Poetry slams are alive and well

Trish Ball, a lithesome lady from Buhl, regaled her audience with a combination of free-form poetry and a sort of literary ballet. Living in an uncertain world, she told listeners in paced verse, can oftentimes be scary, especially when, suddenly, we’re on our own.

The audience that packed the chairs last Saturday night at Ketchum’s Iconoclast Books liked her style. Importantly, too, so did the judges who selected her the evening’s No. 1 poet.

Ball was one of five writers who showed up for the poetry competition. Although the event is largely rooted in what has become known as a poetry "slam," the Iconoclast event, held about every two months, is not as confrontational as slams held elsewhere.

"These are much less offensive," observed Gary Hunt, the Iconoclast owner, as he arranged one of his bookstore’s rooms for the event. "They’re not trying to create chaos. They’re just reading their stuff."

Hunt, 37, who moved here from Seattle about six years ago, said he picked up on the freestyle poetry happening from the now defunct Main Street Book Café in Ketchum.

"They’re entertaining and they provide a chance for local poets to have a forum," he said of the slams.

Competitive poetry readings appear to have germinated in Chicago on the city’s near north side, spotted with neighborhoods noted for their Bohemian life. It was there, in the early 1980s, that the Oxford Pub became a center for poetry that often became confrontational in nature as individuals shouted verses at each other and the audience, while making their literary points with body language as well.

Now, the style has caught on big time in such cities as Seattle, where slams attract crowds who want to hear verse wrapped into colorful shows. Even small towns, such as Taos, N. M., have capitalized on poetry slams, turning the readings into an annual week-long affair that attracts big crowds with high-profile competing literati such as Sherman Alexie, the American Indian writer from Spokane.

At the Iconoclast, Ball and the other poets each took center stage, so to speak, for three rounds during which they read their original verse. Three judges, volunteers from the audience, scored from one to 10 points for each round of readings.

The other four poets were John Fox of Hailey, who finished second; Julie Fox of Hailey, John’s sister, judged third best; Steve Holmgren of Hailey; and Lois Cordasco of Elkhorn. Winners received bookstore gift certificates

A sixth poet, Debra Ozenghar of Ketchum, arrived late and didn’t compete, but read some of her works.

Most of the time, the competitors sat in a chair reading verses. Much of it was free flowing, appearing almost as metaphorical vehicles for the poets’ views of life.

For her part, Ball spent the first two rounds committing her verse to memory, reading from a page only in the third round.

"I was driving down the road when a voice came over the radio and said, ‘Please stand by,’" she declared in the opening round, looking straight ahead, arms outstretched, as she mimed driving a car. "‘Due to federal funding cutbacks the emergency broadcasting system is no longer in service. In the event of an emergency you are on your own.’"

Then, in a ballet-like movement, Ball segued to an imaginary tightrope where she replicated the delicate maneuvers of a high-wire performer.

"Last night I had a dream I was a trapeze artist. I let go of my partner’s hands and somersaulted into emptiness.

"And as I stretched and arched like a swan lifting from a lake my eyes scanned the ground and I noticed there was no safety net.

"I reached for the hands of the one who was to catch me. Everything depended on our hands being at the same place at exactly the same time. What are the odds?"

Combining poetry with choreography comes naturally for the 34-year-old Ball, who studied dance at the University of Utah. She then danced professionally with the Chicago Dance Medium.

Currently a secretary at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, she said she plans to enroll at the University of Idaho this fall to study environmental engineering.

Career plans notwithstanding, combining slam poetry with dance will remain part of her lifestyle.

"Performance poetry, and coming from a dance background, that’s the way most poetry comes to me," she said. "And when I look back and read the pieces over they really need the movement."