2024 Poetry Out Loud: Niveah Glover recites "Self Portrait as Kendrick Lamar Laughing to the Bank"

2024 Poetry Out Loud champion Niveah Glover recites "Self Portrait as Kendrick Lamar Laughing to the Bank" by Ashanti Anderson. Niveah represented Florida at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington, DC on May 1-2, 2024.
You can also read our interview with poet and NEA Creative Writing Fellow Ashanti Anderson at bit.ly/3IRFmig.

[@SamayaGrant]

Hi, I’m in middle school and I said this poem at my middle school, I made it to finals ended up winning first place I love this poem so much so much. I love the power she put into the performance!

[@k.p.anazeer7481]

Lyrics This, what God feels like: laughing alone in an empty room of tiny doors, behind every door a metal box, inside each a man’s red heart, lying. I don’t write of the cartoonish thing split and jagged at its insides. Instead, of how I break even across the same backs spindled by hate. I tell God I understand and what I mean is I’ve noticed good people must die to let there be light in my house. We share a likeness, God and I, both laughing like something green folded in our throats. Laughing mean- while somebody’s auntie asks for Anything Helps. Laughing when people say they don’t want to read about the bad stuff. Crying laughing as we pass our pain off as an offering plate. Sometimes I nervous chuckle, knowing trauma pays, but the only time I really laugh is when I’m laughing to the bank like a-ha.

[@arjalexandra_]

Great poem, very reflective of our sad current reality. Props to the speaker, her voice transmitted such much emotion, good job !!

[@zetra2016]

This, what God feels like: laughing alone in an empty room of tiny doors, behind every door a metal box, inside each a man’s red heart, lying. I don’t write of the cartoonish thing split and jagged at its insides. Instead, of how I break even across the same backs spindled by hate. I tell God I understand and what I mean is I’ve noticed good people must die to let there be light in my house. We share a likeness, God and I, both laughing like something green folded in our throats. Laughing mean- while somebody’s auntie asks for Anything Helps. Laughing when people say they don’t want to read about the bad stuff. Crying laughing as we pass our pain off as an offering plate. Sometimes I nervous chuckle, knowing trauma pays, but the only time I really laugh is when I’m laughing to the bank like a-ha.

[@rachellesabino6073]

🫰🏼🫰🏼🫰🏼🫰🏼🫰🏼 goose bumps

[@hugo54758]

I want some milk.

[@shamnasameer4174]

Go fvck you idiot..we are talking about her talents and you are talking some sh*t 😡

[@spacemensolutions9745]

hello i a a highschool student in africa a country known as kenya but a poet and an author how do i join you guys ? i pray that God willone day open doors for my poetry to be identified as the best

[@julieroquemore7680]

An amazing recital of the poem. Very moving, great job Nivea!

[@wordgourmet]

Beautiful, beautiful delivery. I have to wonder, though, why a young person's ability to act is privileged over the ability to write. Additionally, it concerns me that such performance may be ableist. Perhaps there are young people who are deaf, blind, disfigured, stutter, etc who have won these competitions. My guess is: rarely if ever - if they even feel safe to participate.

[@jillcicerostoryheadjill]

They also had a competition for written poetry. I cannot speak to your other comments. ✌️💪💚