Songwriting may be a component of music, but is not always in the foreground of a performance. Genres like hip-hop flip the balance in favor of the lyrics; spoken word takes it a step further.

"It's poetry that's meant to be performed," Jace Devine, host of Cafe Noir's spoken word events, said. "There definitely a difference between reading and performing."

This performance art sets the natural cadence of the words to a musical beat, even incorporating a full band in some cases. Though the writing may be very individualistic, Salem poets are working to create a creative community here in the spoken word arena.

"There are 50 and 60-year-olds up there performing and then 19-year-olds; there's very few mediums that do that. There's a guy who lives at a shelter that comes over and has everything written down on the back of receipts that he finds on the street," Devine said.

Bringing together people of various backgrounds applies to the musical accompaniment, too. While spoken word doesn't have to have a musical background, Devine has been experimenting with music, adding in a variety of sounds.

"Mark Parish and his friend Kirsten Swanson have been putting on the Friday night open mics here [Cafe Noir]," Devine said. "She's a percussionist and a cellist who set up the ambient rhythm. Mark plays guitar, and every once in awhile we also have a bassist."

The poets and musicians may meet up for a practice during the week, but the performances are fairly free form.

"The process is very organic," Devine said. "It's different every time."

So is the writing.

"We don't have a language or subject barrier, which I announce, and that's very freeing," Devine said. "We're taking the world we live now, the issues we face now and putting it into poetic form," she said.

Devine discovered the rhythm-based world of spoken word five years ago after writing poetry as part of a creative writing course in college finds her inspiration through her worldview.

"I write about intense love, rage, revenge and feminist issues," Devine said.

Raised in a strict home in Texas that extolled traditional roles and values, she explained that her poetry rests of themes of fighting against what one is supposed to do and living in a misogynistic society.

"I went through my teenage rebellion a bit late," she said with a laugh.

Though the writing may be intensely individualistic, Salem poets are working to create a creative community here in the spoken word arena.

"There's Miguel Laredo and Rich McLeod, but almost anyone who wishes to perform can," Devine said. "It's a tight knit group."

Cafe Noir hosts its spoken word open night on First Wednesdays, open mics on Fridays nights. Poetry slams are being added to the mix on the last Thursday of the month.  

"It brings a sense of community, competition and inspiration," Devine said. "There's some fantastic talent here."

At slams, participants are judged on their performance, thus they find out what is thought of their work. This format, however, belies the intent behind competition.

"We're trying to take out the judgment and 'I'm not good enough's' out of the writing community," she said. "We come together as a family of writers and artists."

There is a sign-up sheet for anyone who wishes to partake. During open mic nights, each performer is allowed five to seven minutes, whereas the slams places a three-minute time limit on each person. There are usually three to four rounds and judges score on a one to ten scale based on performance and delivery.

"We offer support and constructive criticism that you just don't get if sitting a home writing on poetry chat sites," Devine said.

The support comes from an audience of up to 60 people.

Parish, who also serves as Cafe Noir's events coordinator, states that these events are often "standing room only." However, the establishment plans to expand their space another 2,400 square feet.

"It will circle the Bead Trunk and thus be able to hold 120 people," Parish said of the new space which has a grand re-opening scheduled for April 1.

For those in attendance at these evening events, the art lends itself to interpretation.

"When you perform a spoken word piece, it really affects the audience," Devine said. "They've come back to us saying 'It touched me for this reason' or 'I understood that for this reason.' It may not be the same reason that I meant them to be touched, but it's very rewarding to do spoken word versus just reading written poetry."

Devine and her cronies have considered taking it to masses by putting together a slam team and representing Salem at competition, but no decision has been made.

"We all have days jobs, this is what we do to keep from rotting in front of VH1," Devine said.

After all, Cafe Noir's first open mic was held in December and the first slam was in January.

"It's all new, so I am excited to see where it can go," Devine said. "I think this can be a great focal point in the Salem art's scene.