Lowell Observatory honored me with an asteroid: 29722 Chrisgraham (1999 AQ23) after the I ❤ Pluto Festival

My friend, Kevin Schindler, presenting me with the map of the orbit of asteroid 29722 Chrisgraham (1999 AQ23) on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. Kevin first invited me to perform at I ❤ Pluto Festival in 2023, then again in 2024. This year, he told me Alan Stern, Ph.D. from the New Horizons mission to Pluto, and Adam Nimoy were going to be the guests and asked if I wanted to write two poems, so I wrote two new pieces "The New Horizon" and "The Most Human," which I debuted at the festival. (Note Kevin's custom Pluto tie).

Arizona State Rep. Justin Wilmeth [District 2], Astronomy magazine editor-in-chief David Eicher, comet hunter David Levy and Christopher Fox Graham at Lowell Observatory with the map of the orbit of asteroid 29722 Chrisgraham (1999 AQ23) on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.

I performed two poems at Lowell Observatory's annual I ❤ Pluto Festival last night at the Orpheum Theatre.  I wrote two new pieces "The New Horizon," about Leonard Nimoy and his role as Spock, and "The Most Human,"  about the New Horizon mission to Pluto.

The featured guests were Adam Nimoy, a television director and son of the late actor Leonard Nimoy; Alan Stern, Ph.D., Principal Investigator of the New Horizons Mission to Pluto; comet-hunter David Levy, who co-discovered Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 (D/1993 F2) with Flagstaff scientists Gene and Carolyn Shoemaker. Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 famously broke apart in July 1992 and its pieces slammed into Jupiter in July 1994, the first collision of two of extraterrestrial Solar System objects that was direct observable.

Adam Nimoy speaking about his father, Leonard Nimoy and his new book, "The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy."

Adam Nimoy, David Levy, Alan Stern, Ph.D., and David Eicher, from left, on stage at the Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff.

Alan Stern, Ph.D., answering an audience question about the New Horizons mission to Pluto.

Nimoy, Stern and Levy participated in a discussion on how scientific exploration inspires humanity moderated by David Eicher, editor-in-chief of Astronomy magazine.

Adam Nimoy and Christopher Fox Graham after I ❤ Pluto Festival giving the Vulcan Salute

Alan Stern and Christopher Fox Graham after I ❤ Pluto Festival giving the Pluto Salute

After the event, a number of us -- Nimoy, Levy, Eicher, my good friend Lowell Observatory Historian and Public Information Officer Kevin Schindler, Chief Marketing Officer Cody Half-Moon and Arizona State Rep. Justin Wilmeth [District 2], who wrote the bill the named Pluto as Arizona's Official State Planet in 2024 -- headed over Lowell Observatory's Giovale Open Deck Observatory to look through telescopes at Mars, Jupiter, the Moon and the Orion Nebula. The staff stayed after hours to keep the GODO in place so we could use the telescopes.

Giovale Open Deck Observatory

Afterward, as Levy, Eicher, Wilmeth and I were walking back to the parking lot, Kevin said he had a gift for me ...

... an asteroid!

29722 Chrisgraham (1999 AQ23)

According to the description:

"29722 Chrisgraham" was discovered Jan. 14, 1999, by LONEOS at Anderson Mesa. Christopher Fox Graham (b. 1979) is an American journalist and longtime managing editor of Sedona Red Rock News. He is a nationally-recognized slam poet who has written and performed multiple poems about Pluto and other space themes."

It's 4 to 5 kilometers in diameter, orbiting the sun in just over 1,552 days, or 4.249 years.

Current location of asteroid 29722 Chrisgraham (1999 AQ23)

It has an inclination of 14.70 degrees from the ecliptic:

Asteroid 29722 Chrisgraham (1999 AQ23) is off the ecliptic by 14.70 degrees

And an orbital eccentricity of 0.123 (0 being a perfect circle, 1 being a parabola; e.g., Earth has an eccentricity of 0.016709 while Halley's comet has an eccentricity of 0.96658):

Huge thanks to Larry Wasserman, Ph.D., the longtime Lowell Observatory astronomer who maintains the Asteroid Orbital Elements Database and sends nominations for asteroid names to the International Astronomical Union.

Special thanks to Kevin Schindler (obviously) and Justin Wilmeth, David Levy and David Eicher for being part of our impromptu celebration.

Track asteriod 29722 Chrisgraham (1999 AQ23) here: ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html 

Osculating Orbital Elements

Epoch 2460800.5 (2025-May-05.0) TDB
Reference: JPL 57 (heliocentric IAU76/J2000 ecliptic)

Element	Value	Uncertainty (1-sigma)	Units
e	0.123863053596922	6.4653E-10
a	2.623394965358557	6.7557E-10	au
q	2.298453254158455	1.64E-9	au
i	14.70847304577334	3.2354E-8	deg
node	135.1805250376861	1.8459E-7	deg
peri	98.0162157504617	3.36E-7	deg
M	354.1630116692738	4.4962E-7	deg
tp	2460825.664034520440 2025-May-30.16403452	1.9454E-6	TDB
period	1552.007972959458 4.249166250402348	5.995E-7 1.6413e-9	d y
n	0.2319575712704176	8.96E-11	deg/d
Q	2.948336676558659	7.5925E-10	au

Huge thanks to Kevin and his team at Lowell Observatory who run an amazing event: Chief Marketing Officer Cody Half-Moon, Marketing Operations Coordinator Heather Craig, Communication Designer Alex Elbert, Brand Manager Sarah Gilbert and Content Writer Madison Mooney, as well as Lowell Observatory Operations Manager Amanda Bosh, Ph.D., who manages the observatory and the staff. She and Kevin are great at making the I ❤ Pluto Festival more than just an astronomy event by incorporating the community, bringing in local officials, glass-blower George Averbeck to create ornaments for the speakers, Mother Road Brewing Company founder Michael Marquess to brew a special beer every year and a poet to perform poems about Pluto and space.

Backstage in the green room at the Orpheum Theater with David Eicher, David Levy, Adam Nimoy, Kevin Schindler (standing) and Alan Stern, Ph.D., from left. Arizona State Rep. Justin Wilmeth [District 2] is reflected in the mirror.

I'm performing at the I Heart Pluto Festival, whose keynote speakers are Adam Nimoy, Dr. Alan Stern and David Levy

On Feb. 15, 2025, Lowell Observatory and the Orpheum Theater will present A Night of Discovery, commemorating the 95th anniversary of Clyde Tombaugh’s discovery of Pluto and the 10th anniversary of the New Horizons mission to explore this icy world. This is the keynote event of the 6th annual I Heart Pluto Festival, with the theme “To Boldly go Beyond New Horizons.”

Adam Nimoy, left, sporting “Spock ears” with his father, Leonard Nimoy. Photo by Adam Nimoy

The evening will feature an exclusive conversation with distinguished guests Adam Nimoy, a television director and son of the late actor Leonard Nimoy.

Adam Nimoy

Dr. Alan Stern (Principal Investigator of the New Horizons Mission to Pluto), 

Sol Alan Stern is an American engineer, planetary scientist and space tourist. He is the principal investigator of the New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Chief Scientist at Moon Express

and comet-hunting legend David Levy. David Eicher, Editor-in-Chief of Astronomy magazine, will moderate this discussion on how scientific exploration inspires humanity.

David Howard Levy, a Canadian amateur astronomer, science writer and discoverer of comets and minor planets, who co-discovered Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 in 1993.

Nimoy’s father starred in the iconic Star Trek television show, Stern led the New Horizons mission that revolutionized our understanding of Pluto, and Levy co-discovered — with legendary Flagstaff scientists Gene and Carolyn Shoemaker — Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, which collided with Jupiter in 1994. Each of these events captured the imagination of people around the world and spurred widespread curiosity about space and its exploration.

Following this discussion, Adam Nimoy will sign copies of his new book, "The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy" and the entire panel will also sign event posters. Books and posters will be available for purchase at the Orpheum throughout the evening.

Lowell Observatory Executive Director Dr. Amanda Bosh says, “We are pleased to join the Flagstaff community in celebrating our Pluto heritage and this esteemed group of presenters will inspire our imaginations to boldly go beyond our little corner of the solar system.”

Additional presentations and events during A Night of Discovery include:

Arizona State Rep. Justin Wilmeth will discuss the bill he introduced that declared Pluto as Arizona’s official state planet in 2024.

• Christopher Fox Graham, longtime editor of the Sedona Red Rock News and a noted slam poet, will read two poems he wrote honoring Pluto and Leonard Nimoy
• Lowell Observatory Historian Kevin Schindler will recount the story of Clyde Tombaugh’s discovery of Pluto on February 18, 1930, and how he ended up at the Orpheum on that momentous evening
• Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett and Coconino County Supervisor Patrice Horstman will read proclamations celebrating this year’s I Heart Pluto Festival
• FlagTagAZ will set up their popular axe-throwing cage just outside the Orpheum
• Lowell Observatory’s Starry Skies Shop will offer Pluto-themed merchandise for sale
• A Pluto-themed beer, created especially for this year’s I Heart Pluto Festival by Mother Road Brewing Company, will be available. Additional beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, as well as food will also be available for purchase throughout the evening

Doors open to the public at 6pm, with programs commencing at 7pm.

General admission tickets, as well as a VIP option that provides access to a private reception at 5pm with the presenters prior to the main program, are available at

wl.seetickets.us/event/i-heart-pluto-a-night-of-discovery/629870?afflky=OrpheumTheater

Background of the I Heart Pluto Festival

Flagstaff is often referred to as the “Home of Pluto” due to its significant contributions to research of this icy world. These efforts include Percival Lowell’s early searches for a ninth planet, “Planet X”; Clyde Tombaugh’s discovery of Pluto on February 18, 1930; Jim Christy’s detection of Pluto’s largest moon, Charon, in 1978; the first observation of Pluto’s atmosphere in 1988; early maps of Pluto’s surface; the New Horizons flyby of the Pluto system in 2015, and more. 

To celebrate this rich heritage, Lowell Observatory inaugurated the I Heart Pluto Festival in 2020. This community event is held annually on or near February 18. 

About Lowell Observatory

Founded in 1894, Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, is a prestigious nonprofit research institution renowned for its historic and groundbreaking discoveries, including the first evidence of the expanding universe and the discovery of Pluto. Today, Lowell's astronomers utilize global ground-based and space telescopes, along with NASA spacecraft, for diverse astronomical and planetary science research. The observatory hosts more than 100,000 visitors annually for educational tours, presentations, and telescope viewing through a suite of world-class public telescopes.

City of Sedona and Community Library Sedona launches search for Sedona Poet Laureate

City of Sedona & Community Library Sedona Poet Laureate Program

The city of Sedona in collaboration with the Community Library Sedona seek poet applicants for Sedona’s first Inaugural Poet Laureate Program. One senior and one junior poet will serve as ambassadors for a two-year term to elevate education in literature by promoting an appreciation of poetry in the community, and to inspire an emerging generation of literary artists and readers within our local schools. 

This announcement reflects City Council’s desire to continue to support and expand arts and culture programming within the city.  

Both poet laureates are expected to perform the following duties throughout their appointment: 

• Give up to four public readings per year. 
• Compose poems for community events and ceremonial occasions as requested. 
• Provide poetry workshops to area schools.  
• Pursue a major literary project with an emphasis on outreach and education, in addition to community outreach projects as requested. 
• Collaborate with other poet laureate programs in Arizona. 

The Senior Poet Laureate will receive a stipend of $2,000 for their two-year term and the Junior Poet Laureate will receive a scholarship to further their education. Both poets will receive per-diem costs for school outreach and workshops. 

The selection process 

The process will begin with a work group reviewing all applications and selecting up to five finalists. This group consists of the city of Sedona Arts and Culture Specialist Nancy Lattanzi, Executive Director Judy Poe of the Community Library Sedona and several local literary colleagues, including Rex Arrasmith, a widely published poet who spearheaded this initiative, Christopher Fox Graham, a poet who has been running the Sedona Poetry Slam for 16 years, Sedona Red Rock High School English teacher Jill Swaninger and Sedona Financial Services Director Barbara Whitehorn, whose father was apoet. 

The finalists will perform and be scored at four different consecutive events, including the Moment of Art at the City Council meeting on April 8, 2025; Mary D. Fisher Theater on April 12; the Community Library Sedona on April 16; and Tlaquepaque in late April. The two highest ranking applicants will be notified and appointed by the City Council at an upcoming City Council meeting in May. 

Eligibility 

To be eligible for this appointment, all applicants will undergo a background check and must: 

• Reside within the Sedona-Oak Creek School District boundaries for at least one year from the application date and must reside there for at least six months of the year. If applicants for the Senior Poet Laureate live outside the boundaries, they should demonstrate a strong connection to Sedona. 
• Be a poet in the literary arts in the community or beyond. 
• Be willing to make presentations throughout the Sedona area. 

The Junior Poet Laureate must meet the above requirements, as well as be a current student or recent graduate from a Sedona or Verde Valley schools, be between 16 and 20 years of age and willing to work closely with the Senior Poet Laureate. 

Sedona-Oak Creek School District boundaries

How to apply 

The deadline for nominations is March 19, 2025 by 5 p.m. To apply, send the following materials: 

• Cover letter with name, address, phone, email and publication history. 
• Statement describing why the nominee should be considered, why this appointment is important to the nominee, the nominee’s connection to Sedona and a brief proposal of planned initiatives and events designed to promote poetry within the community. 
• Writing samples of the nominee’s work published or unpublished, not to exceed 10 pages. 
• Nominee’s current resume or curriculum vitae.  

Please mail or email nomination packets to: 

Tasha Spuches, Assistant Director, Community Library Sedona
3250 White Bear Road
Sedona, AZ 86336
TSpuches@communitylibrarysedona.org 

More information 

For more information on the Poet Laureate Program, contact city Arts and Culture Specialist Nancy Lattanzi at 928-203-5078 or NLattanzi@SedonaAZ.gov.  

Sedona Poetry Slam returns on Saturday, Feb. 1

With 2024 in the rear-view mirror and 2025 underway, the Sedona Poetry Slam's 16th season, performance poets will bring high-energy, competitive spoken word to the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Saturday, Feb 1, starting at 7:30 p.m.

A poetry slam is like a series of high-energy, three-minute one-person plays, judged by the audience. Slam poetry is an art form that allows written page poets to share their work alongside theatrical performers, hip-hop artists and lyricists. Poets come from as far away as Phoenix, Tucson, Prescott and Flagstaff, competing against local poets from Sedona and Cottonwood, college poets from Northern Arizona University and youth poets from Verde Valley high schools. All types of poetry are welcome on the stage, from street-wise hip-hop and narrative performance poems, to political rants and introspective confessionals. Any poem is a "slam" poem if performed in a competition. All poets get three minutes per round to entertain and inspire the audience with their creativity.

Open Slam

Anyone can sign up to compete in the slam for the $75 grand prize and $25 second-place prize. To compete in the slam, poets will need three original poems, each lasting no longer than three minutes. No props, costumes nor musical accompaniment are permitted. The poets are judged Olympics-style by five members of the audience selected at random at the beginning of the slam.

Email foxthepoet@yahoo.com to sign up early to compete or by the Friday before the slam or at the door the day of the slam. Poets who want to compete should purchase a ticket in case the roster is filled before they arrive.

The Mary D. Fisher Theatre is located at 2030 W. SR 89A, Suite A-3, in West Sedona. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. For tickets, call 282-1177 or visit SedonaFilmFestival.org.

The next poetry slams will be on Saturdays, March 15, April 5, May 3 and finally on May 31.

The prize money is funded in part by a donation from Verde Valley poetry supporters Jeanne and Jim Freeland.

For more information, visit sedonafilmfestival.com or foxthepoet.blogspot.com.

For a full list of slam poetry events in Arizona, visit azpoet.com.

What is Poetry Slam?

Founded at the Green Mill Tavern in Chicago in 1984 by Marc Smith, poetry slam is a competitive artistic sport designed to get people who would otherwise never go to a poetry reading excited about the art form when it becomes a high-energy competition. Poetry slams are judged by five randomly chosen members of the audience who assign numerical value to individual poets' contents and performances.

Poetry slam has become an international artistic sport, with more than 100 major poetry slams in the United States, Canada, Australia and Western Europe. Slam poets have opened at the Winter Olympics, performed at the White House and at the United Nations General Assembly and were featured on "Russell Simmons' Def Poets" on HBO.

Sedona has sent four-poet teams to represent the city at the National Poetry Slam in Charlotte, N.C., Boston, Cambridge, Mass., Oakland, Calif., Decatur, Ga., Denver and Chicago. 

Flagstaff legend Ryan Smalley features at the Sedona Poetry Slam on Saturday, Oct. 19

The Sedona Poetry Slam hosts the second slam of its 16th year as performance poets bring high-energy, competitive spoken word to the Mary D. Fisher Theatre starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Saturday, Oct. 19.

Between rounds, Flagstaff spoken word legend Ryan Smalley will perform a featured set.

A poetry slam is like a series of high-energy, three-minute one-person plays, judged by the audience. Anyone can sign up to compete in the slam for the $75 grand prize and $25 second-place prize.

Ryan Smalley

Originally hailing from Alaska, Smalley attended Northern Arizona University to study political science, but left with an enduring love of spoken word and the written form.

His experience with music and theatre weaves itself through his works, leading to a frenetic display of wit, humor and social commentary through the rhythms of spoken word.

This combination has taken him to poetry competitions all over the country, competing with colleagues from all of Arizona to perform in Chicago, Denver, Portland, Ore., and Oakland, Calif. His nuanced writing combines seamlessly to deliver high-powered performances alone or in concert with others.

His approach to spoken word feels modern, yet arcane, exploring the intricacies of the internet and modern society as breathlessly as love, community and the natural world. His focus on the interconnectedness of these subjects, along with his deft performance style has captivated audiences for more than a decade.

Smalley won the Flagstaff Grand Poetry Slam three years in a row, from 2014 to 2016, against some of the top poets in Northern Arizona and was on the Flagstaff National Poetry Slam Team in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018, showcasing his talents across the country on behalf of his home community.

Open Slam

To compete in the slam, poets will need three original poems, each lasting no longer than three minutes. No props, costumes nor musical accompaniment are permitted. The poets are judged Olympics-style by five members of the audience selected at random at the beginning of the slam.

Slam poetry is an art form that allows written page poets to share their work alongside theatrical performers, hip-hop artists and lyricists. Poets come from as far away as Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff, competing against adult poets from Sedona and Cottonwood, college poets from Northern Arizona University and youth poets from Sedona Red Rock High School. All types of poetry are welcome on the stage, from street-wise hip-hop and narrative performance poems, to political rants and introspective confessionals. Any poem is a "slam" poem if performed in a competition. All poets get three minutes per round to entertain and inspire the audience with their creativity.

Mary D. Fisher Theatre is located at 2030 W. SR 89A, Suite A-3, in West Sedona. Tickets are $12 in advanceor $15 at the door. For tickets, call 282-1177, visitSedonaFilmFestival.org or click here.

The next poetry slams of the season will be held on Saturdays, Nov. 9, Feb 1, March 15, April 5, May 3 and finally on May 31.

The prize money is funded in part by a donation from Verde Valley poetry supporters Jeanne and Jim Freeland.

Email foxthepoet@yahoo.com to sign up early to compete or by the Friday before the slam or at the door the day of the slam. Poets who want to compete should purchase a ticket in case the roster is filled before they arrive.

For more information, visit sedonafilmfestival.com or foxthepoet.blogspot.com. For a full list of slam poetry events in Arizona, visit azpoet.com.

What is Poetry Slam?

Founded at the Green Mill Tavern in Chicago in 1984 by Marc Smith, poetry slam is a competitive artistic sport designed to get people who would otherwise never go to a poetry reading excited about the art form when it becomes a high-energy competition. Poetry slams are judged by five randomly chosen members of the audience who assign numerical value to individual poets' contents and performances.

Poetry slam has become an international artistic sport, with more than 100 major poetry slams in the United States, Canada, Australia and Western Europe. Slam poets have opened at the Winter Olympics, performed at the White House and at the United Nations General Assembly and were featured on "Russell Simmons' Def Poets" on HBO.

Sedona has sent four-poet teams to represent the city at the National Poetry Slam in Charlotte, N.C., Boston, Cambridge, Mass., Oakland, Calif., Decatur, Ga., Denver and Chicago.

The Sedona Poetry Slam returns for its 16th season with a kick off on Saturday, Sept. 28.

The Sedona Poetry Slam returns for its 16th season with a kick off on Saturday, Sept. 28. Performance poets will bring high-energy, competitive spoken word to the Mary D. Fisher Theatre starting at 7:30 p.m.

A poetry slam is like a series of high-energy, three-minute one-person plays, judged by the audience. Anyone can sign up to compete in the slam for the $75 grand prize and $25 second-place prize.

Open Slam

To compete in the slam, poets will need three original poems, each lasting no longer than three minutes. No props, costumes nor musical accompaniment are permitted. The poets are judged Olympics-style by five members of the audience selected at random at the beginning of the slam.

Slam poetry is an art form that allows written page poets to share their work alongside theatrical performers, hip-hop artists and lyricists. Poets come from as far away as Phoenix, Tucson, Prescott and Flagstaff, competing against local poets from Sedona and Cottonwood, college poets from Northern Arizona University and youth poets from Verde Valley high schools. All types of poetry are welcome on the stage, from street-wise hip-hop and narrative performance poems, to political rants and introspective confessionals. Any poem is a "slam" poem if performed in a competition. All poets get three minutes per round to entertain and inspire the audience with their creativity.

Email foxthepoet@yahoo.com to sign up early to compete or by the Friday before the slam or at the door the day of the slam. Poets who want to compete should purchase a ticket in case the roster is filled before they arrive.

The Mary D. Fisher Theatre is located at 2030 W. SR 89A, Suite A-3, in West Sedona. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. For tickets, call 282-1177 or visit SedonaFilmFestival.org.

Click here for tickets

The next poetry slam of the season will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19, featuring Ryan Smalley, of Flagstaff, between rounds. Subsequent slams will be on Saturdays Nov. 9, Feb 1, March 15, April 5, May 3 and finally on May 31.

The prize money is funded in part by a donation from Verde Valley poetry supporters Jeanne and Jim Freeland.

For more information, visit sedonafilmfestival.com or foxthepoet.blogspot.com.

For a full list of slam poetry events in Arizona, visit azpoet.com.

What is Poetry Slam?

Founded at the Green Mill Tavern in Chicago in 1984 by Marc Smith, poetry slam is a competitive artistic sport designed to get people who would otherwise never go to a poetry reading excited about the art form when it becomes a high-energy competition. Poetry slams are judged by five randomly chosen members of the audience who assign numerical value to individual poets' contents and performances.

Poetry slam has become an international artistic sport, with more than 100 major poetry slams in the United States, Canada, Australia and Western Europe. Slam poets have opened at the Winter Olympics, performed at the White House and at the United Nations General Assembly and were featured on "Russell Simmons' Def Poets" on HBO.

Sedona has sent four-poet teams to represent the city at the National Poetry Slam in Charlotte, N.C., Boston, Cambridge, Mass., Oakland, Calif., Decatur, Ga., Denver and Chicago.

Buddy Wakefield, "Pretend", Individual World Poetry Slam, 2004

 

Buddy Wakefield performs "Pretend" in the final round of the 2004 iWPS in Greenville, SC.

Videographers: Gabrielle Bouliane and Tazuo Yamaguchi

Corbet Dean, "Habit of Hate", Individual Wold Poetry Slam Finals 2004

 

Corbet Dean performs "Habit of Hate" on the stage of the Individual Wold Poetry Slam Finals in 2004. Videographers: Gabrielle Bouliane, Tazuo Yamaguchi

Shane Koyczan: "Beethoven", Individual National Poetry Slam Championship, 2000

Shane Koyczan performs "Beethoven" in the Individual National Poetry Slam Championship 2000 in Providence, R.I.

Lead videographer: Tazuo Yamaguchi

Ali Langston: "For What Are You Willing to Die?", Individual World Poetry Slam, 2004

Taylor Mali. MC, introduces Ali Langston, performing his poem "For What Are You Willing to Die? at Individual World Poetry Slam 2004 in Greenville, SC.

Videographers: Gabrielle Bouliane, Tazuo Yamaguchi 

Jeremy Richards, Nathan Ramos "T.S. Elliot's Lost Hip-Hop Poem" 2002 National Poetry Slam

T.S. Elliot's Lost Hip-Hop Poem 

By Jeremy Richards

Performed by Jeremy Richards and Nathan Ramos at the 2002 National Poetry Slam's Team Championship

Let us roll then

you and I

the evening stretched out against the sky

like a punk ass I laid out with my fat rhymes

the eternal footman is no one to fuck with

alas he shall bring the ruckus

you think that you can step to this

and lo, I hear your steps like Lazarus

echoing through my soul

bring the bass

straight out of Missouri

Harvard University in your face

I’ve got ladies in waiting all over the place

hear them singing each to each

do I dare eat a peach

you’re damn right I

‘ll eat a peach

for who shall stop me with my

roof rock nonstop a clippity-clop a clippity-clop

I hear the horses carrying the wassailers

I’m ready to impale their ears with my verse

rolling off my parched tongue the way

trousers roll off my ankles

no other literati around

can confound

the post-Victorian quickness I bring

to the microphone

— though I shall die alone —

but not before I rock the house

watch me douse you in my eternal flame

of a freaky-ass style

my crew has the knowhow

with the European tangent

Кто твой папа сейчас (kto tvoy papa sejcas)

the Russian for “who’s your daddy now?”

for I will tell you that I have

scuttled across the floors of ancient clubs

and yay, knowing that you may never return

I will tell you this

that I have

been over to a friend’s house for dinner

and lo, the food was not any good

the macaroni soggy the

pees mushy and the

chicken tasted of wood

like the wooden coffin I created for myself

if this is going to be that sort of a party

I will stuff my desire into the mashed potatoes

I tell no lie

I will show you fear

and a handful of hip-hop

making your body rock

your soul shutter

your utter of disbelief

when the old school

the ancient school

returns from busty bookcovers

and scorned lovers

to reign again on

the open poetry mic

bring the pathos

bring the pathos

bring the pathos

you wannabe MC’s just can’t stop

till human voices

wake us

and we back the fuck up

into

eternity

At the National Poetry Slam 2002 Team Championship in Minneapolis, MN, on the stage at The Orpheum Theatre, Jeremy Richards (primary author) and Nathan Ramos of Seattle, WA perform "TS Elliot's Lost Hip Hop Poem" in Round 2 on August 13, 2002. 

Video Lead: Gabrielle Bouliane 
Cameras: Emil Churchin, Mike Cadela 
Video and Audio editing and production: Tazuo Yamaguchi 
PSi Executive Director: Steve Marsh Host City Chair: Cynthia French

Aja, Uninvited, Tahami Salah: "Faith"

 Aja, Uninvited and Tahami Salah from Nuyorican, NY performs "Faith" during  NPS 2007 in Austin, TX as an unscored poem in compensation for a technical error that occurred earlier in the round.

Cameras: Aaron Trumm, Tazuo Yamaguchi, IQ and Jen

Video editing: Tazuo Yamaguchi

PSI ED: Steve Marsh

Host City Chair: Mike Henry

A brief history of the Flagstaff Poetry Slam Team 2001-2024

 

December 2000, FlagSlam founded.
First FlagSlam Dynasty
The Founders' Era 

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.

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) Dallas

(2) Los Angeles

(3) Seattle

(4) New York, NYC-Urbana

56 teams

Individual Finals

(1) Mayda del Valle

(2) Beau Sia

(3) Shawn V.

(4) Morris Stegosaurus

(5) Angela Boyce

(6) Mama Blue

Second FlagSlam Dynasty

Kofonow Era

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

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

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

Tie: New York, NYC-Urbana and Detroit

(3) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe

(4) Seattle

54 teams

Individual Finals

(1) Sekou tha Misfit

(2) Corbet Dean, of Mesa

(3) Kamal Symonette-Dixon

(4) Xero Skidmore

(5) Rives

(6) Gina Loring

(7) Shane Koyczan

(8) Joel Chmara

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.

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) Los Angeles

(2) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe

(3) Austin

(4) Oakland

Individual Finals

(1) Mighty Mike McGee

(2) Shane Koyczan

(3) Delisle

(4) Soul Evans

(5) Omari

(6) Suzy La Follette

(7) Corina Delgado

(8) Anis Mojgani

(9) Da Shade

(10) Jive Poetic

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. This was the first NORAZ Poets slam team.

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.This was the secondNORAZ Poets slam team.

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. This was the third and final NORAZ Poets slam team.

Third FlagSlam Dynasty
Johnson-Phillips Era

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 January 2007, Christopher Lane and his NORAZ Poets nonprofit stopped doing any poetry slams in cut all financial support to FlagSlam. Slammaster Aaron Johnson left Flagstaff and with his departure, the leaderless slam lost its venue. By all accounts, after NPS 2007, the FlagSlam's continued existence was in doubt.

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) Charlotte, SlamCharlotte

(2) Rhyme or Die (Killeen, Texas)

(3) New York, louderARTS

(4) Denver, Slam Nuba

(5) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe

76 teams

Individual Finals* 

(1) Danny Sherrard

(2) Christopher Michael

(3) Shannon Leigh

(4) Alvin Lau

Other finalists: Kealoha

Michael Guinn

6 is 9

Ed Mabrey

Oz

Robbie Q. Telfer

*This was the final year Individual Finals were held at the National Poetry Slam. A separate tournament, the Individual World Poetry Slam, or iWPS, would be held in the fall starting in 2008.

Fourth FlagSlam Dynasty

Rebirth Era (Cartier-Brown-O'Brien, notable for the Lost Boys and the "Flagstaff cadence")

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

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) Charlotte, SlamCharlotte

(2) New York, louderARTS

(3) Austin

(4) Boston, Cantab

75 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) NYC-Urbana

(2) Slam Nahuatl Richmond VA

(3) Killeen Texas

(4) Cleveland

(5) Atlanta

(6) Philadelphia

(7) Charlotte

(8) Honolulu

(9) Chicago-Green Mill

(10) Phoenix (Aaron Johnson, The Klute, KB Chesko, Christian Drake, Rowie Shebala)

(11) Loser Slam, Lincroft, N.J.

(12) Seattle

(13) Fort Worth

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

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) St. Paul, Soapboxing

(2) Albuquerque, ABQ Slams

(3) San Francisco

(4) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe

68 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) Berkeley Poetry Slam

(2) Seattle Poetry Slam

(3)  Fort Worth Poetry Slam

(4) The Stage, West Palm Beach, Fla. 

(5) Art Amok, Atlanta

(6) California- Life Sentence Slam

(7) Loser Slam, New Jersey

(8) Toronto Poetry Slam

(9) Salt City Slam, Salt Lake City

(10) Slamarillo, Amarillo Texas

Fifth FlagSlam Dynasty

Brown Era

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 after landing at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport the day before NPS)
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.

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) St. Paul, Soapboxing

(2) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe

(3) Bull City Slam Team, Durham, North Carolina 

(4) Austin, Neo Soul

78 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) Slam New Orleans

(2) Pomona

(3) Santa Cruz

(4) Oakland

(5) Vancouver

(6) Minneapolis, 

(7) Fort Worth

(8) Ocotillo, (Tucson, Arizona)

(9) Seattle

(10) Urbana

(11) Toronto

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.

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) Denver, Slam Nuba

(2) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe

(3) Providence Poetry Slam

(4) Columbus, Ohio Writing Wrongs

76 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) ABQ Slams

(2) Austin Poetry Slam

(3) The Intangible Slam, New York City

(4) Dallas Poetry Slam

(5) Elevated! (San Diego)

(6) Houston Poetry Slam

(7) Knoxville Poetry Slam

(8) Austin Neo Soul

(9) Houston VIP

(10) Eclectic Truth, Baton Rouge, La. 

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 (Joined team)

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) Slam New Orleans

(2) Killeen, Texas

(3) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe

(4) Hollywood (Da Poetry Lounge)

72 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) Austin Neo Soul

(2) Bull City Slam

(3) ABQ Slams

(4) Dallas Poetry Slam

(5) Piedmont Poetry Slam

(6) Burlington Slam Project

(7) Jersey City Poetry Slam

(8) Loser Slam

(9) Vancouver Poetry Slam

(10) Urbana

Sixth FlagSlam Dynasty

Quinonez Era

In 2013: 24th National Poetry Slam in Boston, Cambridge and Somerville, Mass.:
Grand Slam Champion: Christopher Fox Graham
Jackson Morris
Vincent Vega, aka Vincent Simone
Verbal Kensington (opted out to give Gabbi Jue her slot and compete for the Sedona National Poetry Slam Team)
Alternate: Austin Reeves (Joined team)
2nd alternate: Gabbi Jue (Joined team)

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) Slam New Orleans

(2) Hollywood (Da Poetry Lounge)

(3) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe

(4) Elevated! San Diego

70 teams

Group Piece Finals

(tie 1) Austin Neo Soul / Intangible Slam

(tie 3) Java Monkey / Houston VIP

(5) Hear Here (Colorado Springs)

(6) Battle Born (Las Vegas)

(7) Seattle Poetry Slam (Seattle)

(8) Dallas Poetry Slam (Dallas)

(9) Salt City Slam (Salt Lake City)

(10) Sedona Poetry Slam (Sedona, Arizona)

In 2014: 25th National Poetry Slam in Oakland, Calif.:
Grand Slam Champion: Ryan Smalley
Josh Wiss
Josh Floyd
Christopher Fox Graham
Alternate: Claire Pearson (Joined team)
Coach: John Quinonez

A caravan headed from Flagstaff: The Yorktown, The Truth Bomber and The Majin Buu. On the first night in Oakland, The Yorktown was broken into and thieves stole computers and clothes from John Quinonez, Christopher Fox Graham and Ryan Smalley but we still had an awesome time.

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) D.C. Beltway Poetry Slam

(2) New York, NYC-Urbana

(3) Slam New Orleans

(4) Denver, Slam Nuba

72 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) Hear, Hear! Poetry Slam

(2) Austin Neo Soul

(3) WU Slam (St. Louis)

(4) Philly Pigeon

(5) Palo Alto

(6) Verbal Slap

(7) Lethal Poetry (Chicago)

(8) Denver Mercury

(9) Battle Born (Las Vegas)

(10) Boise Poetry Slam

In 2015: 26th National Poetry Slam in Oakland, Calif.:
Grand Slam Champion: Ryan Smalley
Christopher Fox Graham 
Gabbi Jue
Vincent Vega (Moved to Japan prior to NPS)
Alternate: Claire Pearson (Joined team)
Coach: John Quinonez

 Due to the untimely death of regular FlagSlam poet Lauren Delores Spencer in a car accident, the FlagSlam donated money to assist with funeral expenses. FlagSlam was late paying for registration and instead was placed on the waiting list, but never made it to the regular rotation. Team members went and volunteered and still had an awesome time. 

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) The House Slam (Boston)

(2) Hawaii Slam

(3) Berkeley Slam

(4) Denver Mercury Poetry Slam

72 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) Austin Poetry Slam

(2) Palo Alto

(3) Austin Neo Soul

(4) Slam Charlotte

(5) Atlanta Art Amok

(6) Rain City

(7) Lizard Lounge Poetry Slam

(8) Fort Worth

(9) Portland Poetry Slam

(10) Seattle Poetry Slam

Seventh FlagSlam Dynasty

Quorum of Five Era

In 2016: 27th National Poetry Slam in Decatur, Ga.
Grand Slam Champion: Ryan Smalley
Gabbi Jue
Claire Pearson
Christopher Fox Graham 
Alternate: Kim Possible, aka Kim Jarchow, (Joined team)
Coach: John Quinonez

John Quinonez officially stepped down as slammaster at the conclusion of the slam, handing the reins of slammastership to a Quorum of Five: Gabbi Jue, Rowie Shebala, Wil Williams, Claire Pearson and Kim Jarchow. To be clear, Wil Williams is, without a doubt, an absolute shitbag person, rudely condescending, most especially to other women, ignorantly and embarrassingly self-righteous and wholly unprepared to lead anything other than a solo long walk off a short pier.  I had very little to do with her but the exodus of veteran poets sick of her strong-arm tactics to dominate the event was deafening. She literally made other poets I love cry and drove freshman poets away and they called me about it. After running the slam in the ground and causing the five-women to break up as leaders, Facing a coup or complete dissolution of the slam, Wil Williams fled both the slam and Flagstaff and is reportedly holed up in Phoenix as a  "podcast critic," which is as pointless as that sounds and, unsurprisingly, "reviews" things because she made her judgmentalism professionally masturbatory. If she gets hit by a truck, most Flagstaff poets will feel bad for the truck and I know which women will be driving it. 

In any case, FlagSlam has seen struggles before, but Wil Williams was a clear, present and unique threat to its survival even more so than COVID a few years later.

 Kim Jarchow and Claire Pearson salvaged the slam and rebuilt it.

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) Slammageddon Baltimore

(2) San Diego PoetrySLAM

(3) The House Slam (Boston)

(4) Austin NeoSoul

72 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) ABQ Slams

(2) Dada Poetry Slam

(3) Burlington Ontario

(4) Northampton Poetry

(5) Freshwater Wordsmiths

(6) OM Center Poetry Slam

(7) Alchemy Slam

(8) Union Square Slam

(9) Nuyorican Poets Café

(tie 10) Hear Here / Houston Poetry Slam / Puro Slam

Eighth FlagSlam Dynasty

Jarchow-Pearson-Gates Era

In 2017: 28th National Poetry Slam in Denver. Colo.

Grand Slam Champion: Josh Wiss

Christopher Fox Graham

Kim Possible, aka Kim Jarchow

Claire Pearson

Alternate: Gabbi Jue, (Joined team)

Coach: Davey Latour, I guess?

This year, I stayed in the Denver suite of the Sedona team (Lydia Gates, Briana Grace Hammerstrom, Rob Chandler Gonzalez and Kenny Kreslake), along with Davey Latour. The suite was awesome and worth every penny.

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) San Diego PoetrySLAM

(2) Brooklyn Poetry Slam

(3) The House Slam (Boston)

(4) Da Poetry Lounge Slam Team (Los Angeles)

84 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) Dada Poetry Slam

(2) Slam Charlotte Poetry Slam

(3) PuroSlam

(4) Eclectic Truth

(5) Salt City Slam

(6) The Writers Den

(7) Boise Poetry Slam

(tie 8) Steel City Slam / ABQ Slams

(10) Toronto Poetry Slam

(11) Boston Poetry Slam

(12) Ktown Mic Drop Slam

(13) Rain City Slam

In 2018: 29th and final National Poetry Slam in Chicago, Ill.

Grand Slam Champion: Kim Possible, aka Kim Jarchow

Ryan Smalley

Christopher Fox Graham

Lydia Gates

Alternate: Tempest (Joined team)

Coach: None

This year, the Poetry Slam Inc., nonprofit collapse following a contentious SlamMaster's meeting that saw Executive Director Suzy Q, be fired the day before the meeting, then the entire board resign, and a caretaker board eventually form to settle accounts, host iWPS in the fall, then dissolve. It was a mess.

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) Charlotte, SlamCharlotte

(2) Da Poetry Lounge Slam Team (Los Angeles)

(3) Slammageddon Baltimore

(4) Salt City Unified (Salt Lake City)

72 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) Art Amok

(2) Austin Poetry Slam

(3) The Retort United (The Drunken Retort)

(4) The Fuze Poetry Slam

(5) Jersey City Slam

(6) Orlando Poetry Slam

(7) Boise Poetry Slam

(8) St. Louis Poetry Slam

(9) Nitty Gritty Slam

(10) For The Win

(11) Slam Free or Die

Ninth FlagSlam Dynasty

Gates-Tempest Era

From 2019 to 2024: No National Poetry Slam was held

Grand Slam Champion: Zane Schechterle

Gabbi Jue

Lydia Gates

Catheryn Dawn Tarazi

Levi Phillips

The COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, ending the slam until the fall of 2021. Kim Jarchow moved to Colorado and Tempest Black took over co-hosting duties with Lydia Gates. 

The slam resumed in person in 2022 and was back up to full speed in 2023 and 2024, sending teams to regional competitions in Albuquerque, N.M., and Portland Oregon.

On the national level, some strong local and regional slams continued. Other slams, including some major ones with national presence and long histories faded or outright ended during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Arizona slams in Northern Arizona continued. 

In the Phoenix area, the Ghost Slam at the Rebel Lounge, hosted by Cylie Lawrence and Josh Naylor, began, reinvigorating the Phoenix area poetry scene. 

Linda Boser, LMB, in Prescott, began a new slam in that city, which hadn't one since the mid-2000s. 

In June 2023

Arizona poetry scenes were supportive of each other, but in many scene, the "old slam" and the "new slam" faced tensions with veteran poets somewhat dismissive of the younger poets starting poetry slams. In response to this tension and a Facebook meme of "Your poems are not good because ..." brought this tension to the forefront, to which I wrote a response poem "Your Poems Are Not Good Because ... [a response]" or "The Rise, Fall and Renaissance of Poetry Slam"

Gypsee Yo, "To My Daughter, Emma"

Gypsee Yo from Atlanta, Ga., performs "To My Daughter, Emma" during the finals night showcase of remarkable poems selected from prelim bouts at National Poetry Slam 2007 in Austin, Texas. 

Cameras: Aaron Trumm, Tazuo Yamaguchi, IQ and Jen

Video editing: Tazuo Yamaguchi

PSI ED: Steve Marsh

Host City Chair: Mike Henry

Shappy Seasholtz: "Does She Like Me?"

Host Mike Henry introduces emcee Patricia Smith who introduces NPS contestant, Shappy with his poem "Does She Like Me?"

Celena Glenn "Roach Motel", Individual World Poetry Slam, 2004

Taylor Mali, MC, introduces Celena Glenn who performs her poem, "Roach Motel" in Round 2 of iWPS 2004 in Greenville, SC.

Videographer: Gabrielle Bouliane 

Cass King: "It's Not Easy Being a Victim in the '90s", National Poetry Slam 2000

 Paula Friedrich introduces Cass King performing "It's Not Easy Being a Victim in the '90s."

GNO: "Say 'WORD'" National Poetry Slam 2000

Patricia Smith introduces GNO at the National Poetry Slam in Providence, RI in August of 2000 where he performs, "Say, 'WORD'."

Videographer: Gabrielle Bouliane

Taylor Mali: "What Teachers Make", National Poetry Slam 2009

At NPS 2009 in West Palm Beach, FL, Taylor Mali of New York, NY offers "What Teachers Make" at the PG Slam in a public library. This poem can be found elsewhere on this site in context as Slam Safe II    • Slam Safe II: A Whole PG rated Slam