Amy Meng, Arts & Tech Editor
@amengcourant
As April paves the way for warmer weather and blooming flowers, it also welcomes National Poetry Month. To celebrate poetry and creativity, the school hosts the annual Poetry Fest, an event that not only gives students the opportunity to share their writing with a broader audience but also transforms poetry into a performing art. This year, students will come together on April 25 from 6 to 8 pm to celebrate their passion for poetry.
Kristen Brown / Contributed
Poetry Fest is organized by English teacher Kristen Brown and hosted by several upperclassmen who serve as the Masters of Ceremonies. The event not only promotes a passion for poetry, but also emphasizes inclusivity. “It tends to draw in all kinds of students, from AP Lit students who are writing very complex poems like sestinas or villanelles to freshmen who are just trying it out for the first time,” Ms. Brown said. “You’ll see seniors who already have one foot out the door applauding for our freshmen who are just starting their high school careers.”
While the high school offers other creative writing opportunities, including the annual Power of the Pen writing contest and the Spectator Literary Magazine, Poetry Fest is different in the way that students can share their writing without going through a selection process. “It brings in a good sized crowd of kids, parents and teachers and I think it’s just great to be able to celebrate kids in as many ways as we can here,” Ms. Brown said. The open-mic event offers four awards with $25 gift cards as well as honorable mentions, but every student who wants to perform is welcomed with open arms.
Poetry is often a personal outlet in which a person translates their stories and beliefs into a unique form of writing. “Poetry can be very raw, so you’re taking something you really believe in and something that’s really true to you and putting it in words,” said sophomore Lily Roen, who won the Best Poem award last year. “To go up and share that with people can make you vulnerable but is also an important experience.”
For many, performing an original poem in front of a crowd can be a daunting task. However, Poetry Fest offers a safe space for students to exchange stories and talent. “There are probably a lot of other people in the same boat. It’s good if you have a certain fear to face it head on rather than letting it fester,“ said senior Griffin Bramwit, who performed at Poetry Fest for the first time last year. “After performing, they might realize that it wasn’t that big of a deal after all and will feel more confident in the future.”
Kristen Brown / Contributed
Additionally, Poetry Fest allows for students to connect with one another not only through writing, but performing as well. Junior Teddy Smedley, who won the Best Performance award for her poem “August” last year, was pleasantly surprised by how the event unfolded. “I remember it not being quite what I was expecting because I wasn’t very sure about what the content of the actual experience would be, but I was really happy just listening to people’s poems,” she said. “I really enjoyed the community aspect of it.”
Performing at Poetry Fest may feel like a real risk to some, but students often find themselves surrounded with support and empathy. “We’ve had kids stumble over words or giggle, and it’s totally okay. No one is going to laugh. Everyone is going to wildly applaud.,” Ms. Brown said. “I’m just so proud of every kid who gets up there and performs. Sometimes taking those risks makes you really grow as a student.”
On the stage, poetry is transformed from a piece of writing to a performing art. The way a poet reads their work can often affect the audience’s interpretation of the poem. “I think poems take on a different meaning when they’re read aloud,” Ms. Brown said. “When you hear someone read their poem with emotion in their voice, it can really feel like a totally different piece of work.”
It’s important for the performer to ensure that they are performing the poem the way they intended for it to sound, especially when nerves attempt to take over. In this case, it may be helpful to rehearse the poem several times or read the poem at a slower pace than usual in front of the audience. Having taken public speaking class in middle school, Teddy made sure to rehearse her poem before the formal performance. “I ran through my poem many times, printed it out and annotated it to make sure that I was focusing on specific lines and deciding when to get louder or quieter,” Teddy said.
Kristen Brown / Contributed
Students can also turn to recordings of their favorite poets performing their work for guidance and inspiration. “Another thing to do could be to take a look at some Youtube videos of some poets reading their own work, and how slowly they actually read their words. Find your favorite poet and take a look at how they deliver their words,” Ms. Brown said.
Having participated in Poetry Fest twice, I can attest to how quickly nerves take over when one is reading their poem. However, keep in mind that other students in the room are also here to share their work and support one another, not to mention the sound of your last word lingering in the air before the audience starts their applause.
The most important aspect of Poetry Fest for a student is the sharing of voice and experience. “I highly suggest performing,” Lily said. “You’re only up there for seconds. Most of the time, you’re just listening to other people’s stories and poems, which is really fun.”
For those creative writers who have yet to submit their work to Poetry Fest, email your poem to Ms. Brown by the end of April 12. Everyone is welcome in the Wagner Room in the evening of April 25 to appreciate the creativity that students have to offer.
