 1662 Barrington St. at 9pm!!! This month we will be featuring Shogun from Montreal!!!

France, New York, Bahamas, Scotland, and now Halifax.
Shogun is a Decorated Montreal Talent Who has earned his recognition through various facets of the Montreal Music Pulse. Making his way onto the scene in 1998 establishing and sharpening his skill through "Spoken
Word", "Freestyle Battles", "Talent shows", "Mixtapes", "Music
Videos", "Opening Act Performances" and releasing Number 1 Radio Singles.
It's 10 years later and He hasn't forgotten his spoken word poetic roots. 2008 is Sho Thousand 8 in his mind. Be on the lookout for a Veteran emcee who's hoping to shed some light on an over shadowed art form.

As usual we will have an open mic so bring your original verses!!! There are only 10 guarenteed open mic spots so make sure you come early and sign up!

Hope to see you all there!!!

Thursday March 20, 2008
SPEAK! Series is back at Ginger’s Tavern 1662 Barrington St. at 9pm!!! ..:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O />

Come on out and celebrate 7 years of Word Iz Bond!!!

 Featuring poetry by Word Iz Bond and hosted by Taryn Della!!!!

DJ R$ $mooth will be there spinnin, and Sharon Hodgson will be capturing the evening on canvas!!!

As usual we will have an open mic so bring your original verses (come early to sign up)!!! Hope to see you all there!!!

This is a BIG thank you to all of the fantastic WIB supporters and poets who came out to last night's show with SPIN and Miss Ebony!

The energy was fantastic and all of the beautiful, talented poets who graced the open mic' artistically amazed All.

We are sad to see them go, but they had a fantastic time at the show. Their c.d.s sold out, but if anyone would like to get one, please send us a message and we'll see what we can do for you.

Our next Speak! will be in January, so stay tuned for when we announce who our next guest will be!

WIB

CRAZY

It used to be the sound of his voice that made me go crazy

 Now it's his voice that I don't hear that has the same effect

He told me of the future we would have together from day one

I must admit in those early years I didn't believe him

I didn't think anyone could love me like that

 I remember he wrote me a poem called "Driving me Crazy" when we hadn't spoke in a while, and that was the main theme of the poem, how it was driving him crazy that we had drifted apart

I used to read and re-read it and try to analyze every line, not believing that little ol' me could be that unforgettable

It felt like a movie, where the romantic ending would have us walking off in the sunset on a beach somewhere with the words "Happily ever after" written across the screen/ Now I can barely hold my head up because the sorrow is so heavy

I miss him, and maybe I didn't let him know how much I love him...

And maybe I didn't show him how appreciated he was

Maybe it was me who didn't voice it

But I did feel it

In my own little insecure ways I loved that man like he was God's special gift to me

I stared at the words he would write me

but I wouldn't talk to him about it

I don't know why.... I guess because I'm just an insecure person and I let my past experiences of being torn down by men taint my efforts with this man

But I did what I could

I loved him purely, with my whole heart

I listened to every word he said

even when his intellect surpassed mine

I sat in awe of this wonderful man as he told me things needed to change, which I interpreted as I needed to change

He never said I did anything wrong/ but I sure as hell didn't do them right and the opposite of right is? Exactly... So that's how I felt

And I wanted so desperately to be perfect for him/ he deserved that

he deserved that and so much more

But the more I tried, the more I focused on the wrong things and the more he asked me to stop trying

So I began to think back to the way we fell in love

What made him want me so badly that he would write ferociously and passionately to entice me

And maybe it was the disbelief that someone like him could love someone like me but right now all I know is I've pushed those things about myself out of my mind and I can't figure out for the life of me why he loved me

So I keep going at it

keep loving

keep thinking

keep praying

keep trying;

 afraid to stop for a minute because he may realize that I'm not the prettiest

I'm out of shape

and that I can't remember what he fell in love with.

I guess he had enoughEnough of my not changing because I'm stuck in my ways (the downfall of the Taurus)

He had enough of me not voicing my love and affection for him

He had enough of me not showing my appreciation for him

So now I'm all alone

no one to laugh and smile with

No one to admire and show affection for

And now I listen to old tracks he made for me and let the sound of his voice that I'm missing, drive me CRAZY

From the CBC Radio Web site:

In a recent Globe and Mail article, poet laureate George Bowering denounced slam, or spoken word, poetry and poetry competitions as "revolting."

Treating poetry as a competition is "crude and extremely revolting," Bowering told the Globe.

we got a myspace account. Yup. Hali poets are entering the 21st century. Look out.

Can't write HTML? No problem. We'll write verse instead and see what kind of freaky layout and colour scheme we can manage.

Stay tuned for news on WIBs 2006/2007 Speak! Series supported this year by the Canada Council for the Arts...