What It's Like To...

What It's Like to Perform Spoken Word Poetry

December 07, 2022 Elizabeth Pearson Garr Season 4 Episode 10
What It's Like To...
What It's Like to Perform Spoken Word Poetry
Show Notes

Anthony Febo--AKA "Febo"--brings poetry to life as a spoken word artist. He describes spoken word poetry as "poetry written with the intention to perform"--and his performances are deeply personal, emotional, and rich, with touches of signature humor. (He performs two amazing pieces in this episode.) Febo is not only an artist; he is also a teacher--so listeners get to be students, learning how to write and perform spoken word poems.  Febo encourages his students to end their poems with hope--he always seeks to choose joy in the face of what is trying to break you.

There are also fun tidbits about Lin Manuel Miranda (Febo is a huge fan), rap, hip hop, and much more.  

Poetry has never been so much fun. 

In this episode:

  • When he started writing in 7th grade (02:42)
  • Febo's definition of spoken word poetry (05:01)
  • Intersections among hip hop, rap, and spoken word (07:14)
  • Febo performs one poem, "Tonight I'm Cooking" (10:27)
  • Themes in his work (13:33) 
  • His process of working--and how/why it evolves (17:26)
  • Febo's experience of performing on-stage (20:47)
  • What teenagers learn from writing and performing (25:44)
  • Writing a spoken word poem (32:20)
  • Febo performs a second poem, "Luna's First Birthday Party" (38:42)


Want to know more about Febo?

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