Local poets showcased their work at a Jan. 11 poetry slam at the Bishop Bar.
Before the competition began, an open mic time let those in attendance perform their own poetry, music, writing or work from other artists during the first part of the event. For the poetry slam, competitors presented their original poems to the audience to be judged.
The night's featured poet, Joseph Harris, has been writing and performing poetry for more than 15 years and started participating in poetry slams in 2002. He is currently a Ph.D. student studying education at Michigan State University.
"Dear traitors," Harris said in a poem about the Civil War framed as a letter to those still using the Confederate flag, "why did you hate America? Blood dripping from your bayonets watering the gardens of Gettysburg, racist rapist renegades and those in rebellion, dear sons of Confederate veterans, dear Dixie: you lost. Get over it."
