THE last poetic word on this traumatic year is imminent. Say Owt Slam will wrap up its series of battles of the wits in York by bidding good riddance to 2016 with a typically fiery show and a very special guest at its Christmas Special on December 2 n the City Screen Basement.

"The number 13 may be unlucky for some, but not the residents of York," says co-host and performance poet Henry Raby. "Come celebrate the end of the year with our 13th Say Owt Poetry Slam.

"Each poet gets three minutes to test their mettle against judges selected from the audience. Funny, political, surreal, personal, who knows what each poet will bring to the night, but one thing is for certain: it's always a night of engaging spoken word, proving poetry is live, raw, passionate and unmissable."

The 7.30pm event will be compered as ever by Henry and Stu Freestone, who promise an antidote to "the poetry of stuffy classrooms."

"Poetry slams are high-energy nights where poets bring their finest, fieriest, funniest and frankest poetry to impress the audience," says Henry. "If you're interested in slamming, send us a line at sosyork@hotmail.com. We have free entry for performers, and the poet who finds themselves in second place will receive £15, but the winner will get £30 and bragging rights."

The very special guest will be Rob Auton, once of York and now making his mark in London as part of the Bang! Said The Gun collective. "Rob has taken his unique stand-up poetry shows to the Edinburgh Fringe for the past four years and he's performed at Latitude and been the Glastonbury poet-in-residence," says Henry.

"Rob's poetry is a bizarre balance of heartfelt and absurd, toying with the surreal thoughts from his mind and odd observations on the world. His performance style is shambolically glorious and immeasurably funny."

Everyone from comedian Daniel Kitson to the Huffington Post has been extolling Auton's way with words. "He is entirely compelling to watch," reckons Kitson. "He’s a poet/writer/talker and it’s funny in parts but that’s not the point – there is something else happening. I’m not entirely sure what it is but it’s great and it wallops you in the belly."

"His absurd brand of stand-up and poetry is exactly what the country needs right now," proclaims the Huffington Post, but is he? Judge for yourself on December 2, when doors open at 7.30pm and the poetry slam starts "sharp afterwards". Admission is £7 online at thebasementyork.co.uk/say-owt-slam-13 or on the night.