Clarke Central High School Contemporary Literature and Composition student Miriam Widener, a junior, recites her free-verse poem “Shower Thoughts” at the Poetry Showcase in the CCHS Media Center on Dec. 3. CCHS English for Speakers of Other Language department teacher Carrie Emerson attended the showcase and highlighted the variety of works delivered, including Contemporary Literature and Poetry student Andres Nava’s poems “A Land of Pain and Hope,” which discusses Venezuela’s dictatorship and “Dude Heaven,” which imagines the ideal place for adolescent men. “I got to sit with (Nava’s) parents. It was nice to just see that they were here to support him. I thought it was really special that he wrote a heart wrenching poem and then he had a super funny poem, ‘Dude Heaven,’” Emerson said. Photo by Maypop Wren
Contemporary Literature and Composition and Writers’ Workshop students performed in the CCHS Poetry Showcase in the Media Center on Dec. 3.
Students taking Clarke Central High School’s poetry electives, Contemporary Literature and Composition and Writers’ Workshop, which are taught by CCHS English department teacher Grace Crumpton, performed in the CCHS Media Center at 6-7:30 p.m. on Dec. 3 in the Poetry Showcase to CCHS students, faculty, friends and family.
Clarke Central High School sophomore GJ Jaumot-Ramos attends the Poetry Showcase in the CCHS Media Center on Dec. 3. Jaumot-Ramos found the performers’ delivery of their work to be a poignant part of the event. “The poems were relatable and had a lot of vivid imagery. The ones that stuck with me the most were the ones that had some sort of lyrical or rhythmic performance. (For example) the poem “Dude Heaven,” (by CCHS senior Carson Richardson and CCHS senior Andres Nava, had) a call and response that was memorable.” Photo by Maypop Wren
Students, who curated the event’s itinerary, performed a total of 27 original poems and four published poems prepared by in-class rehearsals. CCHS junior Brihanna Bolden, who read original works “Teenage Girl” and “Crazy” as well as an excerpt from the book “Punching the Air” by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam, found saying the poems to an audience posed new challenges.
“(Performing is) a lot different (than writing). When I’m just writing, I’m in my head and I’m not really thinking about it,” Bolden said. “Once I speak it out in front of people, I’m thinking, ‘Oh, I should speak this next line like this, or maybe I should pause right here.’”
“I was really impressed by the students (and) their courage to get up there and perform something vulnerable.”
— Carrie Emerson,
CCHS English for Speakers of Other Languages department teacher
Crumpton encouraged students to invite teachers whom the students felt were important to them. CCHS English for Speakers of Other Languages department teacher Carrie Emerson, who attended the showcase after receiving an invitation, noted the student growth it demonstrated.
“I was really impressed by the students (and) their courage to get up there and perform something vulnerable,” Emerson said. “Several of the students have been in the (ESOL) program before, (so) I’m really impressed by their progress with their English and just their willingness to stand up there.”
Clarke Central High School students, faculty and community members attend the Poetry Showcase, which was held at the CCHS Media Center on Dec. 3. CCHS world languages department teacher Christian Cordón attended the event after witnessing one of his students, CCHS senior Andres Nava, assemble and practice his poems “A Land of Hope and Dreams” and “Dude Heaven.” “It’s really hard to put something (like the showcase) together. This is a lot of work. (They’ve been) working all semester to present this. I’m sure it’s a satisfaction for the teacher, for them and for their parents,” Cordón said. Photo by Maypop Wren
Although the majority of the poems were solo performances, some of them were recited by pairs. CCHS sophomore GJ Jaumot-Ramos, who attended the showcase, found that these aspects deepened their experience of the event.
“(The event was) a showcasing of a kind of elective that’s not the same as (Literature I, II, II and IIII.” Jaumot-Ramos said. “(In Contemporary Literature and Composition,) it’s people just getting to do creative writing. I think it’s important for people to see that, and it’s important for them to get (students’) perspectives.”
