Peel Street Poetry is a Hong Kong-grown poetry and spoken word collective that meets weekly for open mic readings. The group just celebrated its 11th anniversary, commemorated with its annual slam competition. The slam was divided into three sets, with each group given the same prompt and ten minutes to write a piece which they then had to perform in front of a packed audience. The winner and runner-up from each set went on to compete in the final round. The poems below are from the winner and finalists and represent the diversity and talent that is characteristic of the poets that have made Peel Street Poetry a hotbed for the literary arts in recent years.

Peel Street Poetry runs every Wednesday, except for the first Wednesday of the month, at Orange Peel. The team is passionate about promoting creativity, diversity, and inclusion through the medium of spoken word. The group frequently collaborates with members of the Hong Kong arts community, and is passionate about social causes.

 

—Nashua Gallagher