I almost didn't go to the "Middle School Poetry Slam" that I saw advertised at the Lebanon Coffee Shop. I was tired, and there was grading to do, and my throat still hurts. But I did. I pulled on some shoes and went downtown, and I found a bunch of kids huddled around the entrance of the coffee shop, the way teenagers do when they go anywhere new, looking over their shoulders and giggling and waving to each other.

I went inside, and discovered there's this whole huge awesome back room at the coffee shop, with old fashioned booths and big wooden tables--kind of an English pub vibe for the whole place--and it was completely packed with middle schoolers and their parents. Everybody had coffee, and there was this young teacher in a suit who was running the thing. His students came up and recited their poems--all original, it sounded like--and they had other kids judging and a local adult poet reading his poems here and there.

How cool is that! And better yet, I talked to the teacher and the local poet about coming to our poetry slam in a few weeks and reading poems. And while we're on the subject, consider this an open invitation, O faithful blog readers, to come to the ELCA Poetry Slam on March 10 and read us a poem. (Yes, I'm looking at you, Jennifer Rouse.)

So, I'm glad I didn't stay on my couch all night, especially since this teacher (Mr. Brandt, or something) claims he's going to try to have another poetry slam in a month or two, so I can see about getting my students involved--or at least present, as spectators. Because poetry is cool.

Labels: poetry, teaching

2 comments

Whoa! Called out by name! I'm honored, I think?

By  Jen Rouse, at 7:07 AM  

You had better do it! It will be awesome.

By  Eric, at 8:21 AM  

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