poetry contests conducted like American Idol

but not in this country...

(poetry contests)

via Silliman's Blog by Ron on 1/31/10

I have noted on occasion that, in the Middle East, one can watch poetry contests conducted in the fashion of an American Idol (or, in the UK, Pop Idol, Simon Cowell's original show in this format). I have seen the show called both Million's Poet and Prince of Poets; am not certain if in fact that is one show or two. But if one hunts around on YouTube for a bit, you can find some examples. Not knowing the language transforms it into a mode of sound poetry, but even in those terms one can get a sense of the verbal devices & tone of the poems. It's a fascinating mode of music.