The Toronto Poetry Slam launched its 2009-2010 season last night at the Drake Hotel Underground, with newcomers, a few out-of-town visitors – and some tough judges.

Scores don’t often dip below seven out of 10 in the monthly competition. But the randomly-picked judges in the July edition were less merciful, giving plenty of marks in the six-range during the first round, often to relative newcomers.

With some new material, local star Truth Is…. barely missed winning due to a high time penalty, coming in third place. Her last poem – about her hesitation to phone her estranged mother – electrified the audience but ran close to four minutes, bleeding points after the legal 3:10 limit.

The $80 first prize went to Kiki Mahy, a first-time TPS winner who has previously won at the $100 Slam. Her winning poem lamented lost youths who never reach their full potential due to drugs, pregnancy or low self-image.

“Overall, I think I did well,” Kiki said about her performance. “My first piece was really strong, my second and third not as strong as I thought they could have been… Right now, I just enjoy going out and sharing my pieces.”

Kiki, whose bell-like vocal style is reminiscent of Andrea Thompson, has been competing for about a year.

Second place went to Lola Lawson, with a third-round, rap-influenced poem about hypocritical sorts who “talk the talk but don’t walk the walk”.

But Vancouver poet-songwriter Brendan McLeod was the night’s real star, with a bright feature set alternating between comedy and introspection. A veteran performer, known as a member of musical group the Fugitives, McLeod peppered his set with funny improvised tangents and anecdotes, even a sing-along.

“This is a really vibrant, bustling, diverse city,” says McLeod, who has performed in Toronto numerous times. “With the Harbourfront concert series, it’s the only city in North America I know of where you can see world-class bands for free all summer… Too bad about the garbage strike. But the slam is amazing.”

McLeod wasn’t the only Vancouverite who took the stage. Julie Peters, a past Vancouver Poetry Slam winner, made it to the second round. British poet MC Jabber, who’s in town for the Fringe Festival, also performed in his signature fast-talking style.

The slam night also featured the launch of the Toronto Poetry Project, a new collective dedicated to bringing spoken word more into the public eye. TPP members White Noise Machine, Gypsy Eyes, Lara Bozabalian, Pan and others opened the night in a set hosted by Krystle Mullin.