On Tuesday May 5, a poetry slam was held in the Crimson Cafe where ten sophomores chosen from their English classes met and read the poems they wrote. The students wrote moving poems on topics such as immigration, family, racism, and mental health. They were free verse, so each poem was unique, and had its own special structure.
The first poem read was about casual racism. The student talked about how racist jokes and stereotypes are thrown around casually like nothing, when in reality, they can be very harmful. He talked about how these things should be addressed, and not normalized.
Another poem was written about immigration. This student talked about how her life changed after coming to the United States. She also talked about how fitting in was hard, saying “my accent felt louder than my voice.”
One more poem was written about the family dynamic between immigrant parents and their children. The student talked about how she would at first see the things her parents did as bothersome, but she realized the things they did were out of love and care. She would realize “how actions can say what words cannot.”
Finally, there was a more abstract poem about losing someone, whether literally or figuratively. The student used the ocean as a metaphor for the problems and trial of life, trying to pull a loved one in. The subject of the poem is at first a happy person, but she slowly loses herself. “We tried to pull her back but the current kept taking her,” reads one of the lines.
There were six other poems, all well written on important topics. Each student was given a certificate and got to enjoy some pastries and fruit cups.
Events like these are a great way to spotlight student work, and to motivate them to try their best.
