e-poets Plain Text: Poetry across frontiers (12)

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artist Heather Haley
Vancouver, BC, Canada

Cinasphere
Vallejo, California, USA

Poet in Residence
Queensland, Australia

Farrago Poetry
London, England

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Poetry across frontiers (12)

response from Vancouver, Canada

Dear All;

My perspective as a Canadian and an ex-pat who resided in the US for many years is probably hopelessly biased, albeit somewhat unique. Canada's complex culture, identity, has long struggled to emerge from beneath the shadows of both Britain and the US. It was not so long ago that Britain was the world's main Imperialist power and we, its polite colony.

Oddly, to varying degrees and on different matters, I am able able to empathize with just about all of you. I don't concern myself with building a slam aesthetic (on our own terms) or whether it's a dreaded US import, because, with all due respect, I can't abide slam. Though it doesn't impact me personally, it flies here, and plays in Montreal. To some extent, Canadian cities have adopted it, or adapted to it.

But, bear with me Kurt, for you've heard it before: Poets are not wrestlers and poetry is not a competition. I know, I know, "it's empowering, it brings poetry to the uninitiated" and is supposedly a democratic forum. Some of my best friends are slammers and I'm not here to slam Slam, but I have always been skeptical, largely due to slam's harsh, ass-on-the-line-in-the-sand mentality. It's no surprise to hear talk of its corruption. I've always been a big booster of performance poetry open mics and spoken word -- I was influenced by, and engaged in, LA's incredibly diverse and vibrant literary/coffee house scene. It was my beat. I was also writing reviews and feature articles for the LA Weekly. I don't recall slam having much of a role. I attended several in the late eighties and walked out both times.

The need for self-expression is universal. As I thought then, it's unfortunate such a need has to be nutured at the circus. I too have never judged American poetry by slam standards or I'm sure I would have fled many years earlier. It may sound good... to some... to others, it's strident, shrill, or merely loud... that's coming from someone weaned on punk rock. I just tune it out. Thankfully, that is my prerogative.

Be well
- Heather Haley

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