Because Poetry Rocks, and Poverty Sucks

*By CWP Volunteer Emily Shoff

Ottawa poets slammed down poverty at an evening that left a crowd “Empow-WORD”. Honoring the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on October 17th, together Public Service Alliance of Canada and Canada Without Poverty sparked an evening of awareness on the issue.  With a topic so stigmatized, the audience devoted their undivided attention to the voices on stage.  An evening curated to inspire and empower a crowd of 100, slam poets did just that: Empow-WORD.  Here’s how we captured the night:

“Engaged, Outraged, Praise to the Onstage, For Social Change”

A crowd that yearns to move this country forward,

Left the Hub Empow-WORD

 

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Calls on an action of sovereignty

 

As each poet stood under the light

And took the mic

 

The audience nodded in a rhythm

Snapping their fingers along in the midst of autumn

 

The evening gave the impression

We need a change to our current condition

 

An electric energy combed the scene

Awareness raised, we were keen

 

To ignite a revolution

For a poverty solution

 *Big thanks to everyone who came out to the event, to PSAC for helping to make this happen and all the poets who set the night on fire with their words and inspiration.  Poetry ROCKS!