Victorian writer and performer Luka Lesson has won the 2011 Australian Poetry Slam, beating sixteen finalists from around Australia at the National final in Sydney last night.
Lesson’s winning poem was Confluence – a story about how two people in love become one and if separated, become less than whole. He also performed his poem The new crusades, that explored themes of war and protest and a work called Athena, which honours his ancestry.
Lesson, who was runner-up in the Victorian final, said the national competition was tough.
‘The quality of the performances was incredible. You didn’t know who would get up and do something amazing. I’m absolutely honoured to have won. I’m extremely happy, it means everything to me,’ he said.
Lesson has won a tour of China as part of the Bookworm International Literary Festival and will be invited to be a part of the Ubud International Writers and Readers Festival in Bali – worth approximately $11,000.
‘I can’t wait to perform in Asia and represent Australia. I’m really excited to see how the crowds react,’ he said.
Poetry Slam rules allow each poet two minutes to perform their work. The performances are judged by randomly selected audience members who give a score out of ten. The performance with the highest score wins.
The Australian Poetry Slam is co-created nationally by Word Travels, supported by state, territory and public libraries and festivals across the country.
About Luka Lesson
Luka Lesson is the co-founder and co-director of The Centre for Poetics and Justice – a community organisation based in Melbourne, Australia, dedicated to the integration of poetics and social transformation.
Luka Lesson performs at Australian Poetry Slam Victorian final. Picture: Andrew Lloyd.
I love your poems man!!! I’ve been writing and waking up in the middle of the night with new poems in my mind myself. Poets like you keep me on my feet and keeps me moving, growing and glowing. I love your work man!!!