One 2 Three! Poetry Club and Ambassadors Host Second Poetry Slam
February 10, 2018
Just across the street from Renton High School, Luther’s Table is a popular spot for students and teachers alike to study, grab a quick bite to eat or cup of coffee, or attend various events like Karaoke and Jazz Band performances. On Wednesday, February 7th, the café hosted Renton High’s Ambassadors and Poetry Club in their second poetry slam event of the year. Support from the Language Arts department encouraged students who otherwise would not have shared their work to present their poems at the event. In addition, the huge turnout from students, staff, and community members filled every seat and booth, ushering a warm, welcoming atmosphere that helped soothe the nerves of some of the performers.
“I think a lot of people think poetry is boring, when it’s actually not,” Says Jenny Huynh, a freshman who read a poem of her own. “There’s a lot of great writers, who you can relate to through their poetry.”
Hannah Lewis, another freshman who was inspired to present through her Language Arts class, explained how poetry can provide kids with a way to express their emotions, especially if they aren’t inclined to more traditional forms of art.
Renton High’s Poetry Club president, Tesia Lyon, doubled as both a presenter and an emcee at the event along with Faith Richardson, another member of poetry club. Lyon echoed similar sentiments, explaining how, “Poetry takes things that may not be able to be expressed through a paragraph and finds a different way to express them through words.”
During the poetry slam, Luther’s Table was filled with enthusiasm and captivation in a celebration of the creativity and eloquency of the student poets. Attendees happily sipped on drinks and ordered food throughout the evening. An employee at Luther’s who witnessed the poetry slam looked back on the evening with a smile. “I thought it was wonderful to see so many young people immersing themselves in poetry. It seems that it’s become a lost art form, but it’s getting a resurgence through young people.”
Students could write and present poems of any topic or style, which contributed to the display of unique individuality for each presenter. The program was a roller coaster of emotions, ranging from angst and frustration to sarcasm or melancholy, but more optimistic tones were also featured. One thing each and every poem possesed, however, was raw honesty. The diversity of the types and deliveries of the poems reflected the diversity within the hallways of the school.
Lyon, Huynh, and Lewis all explained how their first introductions to poetry were at a young age at schools. In speaking on the importance of poetry being incorporated into classroom curriculum, Lyon said, “It’s important to teach children and young adults about different art forms because it’s important to have a creative outlet to express yourself, and different creative outlets work for different people.” Exposure to different artistic practices, especially in young people, allows them freedom of expression at an extremely formative time in their lives. This can assist with coping with stressors, societal pressures, or any other obstacles they may encounter throughout life. The greatest hope with events such as this is to urge young people to open their eyes and hearts to poetry as a method of self-expression, and supporting brave artists as they share their crafts with their communities.
Poetry Club meets on Thursdays in Mrs. Willeke’s room, 344.