This past weekend saw the Youth Slam take place as part of the Swindon Festival of Literature.
There were teams from St Josephs, Ridgeway, Commonweal, Warneford, Lydiard Academy, Isambard Community and Sheldon schools.
After a first round, talks including Donald Trump, technology and cats vs dogs the scores were as follows:
St Josephs – Poetry Pythons-243
Sheldon School – Dan-255
Ridgeway – Reality-258
Commonweal – Sun In Samurai-260
Sheldon School – Reumate-250
Warneford – Trembling With Confidence-252
Commonweal – Tall Short Boys-246
The second round, including talks of suicide and terrorism scored as follows:
St Josephs – Alphabetti Spaghetti-238
Warneford – Sooo Per-250
Ridgeway – Trevor’s Reality-247
Isambard – Yellow Zebra(s)-259
Lydiard Park – Psycho Monkeys-255
Lydiard Park – School Boyz-252
The final was made up of the seven teams with the highest scores from the first two rounds including both teams from Lydiard, and surprisingly the only one person team in the competition.
The final saw some serious points on bullying, suicide and fear and some light hearted talk on TV.
Ridgeway – Reality-262
Commonweal – Sun In Samurai-267
Lydiard Park – School Boyz-256
Sheldon School – Dan-268
Warneford – Trembling With Confidence-264
Lydiard Park – Psycho Monkeys-250
Isambard – Yellow Zebra(s)-254
The winner of the whole competition, and the first ever solo team to win the Youth Slam was Dan of Sheldon School.
Well Done Dan.
Finley Delooze from Royal Wootton Bassett Academy attended on behalf of The Swindonian and left us with the below poem, summing up the event.
Tickets are ripped for identification,
We’re guided into a stadium of seats, full of anticipation,
Music blares from the speakers and bounces against the walls,
The judges and director are introduced, and we are told the rules,
The chandeliers dim, no longer a formal event,
A tranquil, atmospheric and ebullient environment,
Seven schools, thirteen teams, two rounds, four judges and one trophy,
A hat goes round, to pick the first team to perform, they hit the stage, chanting in symphony,
A bow and an applause, stamping of feet and photographing,
The next a humorous act, which earnt a lot of laughing,
The first round finishes after a commotion of acts,
The interval commences, with handfuls of discussion and snacks,
A feather boa around her neck, the host struts onto the stage,
Embracing the audience, who are suddenly re-engaged,
Poetry of suicide, Americans, school girls’ and cheese,
Are awarded by the audiences’ please,
Finally, the results are decided, everyone gripping to their chairs, mouths’ newly gnawed,
A team of one, is told to have won, cradling the trophy in his clasp, shocked by the award,
Stamping of feet, whistles and rhymes,
The twelfth poetry slam has finished it’s climb,
Until next year, Dan remains the winner,
The lights begin to brighten, music beckoning victory,
We are free to leave,
Until next year’s thirteenth Literature Festival Begins…
