Slam Poetry’s Wonder Woman
Disclaimer: This post is safe for work (SFW) but some of the links and the video are not!
You’ve met the lewd, loud, and proud dudes of slam poetry. Now meet one gal who could take them all on.
She’s got all the ingredients — talent, spunk, and a penchant for performing. Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz is to slam poetry what Wonder Woman is to the Justice League. She can get down and dirty like a porn star and just as easily, she can wax literary about love.
IndieFeed’s Mongo introduces her as a “boot-stomping, whip-slinging sass machine,” an apt description to be sure.
Here’s the skinny:
Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz is a New York City-based poet and author. Founder and host of the three-time National Poetry Slam Championship venue, NYC-Urbana, Cristin has authored four books of poetry and has performed throughout the U.S. and Australia.
Want to learn more about her? Visit Cristin online at www.aptowicz.com.
Now, let’s dig in and check out some of Cristin’s slam poetry performances. We’ve got video, audio, and text. She’s made herself available to us in every format so let’s take a peek at a true poetry rock star.
Watch Her Live and in Color
Check it Out Loud
Here are a few select audio pieces. To listen, follow the link, then click on the POD symbol next to the title.
To Whom it May Concern – I have a feeling every Writing Forward reader will relate to this poem. Listen all the way to end and notice how loudly the audience is stomping and cheering. That’s the mark of a slam master right there.
Mother – This is one of the earliest slam poetry performances I ever heard and to this day it’s still one of my favorites. I love it extra because it reminds me of my own mom.
Estephania – An ode to the grit and glory of life as young, awkward misfit.
Now, Give Back
If you’re crazy about Cristin, show your love and buy her books, and if you’re ever in New York City, be sure to stop by the Bowery Poetry Club on a Tuesday night to check out Urbana Poetry.
Cristin also has four books of published poetry. These are all on my wish list. Which one are you going to get?
Slam Poetry Goodies
Do you have a favorite performance poet or slam poetry piece that you’d like to share? Are you enjoying slam poetry month or are you eager to move on to some other writing topic? Let it rip in the comments.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Melissa! I was having the opening twitches of a stressful morning when I came across this entry. Now I’m mopping coffee out of my keyboard and wiping down my monitor. She’s a gem, definitely.
Bill Womacks last blog post..Proper Use of the Imperative
@Bill, I know! She totally rocks! Listening to this stuff will definitely brighten up your blues or get you all riled up when you’re feeling humdrum.
Hi Melissa – Thanks for this. I love slam poetry and I’ll definitely be checking Cristin out.
Melissa,
I like Kristin, and I’d like to see her in NY. I watched the You Tube video and I’ll watch the rest when I have more time. This is the kind of post I will eat little by little.
Very good poetry. And she recites it so emphatically! So right about Shakespeare, too.
Country. hehe
Maybe this is one of the reasons I got a crush on my Shakespeare professor. He inspired me to delve into the Renaissance in my fiction because he brought it all alive for us. Well, at least for me he did. Some people were bored out of their wits.
Libido will do wonders for your art!
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@Cath, Do come back and let us know what you think of Cristin’s slam poetry!
@Ellen, I think what sets Cristin apart is her voice. She’s got a great reading voice! The funny thing about “country” is that I remember my college professor saying the EXACT same thing, so I was howling when I heard this piece. And you’re right, sexing up a piece of writing definitely does wonders
hehehee!
I’m freaking out right now a little bit because that stage she was performing on looked so familar. I kinda find it strange that I can identify a stage when so many of them can look alike, especially in the dark. But I just may have possibly performed there with my poetry class in my last and only year at SUNY Purchase. And my teacher who brought us there (and taught us well, I must add) is none other than Hettie Jones. I don’t know of you’re familiar with her work, I know I wasn’t until I met her, but she’s a wonderful little lady and I want to thank you for in a 6-degrees-of-seperation kind’ve way helping me reunite with her. I lost her email address and I haven’t talked to her in a couple years. Hopefully she’ll remember me, but thanks for that.
On top of all of that, I’m inspired to write at least one piece that’s meant for performance.
And I don’t know when I will post that video of me singing. Since I know I can do better now, I’m sort’ve embarrassed by it. But this all leads back to what you just talked about.
t.sterlings last blog post..progress and pizza
@t. sterling, How about that video of you singing then another showing how you’ve improved? That would truly demonstrate the power of recording performances. I think it’s impressive that you can recognize a stage and I’d love to see, read, or listen to any piece you write for performance!
Melissa, why must you make good points that make sense? I dislike you… in a good way. I’ll post the video later tonight.
I do have a couple performed poems. http://www.behance.net/Gallery/Hey-Lady/102240
That one is a favorite of my friends and family called “Hey Lady!” I performed that a few times. I really need to memorize it.
t. sterlings last blog post..progress and pizza
Melissa — Cristin rocks. Nice post about her. I’m loving it.
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@t. sterling, I didn’t realize my points were that good, lol! “Hey Lady” is a really cute poem, and I mean that in a good way
I’m looking forward to seeing your videos!
@Amy, Cristin rocks SO much. She sent me a copy of one of her books as a thank you for this post. How awesome is that? Getting that surprise in the mail made great an otherwise rotten day yesterday