The Poetry on Fire documentary duology is a passion project of writer Sam Pierstorff and director Jason Jaacks. A Poet Laureate and English Teacher at Modesto Junior College, Pierstorff takes his passion and pumps it into the hearts of students with Poetry on Fire: Igniting Students’ Passion for Poetry and Creative Writing. This short teaching tool is a companion to Poetry On Fire Teacher’s Workshop: Developing Students’ Creative Writing Skills. Both short films highlight the art form of slam poetry.
The presentation here is simple. Five slam poets perform their original work and then talk about their creative process and inspiration afterward, giving advice to young aspiring writers. Queen D gets the ball rolling with a poem titled “Roadkill,” an indictment on passive reactions to recurring instances of students being shot and killed. Brandon Melendez follows with a heartfelt contemplation of his Mexican heritage. The stage then welcomes Jaz Sufi with “A Letter to Slam Poetry” and Joyce Lee with an homage to the unrecognized beauty of Baltimore. But the most touching performance comes last.
“This is the story of a boy, a dull ax, and a tree. It’s taken me years to cut you out of me.” In “Family Tree,” Joaquin Zihuatanejo depicts his parents as a split tree and himself as the fruit that fell far from his father’s example. The poem is ripe with powerful imagery, and its intensity and vulnerability will connect with new students of poetry.
The poems listed above comprise the strengths of the documentary, highlighting different themes and styles of poetry. They not only invite students to reflect on difficult topics; they also demonstrate that slam poetry can be about anything. The subsequent advice portion is somewhat trite, but the passion of this project and the poems themselves are what will truly inspire students. Overall, Poetry on Fire is a worthwhile introduction to the world of slam poetry that will put a creative spark in students’ hearts. A useful tool for teachers and a strong optional purchase for art and education shelves. Aud: J, H, C, P.