The Vancouver Poetry Slam’s second annual Women of the World playoff bout might have been the best show of the winter. Café Deux Soleils was cram-packed, and there was a line of people waiting to get in for much of the show. Jessica was on-point as host and ringmaster, exhorting the crowd to yell “Vagina” through the whole evening. Gyno-power was in overdrive, and it was awesome to behold. Our feature Lisa Slater demonstrated why she’s been one of the best in the city for several years now.

The poets competing had qualified for this bout by scoring highly in slams over the past few months. The top eight point-getters who earned a spot in last night’s battle were: Antonette, Julie Peters, Katrina, Magpie Ulysses, Marcela, Shannon Rayne, Sonya Littlejohn, and Tessa. They all brought poetic thunder to the stage in a back and forth bout that wasn’t decided until the third and final round.

In the end, the winner was the poetic tower of power, Julie Peters!

She will be Vancouver’s rep at the Women of the World poetry slam, held in Columbus, Ohio from March 10-13.