Yale’s Spoken Word Groups Ignite Community through Poetry

Yale University’s two spoken word groups, ¡Oye! and WORD at Yale, are fostering community and encouraging self-expression through the art of poetry. These groups provide a platform for students to explore vulnerability and creativity while challenging conventional boundaries of written poetry.

On November 7, 2023, WORD hosted its fall semester showcase titled “Word on the Street.” This event featured a diverse array of freeform poetry, with interconnected themes revolving around the human body. Following this, ¡Oye! will present its performance “Bittersweet” on November 16, 2023, focusing on themes of nostalgia and longing.

Faven Wondwosen, co-president of WORD, highlighted the unique environment that spoken word poetry creates. “For just a few minutes when you’re up on stage, you’re creating a space where everyone feels similarly, where everyone feels the same. It’s a moment of mass empathy,” Wondwosen explained. This connection transforms the typically solitary experience of page poetry into a shared communal event.

Preparing for “Bittersweet,” ¡Oye! members have been focusing on the theme during their weekly meetings. This collaborative effort begins with participants sharing personal experiences, referred to as a rose, bud, and thorn exercise, which cultivates a supportive and creative atmosphere. Following this, artistic director Emily Singh introduces a writing prompt, sparking a variety of responses from the group.

“It’s always so fun to see how some people are thinking about it in a very literal way. Some people take it to the most philosophical extreme — it’s amazing,” Singh noted about the creative process. The diversity of interpretations fosters a sense of community, allowing members to connect through shared emotions conveyed in their poetry.

Sara Ramos, another co-president of ¡Oye!, expressed the excitement of performing for a bilingual audience. The combination of English and Spanish in their shows enhances engagement, as audience members are encouraged to show their support through snaps and vocal affirmations. The name ¡Oye! reflects the group’s roots in Spanish-language poetry, meaning both “hey” and “listen.” While affiliated with La Casa Cultural, the group welcomes poets from all backgrounds, as emphasized by publicity chair Olutola Britto.

“Spoken word is how you want to portray your thoughts in words to people,” Britto explained. He shared his journey, which began during his time in the U.S. military when he started writing letters that transformed into poetry. Hosting poetry nights with fellow soldiers further fueled his passion for the art form.

WORD meetings mirror the structure of ¡Oye!, starting with members sharing personal highs and lows before engaging in writing and sharing their poems. Wondwosen commented on the rapid creation of beautiful poetry during these sessions, stating, “It’s nice to be reminded of all of the art and the talent that can exist so quickly.”

Spoken word emphasizes elements such as rhythm and tempo, which are less pronounced in traditional poetry. Singh highlighted this aspect, noting that spoken word requires careful consideration of delivery and intonation. “When you listen to spoken word poems, they have this insane control of the rhythm and rhyme scheme that flows so naturally,” she added.

In addition to their showcases, WORD collaborates with other campus groups for smaller events. One notable collaboration is with the Undergraduate Jazz Collective, where poets partner with musicians to create original works based on their poetry, recalling the origins of slam poetry in jazz clubs.

“Bittersweet” will take place in the Ezra Stiles College common room at 19:00 on November 16, 2023, marking another opportunity for the Yale community to experience the transformative power of spoken word poetry.