In class we've now moved on to a study of spoken word poetry. Specifically last week we learned about Poetry Slams and I was introduced to this whole other subculture of poetic artists who, in my opinion, have revived poetry's original purpose and pleasure in the oral tradition.

When we think of great poetry of ancient times - the Odyssey, the Illiad, Beowulf, the Psalms, Culwyth and Olwen - little do we often realize that these poems were spoken for hundreds of years before they were ever written down. Before writing existed, people were speaking poetry. These keepers of history and legend were revered and rewarded for their great memory and delivery, and above all else for their stories.