The youtube clip above is a performance by Saul Williams of his piece "Coded Language." I picked this poem because Williams' performance is an example of the way in which a poem's presentation can shape and enhance the effect it has on the reader. It's apparent from the words alone that "Coded Language" is a passionate attempt to advocate higher consciousness and social progress. In the youtube clip, the thundering, ranting, spitting, scroll-reading version of the poem strengthens the emotional aspect as Saul's tone and behavior creates a suffocating sense of urgency in regards to the subject matter. The lack of structure in the poem can be overwhelming when read on paper as there are many abstract thoughts involved in the piece. When performed, however, the elements of the poem seem more related based on the abrupt and violent way in which he addresses every concept.
