When words speak louder than actions: CCHS Poetry Club participates in “Louder than a Bomb” poetry slam

BY KAREN SUROS

Being a teenager is not easy, especially for those who have so much to offer to the world without an outlet to deliver it. Members of Cooper City High School’s very own Poetry Club made their voices heard on Wednesday, March 13. The club participated in the poetry slam “Louder than a Bomb,” which took place in Fort Lauderdale at the Savor Cinema from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event consisted of two bouts, each of which was comprised of five rounds. The first four rounds were either individual or duets and the final round was a group poem. Normally schools change venues between bouts, but the Cowboys remained at the same venue. Judges rotate for the second bout.

For their individual pieces, Poetry Club members addressed issues near and dear to their hearts.

Junior Ali Bennett chose to express her misgivings within the education system, as well as the need to advocate for unity. Poetry Club President Cayla Sullivan spoke about her struggle with her father’s addiction.

Sharing these thoughts and emotions may be a touch intimidating— at first.

“I hope [the audience members] think about how they interact with others and realize that everyone has something going on,” Poetry Club Vice President Saharah Reid said.

“It’s hard to think about [performing] before the competition,” Sullivan said. “But once you sit down and hear 20 other kids talk about their experiences and make themselves emotionally vulnerable with their words, it starts to make you more confident and safe in a room filled with strangers that are all struggling [in] the same way you are.”

In their group piece, the Poetry Club put together a poem about female empowerment, paying tribute to womankind.

“The general idea for the poem was four strong women,” Sullivan said. “We wanted to pinpoint the different types of women who suffer from sexism and misogyny, who seem like they have nothing in common, but throughout the poem you realize that they all fight the same battles and want the same thing: equality and respect.”

Although this was the highest-scoring group piece, having received three 10s from the judges, it went over the time limit by 30 seconds, leaving CCHS in third place.

Still, the students are not focused on performing well in order to reflect well on the club. They concern themselves more with making an impact on their audience and speaking their minds.

“I hope [the audience members] think about how they interact with others and realize that everyone has something going on,” Poetry Club Vice President Saharah Reid said.

Poetry slams are not just an opportunity for young poets to make their own voices heard, but also to listen to what others, from schools and backgrounds far and wide, have to say.

“It’s about getting that feedback from your audience,” Sullivan said. “When they relate to your words and you finally get the sign you’ve been looking for: you’re not alone.”

“As a listening member, that bond between myself and the poet is so important,” Bennett said. “Because it allows me to understand them … At the end of the bouts, we’d all go up to each other and offer congratulations and [give] each other hugs, even if all we knew about that person was their poem. We formed that bond and it was something absolutely beautiful.”

Additionally, it allows today’s youth to express their thoughts in an unconventional way, allowing for creativity and interaction with the audience.

“I feel like it brings a different light to them,” Bennett said. “You have the typical ways like giving a speech, writing a song, but you rarely see it presented as poetry and there’s a certain power in that because it evokes an emotion most people don’t feel. And presenting it to the audience takes bravery … because you’re showing raw, personal emotion to total strangers and that creates a bond between the speaker and the audience [that] most other art forms don’t achieve.”

This was the preliminary slam. Those who placed in first and second place move onto the semifinals. CCHS placed third and fourth. Even if they do not move on this year, Poetry Club takes something bigger with them.

“It’s about getting that feedback from your audience,” Sullivan said. “When they relate to your words and you finally get the sign you’ve been looking for: you’re not alone.”

Photo by Julia Safrin