"Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare."
--Poet and Librarian Audre Lorde

Poetry Slam Guidelines:

  • Please prepare three poems for three rounds of competition.
  • Each solo poem should be of the poet's own creation.
  • Memorization is not required.
  • Each poem should be no longer than three minutes.
  • Poets will not need props or background music.
  • The Libraries strive to create a safe and inclusive environment. No hate speech of any kind allowed.

The winning poets for 2021 are:

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Submissions from 2021

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Exam, Chera Broadnax

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Just One Story, Chera Broadnax

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Months of the Year, Chera Broadnax

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Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned, Rachel R. Mantos

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Just the Ones That Made the News, Rachel R. Mantos

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Van Gogh, Rachel R. Mantos

Video of 2021 Poetry Slam Performances, Old Dominion University Libraries

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Definitions, Iris (Pettie) Perkins

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Letter to My 12 Year-Old Self, Iris (Pettie) Perkins

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Skills, Iris (Pettie) Perkins