Speaking up at the poetry slam
Amy Azzi
Issue date: 11/24/09 Section: Spotlight
Some students express their emotions by writing in a journal. Some keep their emotions to themselves. Others use poetry to speak their minds.
The poetry slam, presented by the Student Entertainment Awareness League on Nov. 14, gave students the chance to speak.
The three winners were graduate student Peace Udechukwu and sophomores Melanie Fuller and Larry West.
"A lot of people think it's all about the rhyme scheme and making it sound nice," West said. "But what I'm saying can be taken to heart and internalized. People can learn from it."
West, an English major and forensic science minor, performed his poem titled "Are They Hearing Me?" He said he got his inspiration from the message people take from his poems.
"People hear what I'm saying, and they like what I'm saying, but are they really hearing it and embracing it and internalizing it?" West said.
He said his poetry is inspired by his experiences in life. While rhyme scheme and delivery are important, he writes how he feels. He said delivery is secondary to him.
"It's about becoming one with the piece so you can understand exactly what I'm saying," West said. "It's not just words coming at you, it's real life."
Sophomore Melanie Fuller also finds inspiration from her life experiences. Her poem "This One Statistic" is about challenging statistics and breaking free of the status quo.
"I was raised in a single parent home, but I don't feel disadvantaged at all," Fuller said. "I was essentially addressing the statistics and saying 'I'm everything your statistics are not.' My poem is just expressing that I'm not what you're expecting me to be."
Fuller, a business major and Spanish minor, said her love for poetry started when she was in elementary school. Her teacher encouraged her and her classmates to release their feelings through poetry. She said she wants listeners to take a strong message away from her poetry.
"Regardless of your circumstances, hold your head up high and be the best you can be," Fuller said. "Be above the negativity and challenge everything."
For these students, performing their poetry is how they release their emotions.
"[My poetry] means the world to me," West said. "It's my inspiration. It's pretty much what I'm all about."
The poetry slam, presented by the Student Entertainment Awareness League on Nov. 14, gave students the chance to speak.
The three winners were graduate student Peace Udechukwu and sophomores Melanie Fuller and Larry West.
"A lot of people think it's all about the rhyme scheme and making it sound nice," West said. "But what I'm saying can be taken to heart and internalized. People can learn from it."
West, an English major and forensic science minor, performed his poem titled "Are They Hearing Me?" He said he got his inspiration from the message people take from his poems.
"People hear what I'm saying, and they like what I'm saying, but are they really hearing it and embracing it and internalizing it?" West said.
He said his poetry is inspired by his experiences in life. While rhyme scheme and delivery are important, he writes how he feels. He said delivery is secondary to him.
"It's about becoming one with the piece so you can understand exactly what I'm saying," West said. "It's not just words coming at you, it's real life."
Sophomore Melanie Fuller also finds inspiration from her life experiences. Her poem "This One Statistic" is about challenging statistics and breaking free of the status quo.
"I was raised in a single parent home, but I don't feel disadvantaged at all," Fuller said. "I was essentially addressing the statistics and saying 'I'm everything your statistics are not.' My poem is just expressing that I'm not what you're expecting me to be."
Fuller, a business major and Spanish minor, said her love for poetry started when she was in elementary school. Her teacher encouraged her and her classmates to release their feelings through poetry. She said she wants listeners to take a strong message away from her poetry.
"Regardless of your circumstances, hold your head up high and be the best you can be," Fuller said. "Be above the negativity and challenge everything."
For these students, performing their poetry is how they release their emotions.
"[My poetry] means the world to me," West said. "It's my inspiration. It's pretty much what I'm all about."
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