Poetry Reading Reflection

                Fun! It was fun to participate in the poetry reading at the Farmington Public Library.  Once I got over the stress of choosing a poem, then memorizing the poem, the rest was fun.

                I watched the faces of the audience and could tell that they also enjoyed the performances.  There is a magic in live performance; it is perhaps the human voice and interconnection with text...  I have to say that I probably enjoyed watching the performances more than performing though. 

                I see how doing something like this with a class could build community, help students to understand poetry, and to be prompted to write their own poetry.  I feel that we as a class become closer friends through this experience; we cheered and supported each other all along the way, and some of us who were very much out of our comfort zone here, stepped up because there was trust and support.  As you prepare to perform a poem, you have to think about the poem quite a bit. You have to try to understand it in such a way that you can internalize it and are able to present it, therefore you understand it better.  I was very impressed with Ami for adding to her poem. What a talent!   I could see how playing with poetry in this way could encourage others to write and do the same.

Thanks for the experience!