Luke Huang, Reporter
@lukehcourant
This Thursday, April 27th, the Wagner Room will come alive with a symphony of words as students take the stage for the annual Poetry Fest. Beginning at 6:00 pm, the event will be a celebration of creative expression and performances of young wordsmiths. Students will have the opportunity to showcase a year’s worth of work, support their peers, and have fun.
Coordinated by four juniors as Masters of Ceremonies, Poetry Fest will feature dozens of budding student poets sharing their work. Afterward, four awards will be presented to recognize exceptional talent in four categories: Best Poem, Best Use of Imagery, Most Artful Use of Language, and Best Performance of a Poem.
According to Kristen Brown, English teacher and Poetry Fest coordinator, the event has celebrated creativity, language, and solidarity for over a decade. “Every year, I am moved by the number of students willing to take the risk and share their work with an audience,” she said. “That’s what makes poetry come alive.”
With attendees ranging from nervous freshmen to prodigious seniors, Poetry Fest has always been a supportive environment for poetry enthusiasts. “It’s just a really supportive crowd, so there have been years where kids have shared really personal poems,” said Ms. Brown. “Writing allows us to put into words what we’re feeling.”
For senior Peyton Zaletsky, who acted as the Master of Ceremonies last year, Poetry Fest creates a unique sense of solidarity. “A lot of the poems are really personal since people find inspiration from their own personal lives,” said Peyton. “That sense of vulnerability was definitely something that kept us engaged.”
The diversity of students attending Poetry Fest also makes for an entertaining night. “Everyone had all different kinds of perspectives and showcase them through all different types of poems,” said Peyton.
For some students, the supportive atmosphere of Poetry Fest also allows it to be a cathartic experience. “It can actually be a little emotional, but in a good way. I’d say it’s pretty inspiring,” said Avery Laird, a senior who served as Master of Ceremonies for Poetry Fest last year. “It just allows you to be vulnerable in a good way.”
Above all else, Ms. Brown describes Poetry Fest as a festive atmosphere where students can let their poetic virtuosity flourish. “It’s very supportive. It’s very emotionally powerful. It’s just a lot of fun,” said Ms. Brown. “We’d really love to see as many kids there as possible.”
