(Dominic Valente/DD)
Jeremiah Blue has performed on multiple stages for multiple audiences, but today, he prepares to perform at one of the largest and most prominent poetry slams in the country.
The Individual World Poetry Slam, put on by Poetry Slam Incorporated and the city of Fayetteville, Ark., will host poets from around the world and is predicted to have more than 1,500 people in attendance.
“We are super excited to have someone representing the downtown Phoenix area this year,” said Aaron Johnson, founder of Lawn Gnome Publishing and a proponent of the downtown slam poetry scene. “He’s worked really hard for this.”
Poetry Slam Incorporated started the event in April 2003. The competition consists of each contestant reading off a 4-minute, 3-minute, 2-minute and 1-minute poem, sharing two each day for preliminaries. The final round, which involves the top 12 competitors, will be held this Saturday. Afterwards, a king or queen of poetry will be crowned.
Blue, who derives inspiration from his friends and family as well as prominent figures in today’s culture, said he got started with poetry the same way many others do.
“As much as I hate to admit it, I started writing poetry after I met a girl at my college,” Blue said. “But when it really comes down to it, as cliche as it sounds, I just felt like I needed to write. I needed to get my thoughts down on paper.”
Blue gives credit to his “personal evolution” in college, where he spawned many of his creative ideas for his poetry. The years he spent at Azusa Pacific University have been, according to Blue, an integral part of his artistic life.
“I went through a lot, and that created a necessity to get my thoughts out,” Blue said. “It was writing. When I first started though, I promised myself I would never read anything out loud.”
But Blue decided, after much convincing and cajoling, that he would read a poem for a Black History Month celebration at a coffee house near campus.
“Ever since,” he said, “I’ve been touring around, hosting slams and performing my stuff.”
On top of touring around and hosting regular poetry slams and readings, Blue has a book that was formally printed with Lawn Gnome Publishing, titled “Hot Dogs Are Immoral.”
Blue also plays his hand in the restaurant business as a server at The Strand, a restaurant located right in the heart of downtown Phoenix.
“I’ve held jobs all over the place, from dishwasher to general manager of a restaurant,” Blue said.
Allie Conrad, a student at ASU and a friend of Blue, recalls seeing his more “intense” side at work.
“It’s cool to see him work. He’s so focused and loves taking care of customers. It’s awesome to see anyone thrive in a fast pace environment like that,” Conrad said.
But for now, Blue will face serious competition in Fayetteville from more than 70 contestants. Blue said he would be happy to make it into the top 20.
“I’ll be satisfied even if I don’t win,” he said.
Whether or not Blue wins the Individual World Poetry Slam, he still has big plans for the future. He intends to continue touring, writing and working toward a bigger poetry book for publishing.
“I needed and still need to write. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
Contact the reporter at dvalente@asu.edu
