Words Take Flight as BK Teens Compete In Poetry Slam Finals

Some of Brooklyn’s finest youth poets will gather on Saturday, July 27 to compete in Parle´ Endeavors’ 2nd Annual Poetry Slam at Poets House. Ten poets are scheduled to battle it out for a chance to win up to $1,000 in cash prizes.  

Kevin Benoit, a media entrepreneur and owner of Parle´ Endeavors, a youth mentorship nonprofit organization, is no stranger to the poetry slam scene. Since 2005, Benoit has spent much of his young adult years hosting slams for younger people, which eventually turned into tours at various colleges around the country. 

For the finals, judges will be looking for contestants to bring their A-game. Contestants will be expected to have at least three poems prepared to perform as they navigate the three final slam rounds.  

They will be judged on their ability to tell stories through their poetry, according to Benoit. The group of seven judges will choose winners based on their overall stage presence, content and delivery. 

For Aniyah Artis, 17, this is her second year performing in the poetry slam showcase. She began writing poetry in her freshman year of high school as a way to express herself better. From there, she used her skills to grow in confidence and meet other poets, she said.

The Brooklyn resident said writing poetry made her better understand herself. 

“And [I] trust myself now, my story, and that's what I'm telling in these poems," Artis told BK Reader. 

This year, her technique is to read the room before she heads on stage, she said. This way, Artis can connect with the crowd to determine what poem to perform. 

For other first-time performers like Iylena Smalls, competing in the various stages of the competition made her blossom as a performer.

When the competition first began, Smalls, 16, admitted she was nervous and would constantly doubt herself. But now, moving into the finals, Smalls, who also lives in Brooklyn, said she is more comfortable in her artistry and is taking advantage of her ability to bring a powerful stage presence. 

“People don't want to feel like they're being talked to. People want to feel like they are in the poem,” explained Smalls. “Rather than just having them listen to what you're saying, it becomes a different level of artistry. There's a beautiful thing.”

Beyond the artistry of poetry, Benoit hopes that each contestant will continue to use their writing and performing skills to advance their career. 

Throughout his time hosting poetry slams, he has seen many of the poets become journalists, actors, and writers for television, he said.

“There are enough avenues for growth just through poetry,” Benoit said. “Whether you are going to be creative, whether you’re a journalist, whether you're going to be a teacher, there are just so many things you can do.” 

The poetry slam finals take place on Saturday, July 27 at Poets House in Manhattan. To support the creative endeavors of the contestants and other young poets, you can donate here.