Edgar Allen Poe, Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson are all well known for their original poetry, which has shaped the art as we know it today. But today, there are loads of local poets around that might make Poe, Frost and Dickinson rethink what they know about poetry. These poets participate in the Eugene Poetry Slam, a competitive art of performance poetry.
Marietta Bonaventure, the “Slammaster” and brains behind the operation, has been hosting the Eugene Poetry Slam for three years. Until this year, the nine-month-long Poetry Slam season was held at Bonaventure’s business, Foolscap Books, previously located on the corner of Eighth and Blair. After Foolscap became a strictly online business, the nationally-recognized Eugene Poetry Slam lost its home, but not its 100-plus fan following. Luckily, Territorial Winery, at Third and Adams, was open for something fresh, and the Eugene Poetry Slam got a new residence.
“This is a good venue and it’s great to get people in here,” Territorial Winery wine-maker John Jarboe said. “It’s a big, huge open space and it’s a good deal for everyone involved.”
Poetry Slam participant Kitt Jennings seems to agree.
“It’s a really friendly venue. It’s really nice and a great atmosphere,” said Jennings, who took first place in this year’s first slam on Oct. 23.
The slamming takes place the second Saturday of each month in the winery’s pressing room, a large warehouse where the wine is made, and is open to all ages. For those 21 and older, wines are always available for purchase at the wine bar and lounge.
The second round of the poetry slam will take place this Saturday at 8 p.m. with sign-ups starting at 7 p.m. A maximum of 15 poets can sign up to perform, but if more wish to participate, a lottery will take place to allow a few more to join in the fun. Everyone is welcome to come watch the poets speak original work for a $5 cover.
The top three winners of each slam win a cash prize and are automatically qualified for the playoffs, which take place in April. The winners of each playoff then advance to the finals, where the top four winners then become the Eugene Poetry Slam Team and participate in the national competition, to be held this year in Albuquerque, N.M.
There’s also an option for those who love slamming poetry, but hate the competition side of it. The Spoken Word Showcase, held in the Downtown Lounge the first Sunday of every month, is open for anyone over 21 who wishes to spread his or her words without challenging anyone else.
Slam Poetry has become a popular art all over the country. Approximately 70 separate poetry slam teams participated in last year’s nationals, which took place in St. Louis. The Eugene team is a good mixture of both sexes and Jennings warns that women are the ones to watch this year.
“Most of the time, the number of men and women participating was about even, or at least pretty close. There were times where it wasn’t quite even, which disappointed us, but we saw it as progress compared to how it was before,” Jennings said. “But this year, I really think that the girls are the ones to contend with.”
According to its followers, this growing art form has reached popularity because of the power of speech it gives people and the love for the art of poetry.
“I think the most amazing thing about slam poetry is there is a certain controversy to it; sometimes it becomes more performance and less actual poetry for some people. But basically it gives people a voice who normally wouldn’t have a voice,” Bonaventure said. “There’s no other event where you see people running outside during breaks to sit down to write because they’re so inspired.”
“Slam is an interesting game,” Jennings said. “And I’m glad that I’ve already qualified (for playoffs) because now I can just sit back and watch the drama
unfold.”

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