Omari Joseph claims 2026 National Poetry Slam title

An eye surgery, a three-day deadline, and just three lines of inspiration stood between Omari Joseph and the 2026 National Poetry Slam title.
Yet, despite having to protect his recovering eye from the stage lights, Joseph transformed those challenges into “A Message for the Vertebrates” – a biting reflection on society that ultimately earned him the coveted championship.
“It was difficult, to say the least, because I was working, and I was very much at work when the competition was announced or publicised, or at least when I first heard about it, which would have been approximately three to four days before the deadline for the competition. At that point in time, I actually didn’t have a complete piece. I only had a couple of lines that served as inspiration based on stuff I might have seen,” Joseph told the Guyana Times on Saturday fueled by relief and joy simmering off his voice.
According to Joseph, “A Message for the Vertebrates” was intended as a message to people who identify as “vertebrates”, with the poem using invertebrates – creatures without backbones – as a metaphor for human behaviour.
He explained that he drew on the characteristics of various invertebrates and likened them to human traits, using personification to encourage people to confront aspects of themselves that they may not be comfortable addressing directly.

Joseph noted that many invertebrates are commonly viewed as pests or disliked creatures, making them an effective vehicle for delivering his message. He said audiences could easily distance themselves from the poem by thinking, “I’m not a spider, I’m not a grasshopper, I’m not a locust, I’m not a jellyfish.” However, as the message unfolds, the metaphor turns the focus back onto the individual, forcing them to examine their own actions and attitudes.
He further pointed out that while some listeners may interpret the poem as a criticism of authority or government, its primary focus, he stressed, is a critique of the people and what society allows, supports, and encourages.
Joseph described his victory at this year’s National Poetry Slam as a significant moment in his return to the stage, having spent more than five years away from performing.
“For me, winning the National Poetry Slam was just, I’d say, a highlight of my return to the stage as a poet. Prior to the last National Poetry Slam, which was last year, I hadn’t performed on stage in approximately five-plus years. So, I made a return to the stage in the National Slam last year. I hadn’t started performing at all the events, and it was just a matter of finding my groove, getting back into it, and winning this year’s Slam felt like the effort and the time spent getting back into the art were worth it,” Joseph said.
His preparation for this year’s competition, however, was far from conventional. Joseph said he only became aware of the competition a few days before the submission deadline and had not yet completed a piece.

Encouraging Other Artists
He also spoke about the challenges faced by artists in Guyana and encouraged them not to allow fear or other circumstances to prevent them from sharing their work.
“Artists in all kinds of fields in Guyana are either discouraged or just choose not to put their work out because they’re worried about many things, victimization and something as well, but lots of other issues that may come to mind, and it might deter them from putting together work and then also having the public see that work.
“I know lots of poets, lots of artists who sit in a pool, and they’re just hiding it away, and the world will know it’s gold because they don’t sleep. So, my word of encouragement to other artists or poets is: let your heart speak, put your work out there. Don’t let any of these circumstances or factors deter you, because if you don’t put it out there, it’s just going to disappear whenever you do.”

A Change in Approach
In fact, Joseph revealed that his original approach to the performance was much different from what audiences eventually witnessed on the night.
“I actually wanted to do it more in a reporter style, a lot more incisive, with a colder voice, a colder tone. But on the night, the performances before me touched on some heavy subject matter, but they had a high degree of energy.
“So, I just felt in the moment that the audience needed a wake-up shot, like a shot of coffee or a shot of tea in the morning. So, I just decided to scrap my original plan and go up on stage and just perform with the emotions, like I’m fed up, and it aroused the audience, it connected with the judges, and it led to a successful result.”
For his winning performance, Joseph walked away with a cash prize of $200,000, adding a financial reward to what was already a significant milestone in his return to the stage.