Kent poet wins second place in European contest

A man from Kent has won second place in the European Championships of Slam Poetry, held in Slovakia.

Sven Stears, a spoken word poet from Canterbury, represented England in the competition, performing alongside people from 32 other countries.

The top 10 finalists have qualified for a space in the World Championships in Mexico next year.

Mr Stears said it was an honour to be recognised.

The term slam poetry was coined in the 1980s in Chicago, where jazz clubs began hosting spoken word contests.

Mr Stears took up the art form more than a decade ago, exploring themes of addiction and mental health.

He said confessional writing had been a vital lifeline when dealing with complex emotions.

"I often find in the darkest bits, I find bits of hope that I missed."

One of the poems he performed at the European Championships was titled Little Green Box.

"On the outside, it's a poem about a defibrillator on the side of a funeral home I used to walk past," he explained.

"It's actually about me deciding that, despite all the hardships and grief, that I wanted to carry on living."

He said having people relate to the personal stories he tells makes "all the work worthwhile".

The second poem he performed was about his experiences as "a recovering alcoholic."

"It's about how being sober has improved my life immeasurably."

Mr Stears also delivers talks in schools, universities, and youth groups about alcoholism and recovery.

"Poetry is an opportunity for us to relate to each other," he said.

"We become so embroiled in our own lives that it can be hard to take stock of where you are and where you've come from."

He will be performing in the World Championships in Mexico in 2025.

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