8th grade students listened to eight spoken-word poems by Black poets to determine a winner in a basketball-style poetry bracket competion! Students analyzed and compared/contrasted the poems' use of figurative language, tone shifts, hand gestures, repetition, and command sentences. 8th graders were even able to identify verbal irony in Javon Johnson's "'Cuz He's Black"! In addition to voting for their favorite poems through Google Forms, students wrote an argumentative essay on behalf of their ultimate favorite, supporting their choice by discussing the impact of the poet's literary devices and techniques. With its relatable theme, humor, and unique integration of scientific facts, Rudy Francisco's "Complainers" won the overall poetry competition!