The Ten Slam Commandments by Ritallin

one two three four five six seven eight nine
it’s the ten slam commandments

yeah
right
decade in the game now
that's right
glass trophy on the mantle
gonna have give some lessons to y'all
about this game called slam poetry
here we go

i been in this game for years (ten!)
experience is valuable
there’s rules to this shit, i wrote me a slam-ual
from coast to coast sport this so you can boast
that you kick it legit, with lyrics that hit

numero uno: only spit shit that you know
don’t leave a loophole when you go for the soul
if it ain’t authentic your grip’s gon' slip
and you’ll trip cuz bein’ fake is always a mistake
number two, it’s better when you’re sharing what’s true
don’t you know that lies move in silence for violence
that’s why i’m providing this (yup)
been too many that i seen go down
being false when profound
number three: never count on no money
or you’ll get passed up, even when last up
try to take fast bucks, grab mics and blast up
but if the judges don’t bite egos get mashed up

number four: know you heard this before
never get high off your own supply

number five: set aside the page when spittin’ rage
and look the crowd in the eye – wanna trounce? that’s what counts
number six: convicted with a message, spread it
if each line is fire then the crowd’s gonna get it
seven: and this one is so underrated
keep your poems and prejudice completely separated
slam and bias don’t mix and if you think you can skip this
you’ll find yourself in serious shit

number eight: don’t put too much weight on scores
cuz they don’t dictate who the crowd's lovin’ more
number nine shoulda been number one to me
make ‘em feel when you reveal your personality
cuz once you start spittin’ you got to make ‘em listen
hit ‘em where they sittin’ with genuine transmittin’
number ten: a strong word ends the last line
but end your poems on time, if you want to climb
champions with penalties – i say hell no
cuz they want them 30s at every slam where they go

follow these rules and your poetry'll shake up
audiences and poets to make ‘em wake up
then run home to write new shit, so raise the stake up
careful what you take up, when you pass
by them wordsmiths high cuz they bake up
can’t deny the space for you to fly while they flake up
so head to nationals to build weight for you to take up
yo, gotta go, got scenes to quake up, uhh

one two three four five six seven eight nine
it’s the ten slam commandments.

© A. Gregory Frankson, 2014. All rights reserved.