BitchTapes: National Poetry Month

This playlist was originally published on April 7, 2017.

Anaïs Mitchell wanted to be a poet, so she learned guitar in order to make a living writing poems and calling them songs. Ani Difranco built a career on interspersing her music with spoken word. Shaspary Lighteard is a teenager taking Texas, and the world of youth slam poetry, by storm. Yoko Ono’s art, including her poetry, is credited/blamed with breaking up the Beatles. Kayla Q gave new life to a feminist bumper sticker.

In honor of National Poetry Month, here is a mix of artists whose work strikes me as poetry, whether or not there’s much behind it. (This means some poems will be videos, some will be written, and some, denoted by “S”, will be on our Spotify page.) 

Track List:

1. Kate Tempest - “Europe is Lost” (S)

2. Shaspary Lighteard - “Love Yourself”

3. Anais Mitchell - “Tailor” (S)

4. Yoko Ono & Tune-Yards - “Warrior Woman” (S)

5. Jessica Romoff - “Untitled“ (S)

6. Angel Gardner - Performance at Seattle City Council (starts at 1:50). Read more about Angel here. 

7. Ani DiFranco - “Coming Up” (S)

8. Claudia Castro Luna - “Invitation”

9. Kayla Q - “Questions I’ve Been Asked As A Midwife”

10. Warsan Shire - “For Women Who Are Difficult to Love”

11. Aja Monet - “You Make Holy War“ (S)

12. Peace and Jassmine Parks - “A Black Girl”

13. Honey Sanaa - “Truth Be Told”

For a list of 96 (!!!) female poets to worship immediately, go here.