December necessarily reveals a slowdown in the pace of shows in the latter half of the month as the holidays near, but don't let that fool you into believing the quality of performance or the power of the words will diminish in any way. Think of this month's offerings as a suitable conclusion for 2012 and an appetizer for what's to come in 2013. Toronto's spoken word scene wraps up an exciting year with the following on tap as autumn turns to winter.

HOT TICKETS

SOULSTICE MUSIC & POETRY / DECEMBER 13 / 8PM / WATERFALLS INDIAN TAPAS / $10
Two terrific acts come together to present a collaborative celebration of word, song and sound when indigenous poet/MC Mahlikah Awe:ri and local poetry phenom Britta B unite with musicians from Red Slam Collective and The Banter. The combination of these two strong women is a blending not to be missed.

HOT-SAUCED WORDS 5TH ANNUAL POETRY ANTI-PAGEANT SHOW / december 20 / 8pm / black swan tavern / free
This annual event in support of the Daily Bread Food Bank will feature Hot-Sauced Words host James Dewar alongside a cappella fun group Kirsten Sandwich, as well as mini-feature sets by Sue Reynolds, Duncan Armstrong, Kate Marshall-Flaherty and Cathy Petch. Admission is free but cash donations for the food bank will be graciously accepted.

ONTARIO SPOKEN WORD CIRCUIT PRESENTS CHRIS GILPIN / DECEMBER 17, 19 & 20
The OSWC is a consortium of five spoken word groups that stage monthly spoken word events in London, Guelph, Hamilton, Burlington, Mississauga, Toronto and York Region. Thanks to the Canada Council for the Arts they will bring a high-profile artist each month to perform at the venues on the circuit. This month it's the hilariously clever Vancouver BC poet Chris Gilpin at Bill Brown's 1-2-3 Slam (December 19), Burlington Slam Project (December 20) and Mississauga Poetry Slam (November 26).

afternoon poetry / december 16 / 3pm / Q SPACE / FREE
Leo Paradela is launching a new book, Soliloquy, on an afternoon where he will be joined by spoken word artists Brandon Pitts, Vanessa McGowan and Ritallin and local poet Barbara de la Fuente. It will be an excellent way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

OTHER SHOWS AND EVENTS

Sunday Poetry / December 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 / 11:30am / Ellington's Music & CafĂŠ / free

Love Jones Sundays hosted by JV Da Poet / December 2 / 7pm / No One Writes to the Colonel / $10

R.I.S.E. Poetry Movement / December 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 / 6pm / Scarborough Youth Resource Centre / $2

Loose Leaf Poets & Writers / December 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 / 7pm / Fogarty's / free

The Art Bar Poetry Series / December 4 and 11 / 8pm / Pauper's Pub / PWYC

Launch of "Divine Cockeyed Genius" by Vanessa McGowan / December 5 / 7pm / Q Space / free

Flowetic Wednesdays Toronto ft. Kim Katrin Crosby and Steve Hall / December 5 / 7pm / Zemra Bar Lounge / $5

Women Won't Forget December 6 Vigil / December 6 / 6pm / Philosopher's Walk (between ROM and Royal Conservatory) / free

Livewords / December 6 / 7:30pm / Black Swan Tavern / PWYC

Toronto Poetry Slam / December 9 (ft. The White Noise Machine) and December 22 (ft. Tomy Bewick) / 8pm / The Drake Hotel / $5

The Beautiful & The Damned hosted by Duncan Armstrong / December 13 / 7pm / Glad Day Bookshop / PWYC

In Other Words by Dwayne Morgan & Lishai / December 13 / 8pm / The Boat / $10

Roots Lounge Open Mic & Poetry Slam / December 16 / 8pm / Harlem Restaurant / $5

Plasticine Poetry hosted by Cathy Petch / December 16 / 6pm / Pauper's Pub / free

Modern Living in the Land of Dreams CD Launch by Electric Jon / December 16 / 8pm / Saving Gigi / free

For more listings, head on over to the events calendar or check out the Cytopoetics Events spoken word blog for local info updated weekly during the month.

Have a spoken word event coming up that you'd like us to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO events calendar.

Writing by Greg Frankson