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A sudden-death haiku was called for at the Berzerkeley Slam Wednesday night to break a tie between competing poets. The standing room only audience at the Starry Plough’s weekly event snapped their fingers and shouted encouragement to the performers taking their turn at the microphone. 

In the first round, 15 poets competed with original poems, each limited to three minutes in length. Participation is open to anyone on a sign-in basis with lots drawn for position on the program.  

Five poets were selected for a second round by judges drawn at random from the audience. Winners shared $60 in prize money. The judges each received a free beer for their work. 

Poetry slams began in a Chicago jazz club in 1985 when construction worker and poet Mike Smith tried to liven up the traditional open mike poetry readings.  

The weekly event evolved with rules, terminology and a generally accepted format that included such traditions as volunteer judges from the audience.  

Slam popularity grew, and in 1990, the first national slam was held in San Francisco. At the national level, four-person teams compete with other teams from North American and European venues.  

First time slammers and national champions shared the stage in Berkeley.  

Slam organizer, emcee and poet Charles Ellik graciously hosted the evening, giving encouraging words to nervous poets and soliciting positive audience response.  

Last year’s National Champion, Shane Koyczan from Vancouver, British Columbia, was one of three featured, non-competing, poets of the evening. He began his set of poems with “The Importance of Making Lists,” moving to its rhythm, punctuating words with gestures and electrifying the audience. 

“This audience is the best in the United States,” said Koyczan, who is on a national tour of universities and slams. “Yelling, screaming, they support the artist and critique you.  

“No other venue has given me as much love as Berkeley.” 

The generosity of the audience is a reflection of the tone set by Ellik and producer Dani Eurynome. The number one rule for the Berzerkeley Slam is to have fun.  

“Great poetry is not about winning,” said Ellik. “It’s about socializing, creative freedom and cheering them on. 

“And if the poetry doesn’t move you,” he added. “The band will.”  

Backing up emcee Ellik and adding to the festive atmosphere was 3 Blind Mice, a local band recently added to this venue. With the neighborhood locals watching a baseball game at the bar and many of the customers coming for dinner and staying for the poetry, the mixed audience reflected the diversity of the poets.  

“The Bay Area has the biggest diversity of voices of any area and no specific recognizable style like New York or Chicago,” said Eurynome. 

Long time Berkeley street poet Luigi Pistolizi, another of the featured word artists of the evening, wore a four-quart pot on his head “to keep off the cathode rays from the television at the bar.”  

He charmed the audience with agile antics during his humorous readings and his quick wit improvisation based on word suggestions from the audience. 

Karen Ladson, one of the winners in the previous week’s competition, rounded out the featured poets’ portion of the slam with two crowd pleasers, introducing a new poem that used asthma as a metaphor for relationship.  

The high quality of the poets’ creative efforts, the varied content and enthusiastic audience participation made for a grand and entertaining evening.