National Poetry Month: Valence performs "Tonight"

Tyler “Valence” Sirvinskas is a performance poet and new media artist based in Arizona. Spoken word, performance art, electronic music, and visual art are all elements of Valence’s artistic vision. In 2011, he began competing in poetry slams, and represented Flagstaff at the 2011 National Poetry Slam. In 2012, he won the Sedona Grand Slam and a spot on Sedona’s National slam team.

Valence has lived in Arizona for eight years, but was born in and spent his childhood in Chicago. Part of the last generation to know first-hand what life was like before the internet, Valence is grateful for anything that makes people turn off their smartphones.

In the future, Valence has plans for touring, albums, books, and a new style of performance art that combines spoken word with live video and music. At only twenty-two years of age, his creative development has only begun.

At only 21 years of age, his creative development has only begun.

Like Valence and performance poetry? 

Donate to "Holy Spoken Word," Necessary Poetry's 1st Anthology:

A multimedia anthology, showcasing the amazing writing, artwork, and spoken-word performance of the Necessary Poetry collective, a group of poets from Sedona, Flagstaff and Prescott.



Click here to help support our efforts on Kickstarter. A donation of even $10 or $20 gets us closer to our goal of our first publication and establishment of a nonprofit spoken word collective open to all.

National Poetry Month: Ashley Swazey performs "Invincible"

Ashley Swazey is an aspiring wedding photographer studying photography at Northern Arizona University. She’s 19 and has been writing angst poetry before she was a teenager. She has her own photography business and loves to sing, sew, and create.

Fun fact: Swazey made her own prom dress. She’s obsessed with seafoam green and has obnoxiously red hair that bleeds in the shower.

She went to Arizona State University for a year and a half, before realizing she hated everything about it.

Another fun fact: Swazey has a pet snake.

She hopes to live in Seattle when she grows up and she wants to adopt a baby from Africa.

Swazey’s mother is a flight attendant so she can fly anywhere practically for free. She likes to brag about having been to Ireland, London, Paris, Rome, Venice, Vienna, Austria, Prague, Czech Republic, and Germany.

Last fun fact: Swazey is often told she resembles Julia Styles, a comment she detests.

Swazey is very involved in the speech and debate scene, having participated for two years in high school and coached for a year and a half in college. This is where she discovered the art of slam poetry.

She began writing and performing her own poems in competition, which is incidentally completely against the rules. But she only lives once.

Like Ashley Swazey and performance poetry? 

Donate to "Holy Spoken Word," Necessary Poetry's 1st Anthology:

A multimedia anthology, showcasing the amazing writing, artwork, and spoken-word performance of the Necessary Poetry collective, a group of poets from Sedona, Flagstaff and Prescott.



Click here to help support our efforts on Kickstarter. A donation of even $10 or $20 gets us closer to our goal of our first publication and establishment of a nonprofit spoken word collective open to all.

National Poetry Month: Verbal Kensington performs "Earthquakes"

With a background ranging the spectrum from accounting to pyrotechnics, Meg (Verbal) Kensington shamelessly abandoned her previous brainchild, Verballistics, to step into her role as Necessary Publishing’s Creative Director. She’s also a writer, poet, artist, and mentor. Others know her as a verbal mercenary, with an uncanny knack for organization. Her most valued achievements include the ability to speak unabashedly in the third person, the precise calculation of road-trip gas mileage in her beloved vintage Subaru, and the unobtrusive creation of an amazing array of late-night snacks. She aspires to become more like her favorite animal, the platypus – the only earthly creature who is both astonishingly cuddly, and horrendously poisonous.

With her unique combination of extreme intelligence and stunning good looks, she plans to one day take over the world – starting today, with Necessary Publishing.

Like Verbal Kensington and performance poetry? 

Donate to "Holy Spoken Word," Necessary Poetry's 1st Anthology:

A multimedia anthology, showcasing the amazing writing, artwork, and spoken-word performance of the Necessary Poetry collective, a group of poets from Sedona, Flagstaff and Prescott.



Click here to help support our efforts on Kickstarter. A donation of even $10 or $20 gets us closer to our goal of our first publication and establishment of a nonprofit spoken word collective open to all.

National Poetry Month: Austin Reeves performs "Thing Like Love"

Austin Reeves is a 19-year-old Flagstaff poet studying to become an English professor. Born in Washington state at the height of the grunge movement — and quality ’90s music, Reeves moved to Arizona when he was 7. Then he was moved back to Washington. Then he was moved back to Arizona.

Having lived in and around the Phoenix area for far too long, Reeves opted to attend college at Northern Arizona University — a wise choice, he thinks.

It was in Flagstaff that Reeves truly discovered poetry, having dabbled in it at times before. Joining up with the FlagSlam and Sedona Slam family in late 2011, Reeves placed second in the last slam of the Sedona Poetry Slam season and went on to compete in Sedona’s Poetry Grand Slam, narrowly missing out on making the first-ever Sedona National Poetry Slam Team. In 2013, Reeves is back for blood and doing his best to systematically *cough* remove his rivals from the competition.

So far, Reeves has already established himself as Flagstaff’s 2012-2013 Haiku Death Match Champion. Austin won Flagstaff’s 2012-2013 Haiku Death Match in his underwear. Real stuff.

Reeves takes the greater majority of his inspiration from national slam poets Buddy Wakefield and Anis Mojgani.

Reeves is a guitarist, singer and drummer for Tempe-based post-rock band Ursus Colossus, with whom he has recorded two full-length albums. He has also been recorded on a number of tracks for Phoenix-based alternative rock band The Upper Strata. Reeves finds his musical inspiration in the bloodline of his musically inclined family. He also tries his hand at visual art forms occasionally. Currently, Reeves is attempting to make his way back into skateboarding and to make a hobby of electronic music production with Ableton, a musical performance and production software.

Reeves believes in poetry, music and art always.

Like Austin Reeves and performance poetry? 

Donate to "Holy Spoken Word," Necessary Poetry's 1st Anthology:

A multimedia anthology, showcasing the amazing writing, artwork, and spoken-word performance of the Necessary Poetry collective, a group of poets from Sedona, Flagstaff and Prescott.



Click here to help support our efforts on Kickstarter. A donation of even $10 or $20 gets us closer to our goal of our first publication and establishment of a nonprofit spoken word collective open to all.

Kickstarter challenge: $20 by April 20

Kickstarter Challenge: If you haven't yet a donated to Necessary Poetry's Kickstarter project, donate $20 by Saturday, April 20.

$20 ain't much and it could do so much.

Why give? 'Cause the project is awesome. Check it out here:


Then ask 20 of your friends to to the same.

Click here and make your donation.

What does Necessary Poetry want to do?

Help support us on Kickstarter. Donate to help us publish Holy Spoken Word - Necessary Poetry's 1st Anthology: A multimedia anthology, showcasing the amazing writing, artwork, and spoken-word performance of the Necessary Poetry collective.

Click here to help support our efforts on Kickstarter. A donation of even $10 or $20 would do wonders to get us to our goal.

 The poets are some of the best in Northern Arizona:

Visit Kickstarter and support "Holy Spoken Word" - Necessary Poetry's 1st Anthology

"Holy Spoken Word" is Necessary Poetry's 1st Anthology:

A multimedia anthology, showcasing the amazing writing, artwork, and spoken-word performance of the Necessary Poetry collective, a group of poets from Sedona, Flagstaff and Prescott.

Click here to help support our efforts on Kickstarter. A donation of even $10 or $20 would do wonders to get us to our goal.

Necessary Poetry is the collaborative effort of over 15 Arizona slam poets.

Sparked by a common love for written and spoken word, and a collective desire to inspire and motivate positive creative expression, we've joined together to publish a multi-media anthology of our best individual and cooperative creations - Holy Spoken Word. We are a passionate band of dedicated volunteers, and this stunning collection of words, artwork, and recorded performances is sure to seduce minds and ignite hearts everywhere.
BUT, POETRY IS BORING. Not this poetry! This poetry is raw. This poetry is relentless. This poetry captures smiles - it takes mouths hostage.

The poets are some of the best in Northern Arizona:

FAQ

• Is this a religious anthology?
  Words are our religion... so in a way, yes. But in the way you probably meant it - um, no.
  The poetry submitted to Necessary Poetry may have religious themes or imagery from various traditions, but the project as a whole is secular and nonreligious. While some of the poets themselves may be religious or spiritual, others are secular, agnostic and atheist. The title "Holy Spoken Word" stems from the poets' belief that if anything is "holy," then surely it must be poetry and its power to connect peoples across time, languages, cultures, religious and spiritual or nonspiritual traditions.
  
• WHY poetry?
  Because everything is poetry. The way the rain falls, the way the light bounces off a glass, the way you cried hard when your first love dumped you because your freckles freaked him or her out... Inspiration can be found anywhere, and we're passionate about presenting ours in a way which connects us all on a human level. 
  
• What happens when you sell a gazillion copies of the book? Will you sit back to revel in your riches?
  Hell, no!  Necessary Poetry's contributors have all agreed that any monies received from the sale of this anthology will be used to fund a series of workshops on writing and expression, and to support the efforts of aspiring poets and spoken word performers in our community.
  The hardworking poets hope to use those resources to fund workshops and efforts to bring poetry to a wider audience and encourage those who want to want to speak to find the poet and Holy Spoken Word within themselves, whatever that may be.
  
  

  Click here to help support our efforts on Kickstarter.

"A Compilation Love Poem," by Abby Meade and Stephanie Whitaker

Poets poking fun at other poets in a slam scene is a wonderful thing. This was a slam poem performed by two poets in the FlagSlam scene, performing in the style of the poets. Abby Meade's performance of Josh Floyd was the most spot-on.

Photo by Robert Chandler Gonzales

Abby Meade, left, and Stephanie Whitaker debut "A Compilation Love Poem" at the Cozy Slam.

A Compilation Love Poem

By Abby Meade - Stephanie Whitaker

Christopher Fox Graham: (read by Abby)

Even though I don’t remember your name, you meant something, and in that one night we spent together, your golden hair glinted in the moonlight.

Your eyes like daggers to my soul reminded me that I could never have you.

I know we met when we were 12, but braces looked cute on you, and you made cropped pants look cool.

Jackson Morris: (read by Stephanie)

Thanks, CFG, but I think I got it from here.

As I looked down at our intertwined fingers, I wanted to pinch myself, because who could love a self-deprecating geek like me?

Your sparkling blue eyes like pools rippled with thoughts I couldn’t read. I wanted to take you in my arms and protect you from the monsters in your dreams.

Josh Floyd: (read by Abby)

Girl, you deserve the monsters! You are worse than any nightmare I ever had.

I used to be a rapper, but even that didn’t hurt me as bad as you.

Now it’s just me and my first love: My skateboard.

Nothing you do is going to separate us.

 She fills the holes you punched into my soul.

Vincent Vega: (read by Stephanie)

I want to rip your heart out of your ribcage and watch it beat in my hand as the blood drips to the floor.

I love you like a horror movie, screams and pain and fear wrapped up in gore and tied with a cute pink bow.

The one you wear on Wednesdays.

The one I want to rip from your curls and tie around your neck so I can listen to you gasp for air.

Blue is a good color on you.

Christopher Fox Graham: (read by Abby)

You still sleep with the blue stuffed dog you had since kindergarten, and I was always jealous.

I wanted your full attention, but you… you had your own plans.

And when you left for college, even though we hadn’t spoken in months, it was like a weight off my shoulders.

I know you’re better off without me.

Jackson Morris: (read by Stephanie)

That night, we lay under the stars and listened to the chorus of crickets around us.

It was the perfect ending to our moonlit picnic, and though the blanket was a little itchy, when you pointed out Orion’s belt, I smiled.

When you think back on us, smile over the memories that might be a little bitter now, but are mixed in with the good ones.

Josh Floyd: (read by Abby)

The aftershocks of your words still ripple through me, like giants stepping through the cities of my mind.

The riot is over, but the wreckage remains I’m trying to clean up after you, but girl, earthquakes reverberate, and this one leaves me *gasp* breathless.

Vincent Vega: (read by Stephanie)

Your soul is too free, so I’ll lock you into a cage and watch you wither away, because I like skinny girls.

I’ll treat you like a woman should be treated: chained up and tortured with my love.

 I want to know that when I leave, you’ll still be there when I get back.

But I also want you to be comfortable, so I’ll only use the best handcuffs on you.

Because, baby girl, I love you.

Meet Necessary Poetry: A Multimedia Arts Collective in Flagstaff, Sedona and Northern Arizona

Necessary Poetry is a collaborative effort. Our mission is to inspire creative expression - we do this by encouraging the poetry in ourselves, each other, and anyone interested in connecting to the written and spoken word.

We believe everyone has a message or story to share with the world - and that it's all poetry. We root for the underdog. We're here to promote and support the work of authors, poets, and spoken-word artists of all ages and walks of life, whose words might not otherwise see the light of day.

We believe that poetry is necessary. We believe our words have weight. We're here to share our work with others, and to inspire and empower others to do the same.

Interested in learning more? Visit us here.

O'Brien, Dissinger, Cassady and Kerouac

Frank O'Brien and Evan Dissinger, 2012

Neal Cassady and Jack Kerouac, 1952

An unintentional homage.

Just sayin' ....

Flagstaff's Sundara Poetry Slam featured on NAZ Today

"Flagstaff's poetry slams give local poets the opportunity to showcase their talents to an audience and have their work scored by judges. NAZ Today photographer's Derek Ellis and Alex Thomas took us there to find out more about what goes down at the slam."

Featuring interviews with Sundara manager, poet and host John Quinonez, poet Jackson Morris and poet Maya Hall and snippets of poems by me and lots of Sundara's regular.

"Verballistics: Issue 1" awesome digital zine published three of my poems

My friend Verbal Kensington in Flagstaff has just published her first zine anthology, "Verballistics: Issue 1" featuring poetry, art and prose from artists all over the country.

 The online version is wicked cool. Every poem and prose piece is paired with art to complement it and with this tool bar you can move around and zoom in, just like you were looking at a real print edition:

 And for any page turned on its side, hit the eye to view it right side up.

Three of my poems are include, "They Held Hands," "To the Planet Formerly Known as Pluto," and "Ragnarok." The photo for "Ragnarok" includes an image of Mathias Rust landing his plane in Red Square.

Open publication - Free publishing - More art

"Verballistics: is a publishing endeavor which, like poetry itself, defies definition. ​​ We believe that life is poetry, and we are all poets. We promote work which blends the lines between art and literature, and pushes the boundaries of traditional publishing. Our contributors have a message to share with the world - whether it's a shout from the mountaintops, or a whispered secret which somehow cradles the universal in us all. We are devoted to the artistry of language. We celebrate the experimental. We honor the linguistic lexicon, and the vernacular virtuoso. ​ ​We'd love to help you Get Verbal!"

The publication includes a copy of my poem, "They Held Hands:"

Slam poet Josh Wiss joins GumptionFest lineup

Saturday, Sept. 15, 9:30 p.m. @ Oak Creek Brewing Co.:

Josh Wiss, a member of the the 2012 Sedona National Poetry Slam Teams

Josh Wiss, photo by Tara Graeber

Josh Wiss is a 21-year-old poet who is bound to a lifestyle constant creativity. He attended his first poetry slam in the Fall of 2010 and has been addicted to the art form ever since.
A self-proclaimed “feeler,” Wiss lives life riding the oscillating waves of a water sign. He has dedicated his life to embracing the purity of existence and trying to transcribe experiences through a variety of expressive mediums.
Whether he is plucking ukulele strings, painting vibrant panels or pouring poetry onto pages, Josh attempts to completely envelop himself in each of his works. His poetry is raw and often reflects an optimistic side of his personality. Obsessed with bold colors and blowing bubbles, a childlike energy inhabits his performances.
Grateful to be finished with an undergraduate degree in English from Northern Arizona University, Wiss now faces the task of being a “poet in debt” with naïve excitement. He has hopes of publishing fiction, non-fiction, poetry and even graphic works in the years to come.
He has self-released four albums of his various musical projects to date and plans to continue making albums as well. The journey that will quench his wanderlust is still on the horizon. Until then you may find him buried in books or consumed by canvas.
It is his goal to help others however he can with his art under the belief that even the most personal of feelings is relatable and relative in life. Wading through waves of weird, this mind-surfer finds contentment in the simplicities of life.
Wiss was a member of the inaugural Sedona National Poetry Slam Team in 2012 and competed with his team at the National Poetry Slam in Charlotte, N.C.

FlagSlam Poetry Slam, round two

Total Scores

Team	Rank	Score
Slam Nahuatl, Richmond, Va.	1	114.3
Louder ARTS, Union Square, Manhattan, N.Y.	2	112.8
Seattle Poetry Slam, Seattle, Wash.	3	109.1
FlagSlam, Flagstaff, Ariz.	4	107

Rotation: 1

Team	Performer	Group	Score
Seattle Poetry Slam	Roma Raye		27.30
FlagSlam	Ryan Brown: "Goodbye"		26.60
Slam Nahuatl		Group	27.60
Louder ARTS	Catalina Ferro		26.80

Rotation: 2

Team	Performer	Group	Score
Slam Nahuatl	Rob Gibson		29.00
Seattle Poetry Slam	Rose McAleese		26.50
Louder ARTS		Group	29.00
FlagSlam	Christopher Fox Graham & Tara Pollock: "Dust (In the Corners of this Room)	Group	25.80

Rotation: 3

Team	Performer	Group	Score
Seattle Poetry Slam	Amber Flame		27.00
Louder ARTS	Jamaal VS May		27.80
Slam Nahuatl		Group	29.60
FlagSlam	Jackson Morris: "Education in America"		27.50

Rotation: 4

Team	Performer	Group	Score
FlagSlam	Nodalone: "Identicals"		27.10
Louder ARTS	Megan Falley		29.20
Seattle Poetry Slam	Sara Brickman		28.30
Slam Nahuatl		Group	28.10

FlagSlam Poetry Slam, round one

Total Scores

Team	Rank	Score
Nuyorican, Lower East Side of Manhattan, N.Y.	1	106.4
HawaiiSlam, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawai'i	2	103.8
FlagSlam, Flagstaff, Ariz.	3	101.4
Lake Effect, Cleveland, Ohio	4	94.3

Rotation: 1

Team	Performer	Group	Score
Lake Effect		Group	20.70
HawaiiSlam	Tui-Z		24.40
Nuyorican	Jamaal St. John		25.80
FlagSlam	Christopher Fox Graham & Ryan Brown: "Dear Pluto"	Group	25.40 (Down by 0.4)

Rotation: 2

Team	Performer	Group	Score
Nuyorican	Falu		23.80 (49.6)
Lake Effect	Cory Mikesell		24.30 (45.0)
FlagSlam	Ryan Brown: "Justino"		26.40 (51.8 - in the lead by 2.2!)
HawaiiSlam	Ink		25.30 (49.7)

Rotation: 3

Team	Performer	Group	Score
FlagSlam	Tara Pollock: "Acceptance"		24.70 (76.5)
Nuyorican	Rico Frederick		28.50 (78.1)
HawaiiSlam	Liam Skilling		26.30 (76.0)
Lake Effect	Sarah Skylark Bruce		22.80 (67.8)

Rotation: 4

Team	Performer	Group	Score
HawaiiSlam	Sterling Higa		27.80 (103.8)
FlagSlam	Christopher Fox Graham & nodalone: "Babies"	Group	24.90 (101.4)
Lake Effect	Carla Thompson		26.50 (94.3)
Nuyorican	Cyn		28.30 (106.4)

National Poetry Slam draw for the Sedona, Flagstaff slam teams

Sedona National Poetry Slam Team

Bout 8 (Venue 2, 9 p.m.), Tuesday

Sedona Poetry Slam:

Tyler "Valence" Sirvinskas, Evan Dissinger, Josh Wiss, Frank O'Brien, Spencer Troth

Poetry Slam Springfield, (Springfield, Ill.):
Michelle Nimmo, Sarah Woosley, Kait Rokowski, Khary Jackson "6 is 9"
Portland Poetry Slam (Portland, Ore.):
David Doc Luben (former Prescott and Tucson slammer), Meg Waldron, Samantha Peterson, Robyn Bateman, William Stanford
Red Dirt Poetry Slam (Oklahoma City):
Melissa May, Rob Sturma, Michael Pearce, Grae

Bout 30 (Venue 6, 7 p.m.), Thursday

Sedona Poetry Slam:

Tyler "Valence" Sirvinskas, Evan Dissinger, Josh Wiss, Frank O'Brien, Spencer Troth

ABQ Slams (Albuquerque, N.M.):
Jessica Helen Lopez, Khalid Binsunni, Damien Flores, Zachary Kluckman
WU Slam (Washington University, St. Louis, Mo.):
Pat Hollinger, Lauren Banka, Bryan Baird, Jacqui Germain,
Neo-Soul (Austin, Texas):
Shae Harris, LaLove Robinson, Danny Strack, Zai, "Korim" Jonathon Sterling

FlagSlam National Poetry Slam Team

Bout 14 (Venue 2, 7 p.m.), Wednesday

FlagSlam Poetry Slam:

Christopher Fox Graham, Ryan Brown, Shaun Srivastava "Nodalone", Tara Pollock, Jackson Morris

HawaiiSlam, (Honolulu):
Liam Skilling, Tui-Z, Jenna Robinson, Sterling Higa, Ink
Lake Effect (Cleveland, Ohio):
T.M. Göttl, Mello da Poet, Carla Thompson, Cory Mikesell
Nuyorican (Lower East Side, New York City):
Jaamal St John, McPherson, Falu, Cyn Thompson

Bout 34 (Venue 4, 9 p.m.), Thursday

FlagSlam Poetry Slam:

Christopher Fox Graham, Ryan Brown, Shaun Srivastava "Nodalone", Tara Pollock, Jackson Morris

Louder ARTS, Bar 13 (Union Square, New York City)
Mokgethi Thinane "Mega", Megan Falley, Jamaal May, Catalina Ferro  
Louisville Poetry Slam (Louisville, Miss.)
Zamir, Cherish Triplett "Cheri B", True, Sireal
Seattle Poetry Slam (Seattle, Wash):
Sara Brickman, Rose McAleese, Roma Raye, Amber Flame

Buy your tickets now for today's Sedona Poetry Grand Slam

Buy your tickets the Sedona Poetry Grand Slam now!
Click here to pick your seat!
Proceeds help the team get to the National Poetry Slam in Charlotte, N.C.

 The biggest, most energetic poetry event to hit Sedona is coming to the Mary D. Fisher Theatre at 7 p.m., Saturday, June 16:

The 2012 Sedona Poetry Grand Slam.

The top 12 slam poets in Arizona will compete in three rounds in front five judges randomly selected from the audience who assign numerical value to individual performances.

At the end of the night, the top four poets will represent Sedona at the weeklong National Poetry Slam in Charlotte, N.C., in August. There, Sedona’s four representatives will compete against more than 350 of the best performance poets from the United States and Canada.
At nationals, poets perform both solo and group poems, creating complex, dynamic performances.

For the last sixth months, poets from all over Arizona have been competing in Sedona, earning points for the Sedona Poetry Grand Slam. Only the top 12 of the nearly 50 competitors made the cut for this invitation-only contest.

Poetry slam is unlike any other poetry event you’ve ever seen. Slam poetry isn’t enigmatic and esoteric like in a college literature class with rhyme and meter, but an energetic blend of spoken word, theater and performance art.

In each three-minute performance of their original work, poets aim to make audiences laugh, cheer, cry or get chills down their spines. The performers are not permitted to use props, costumes or musical accompaniment, relying instead on their own words and inflections.

Poems range from explosively humorous to deeply personal to wryly political, with styles from hip-hop to narrative storytelling. All types of poetry are welcome. Audience reaction is just as important to a high score as the poetry itself, so the crowd is encouraged to not remain silent, but cheer, boo and engage with the poets’ on stage.

Tickets are $15, available online at studiolivesedona.com. Proceeds help fund the team’s trip to Charlotte. Additional donations will gladly be accepted.

The 2012 slam season and the grand slam is cosponsored by the Sedona Performing Arts Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

The Mary D. Fisher Theatre is located at 2030 W. SR 89A, near Coffee Pot Drive in West Sedona. For more information, call (928) 282-2688. For videos from past slams and updates about the grand slam, visit foxthepoet.blogspot.com.

Buy your tickets the Sedona Poetry Grand Slam now and pick your seat

Buy your tickets the Sedona Poetry Grand Slam now and pick your seat!
Proceeds help the team get to the National Poetry Slam in Charlotte, N.C.

 The biggest, most energetic poetry event to hit Sedona is coming to the Mary D. Fisher Theatre at 7 p.m., Saturday, June 16:

The 2012 Sedona Poetry Grand Slam.

The top 12 slam poets in Arizona will compete in three rounds in front five judges randomly selected from the audience who assign numerical value to individual performances.

At the end of the night, the top four poets will represent Sedona at the weeklong National Poetry Slam in Charlotte, N.C., in August. There, Sedona’s four representatives will compete against more than 350 of the best performance poets from the United States and Canada.
At nationals, poets perform both solo and group poems, creating complex, dynamic performances.

For the last sixth months, poets from all over Arizona have been competing in Sedona, earning points for the Sedona Poetry Grand Slam. Only the top 12 of the nearly 50 competitors made the cut for this invitation-only contest.

Poetry slam is unlike any other poetry event you’ve ever seen. Slam poetry isn’t enigmatic and esoteric like in a college literature class with rhyme and meter, but an energetic blend of spoken word, theater and performance art.

In each three-minute performance of their original work, poets aim to make audiences laugh, cheer, cry or get chills down their spines. The performers are not permitted to use props, costumes or musical accompaniment, relying instead on their own words and inflections.

Poems range from explosively humorous to deeply personal to wryly political, with styles from hip-hop to narrative storytelling. All types of poetry are welcome. Audience reaction is just as important to a high score as the poetry itself, so the crowd is encouraged to not remain silent, but cheer, boo and engage with the poets’ on stage.

Tickets are $15, available online at studiolivesedona.com. Proceeds help fund the team’s trip to Charlotte. Additional donations will gladly be accepted.

The 2012 slam season and the grand slam is cosponsored by the Sedona Performing Arts Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

The Mary D. Fisher Theatre is located at 2030 W. SR 89A, near Coffee Pot Drive in West Sedona. For more information, call (928) 282-2688. For videos from past slams and updates about the grand slam, visit foxthepoet.blogspot.com.

A brief history of FlagSlam Nationals Teams

December 2000, FlagSlam founded.

In 2001, 12th National Poetry Slam in Seattle, Wash.:
Grand Slam Champion: Josh Fleming
Nick Fox
Chris Lane
Christopher Fox Graham
Alternate: Eric “A-rek” Matthew Dye
Coach: Andy “War” Wall

After I graduated from Arizona State University and made the FlagSlam team, I moved to Flagstaff in June.

I tried out for the FlagSlam team in 2002 but pulled the "1" and got clobbered. I had already been planning the Save the Male Tour with Josh Fleming, so that was my summer instead. 

In 2002, 13th National Poetry Slam in Minneapolis, Minn.:
Grand Slam Champion: Suzy La Follette
Logan Phillips
Andy “War” Hall
Dom Flemons
Alternate: Jarrod Masseud Karimi (quit before the National Poetry Slam)
Coach and alternate: John Raymond Kofonow

First tie at NPS: New York City-Urbana and Detroit

In 2003, 14th National Poetry Slam in Chicago, Ill.:
Grand Slam Champion: Suzy La Follette
Logan Phillips
Cass Hodges
Dom Flemons
Alternate: Julie Hudgens (quit before the National Poetry Slam)
Coach and alternate: John Raymond Kofonow

I was a volunteer bout manager at NPS in 2003.

In 2004: 15th National Poetry Slam in St. Louis, Mo.:
Grand Slam Champion: Christopher Fox Graham
Eric Larson
Logan Phillips
Brent Heffron
Coaches: Mary Guaraldi, and John Raymond Kofonow

First time all four NPS finalist teams were from west of the Mississippi River (Hollywood's Da Poetry Lounge, Denver, Dallas and Berkeley). One of the worst organized NPSes due to the location of venues relative to each other and the venues in question.

In 2005: 16th National Poetry Slam in Albuquerque, N.M.:
Grand Slam Champion: Chris Lane
Logan Phillips
Christopher Fox Graham
Meghan Jones
Aaron Johnson
Coaches: Mary Guaraldi and John Raymond Kofonow

FlagSlam sent a crew of poets and supporters because Albuquerque was so close. I was also legal guardian for my ward, Sarrah Wile. One of the best organized NPSes. All venues were within walking distance of the Hotel Blue. The hotel manager lost his job for what he allowed us to do, but won the Spirit of the Slam Award.

In 2006: 17th National Poetry Slam in Austin, Texas:
Aaron Johnson
Christopher Fox Graham (kicked off team before the National Poetry Slam)
Meghan Jones (quit before the National Poetry Slam)
Justin “Biskit” Powell
Alternate: A.J. Moyer (Joined team)
Coaches: Greg Nix (quit before the National Poetry Slam) and John Raymond Kofonow (quit before the National Poetry Slam)

This year was a train wreck. Those who know why, know why. I'm glad A.J., Aaron Johnson and Biskit had a good time at NPS, though.

In 2007: 18th National Poetry Slam in Austin, Texas:
Grand Slam Champion: Joseph Nieves
Aaron Johnson
Troy Thurman
J.J. Valentine

Last year Individual Poetry Slam Championships were held at NPS. They would be held at a separate event, the Individual World Poetry Slam starting in 2008.

In 2008: 19th National Poetry Slam in Madison, Wis.:
Grand Slam Champion: Frank O'Brien
Ryan Brown
John Cartier
Jessica Guadarrama
Alternate: Kami Henderson
Coach: Dana Sakowicz

In 2009: 20th National Poetry Slam in West Palm Beach, FL.
Grand Slam Champion: Frank O'Brien
Ryan Brown
John Cartier
Andrew “Antranormus” Wanner
Jessica Guadarrama
Coach: Dana Sakowicz

In 2010: 21st National Poetry Slam in St. Paul, Minn:
Grand Slam Champion: Ryan Brown
Brian Towne
Johnny P (quit before the National Poetry Slam)
RahMahMercy (quit before the National Poetry Slam)
Frank O'Brien (Joined team in Johnny P's slot)
Christopher Fox Graham (Joined team in RahMahMercy's slot)
Alternate: Christopher Harbster (quit before the National Poetry Slam)

I was going to be a volunteer bout manager at NPS in 2010, but wound up on the team.

In 2011: 22nd National Poetry Slam in Cambridge and Boston, Mass.:
Grand Slam Champion: Shaun “nodalone” Srivastava
Maple Dewleaf
Taylor Marie “Tay” Kayonnie-Ehrlich
Christopher Harbster (quit before the National Poetry Slam)
Alternate: Tyler “Valence” Sirvinskas (Joined team)

I was a volunteer venue manager at NPS in 2011.

In 2012: 23rd National Poetry Slam in Charlotte, N.C.:
Grand Slam Champion: Christopher Fox Graham
Ryan Brown
Tara Pollock (tied)
Shaun “nodalone” Srivastava (tied)
Alternate: Jackson Morris

Photo by Tara Graeber

The 2012 FlagSlam National Poetry Slam Team: Ryan Brown, left, Grand Slam Champion Christopher Fox Graham, Shaun "Nodalone" Srivastava and Tara Pollock. Jackson Morris won the alternate's slot.