"Poetry is like a sport to you!"

This was the observation of one of my seventh-graders yesterday afternoon. He continued, "Everyone else says, 'Aw, man, I missed that basket at the game,' but you're like, 'Aw, man, I missed that line of poetry that I was reciting.'"

So the annual Poetry Slam at East Linn was this week. We (the English department) were more frazzled and put less planning and preparation into it this year than in previous years, but it somehow turned out just as well--maybe even better than in the past. For one thing, we had a number of guest presenters (Thank you guys!) who read or recited original poems. The kids seemed to be more prepared this year too, for some reason.

I particularly enjoyed listening to my drama students reciting story poems--like "The Cremation of Sam McGee" and "The Raven" and "Casey at Bat." I myself memorized "Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight"--a Victorian Gothic number, the sort of thing Anne of Green Gables would recite at the a concert, with lots of lines like "her cold, pale brow" and "the darkened, gloomy tower." But, alas, I didn't get to perform it because we ran out of time. I did squeeze in the famous Spiderman poem (like I do every year), but that was all.

Next year, we're going to try to do the Poetry Slam in the fall, when things will hopefully be less hectic. And, who knows, maybe some of my students can still be a part of one of the poetry slams held in the community, like the one I went to a couple weeks ago.

Labels: poetry, teaching

5 comments

Hi!
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good luck! :)have fun!

By  R!, at 10:48 AM  

Ms. Van Essen, I just wanted to let you know that you did such a fabulous job with the poetry slam again this year! I LOVED it when you recited the famous Spiderman poem . . . You did such a good job! Made me laugh. :)
I hope you have a very special weekend and that you can relax! :)

By  danae, at 5:17 PM  

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By  cmb, at 6:29 PM  

I'm going to echo Danae and just say that you did do a fantastic job with the poetry slam, yet again. Sad to think that it was my last ELCA poetry slam!! Yeah, your spiderman poem was a big hit, as always! You rocked it!! I'm glad I got to hear you do "Cerfew Bell.." it was amazing! I changed my mind about that poem when you recited it!! Yes- so like Anne!! :D And that was exatcly what I was thinking when you did it!! Yeah, if you hear of anymore local poetry deals, let me know!! Now that I have "The Cremation of Sam McGee" all memorized, I'd love to go and poetry slam it up!! :D lol

By  cmb, at 7:37 PM  

Thanks for inviting me! I was flattered to be included.

By  Jen Rouse, at 7:44 PM  

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