BY GENNA NORDLING
Every day, after the dismissal bell rings, the majority of CCHS students head home. But last Thursday, a particular group of dedicated students stayed to express themselves through the art of poetry. Immediately after the bell rang, Mr. Fair’s classroom transformed into an open mic club, the rows of empty desks quickly filling up and there was only room left to stand.
On September 26, Poetry Club hosted an open mic, where students, Poetry Club members or not, were given the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings in a safe place where they would not be judged. While its main purpose was to foster an environment for self-expression, the event also served as a way to get the word out about Poetry Club.
“[We held the event] to try and get people interested in Poetry Club because the past few years a lot of people haven’t known about it,” Poetry Club Co-President Ali Bennett said. “So this was a way to get people to know to come out to see what it’s really about.”
As it turns out, many people demonstrated interest in the club and the act of sharing poetry; the event lasted two hours because so many people wanted to perform.
“We were so surprised, yet so happy, that all these people came out that they wanted to sing, play music, express themselves [and] read poetry,” Bennett said. “It’s something really hard to do because it’s showing your vulnerable side, so the fact that so many people were willing to do it just melts my heart.”
“We were so surprised, yet so happy, that all these people came out.”
Many of the musical performances and poetry readings were emotionally charged because the performers were vulnerable, but this is what drew many members to the club.
Poetry serves as a type of therapy and creative outlet for those who write it, whether they perform it or not. Poetry club member Norah Slater performed her own poem at the event and enjoyed how she could express herself through poetry.
“I kind of like how you can express yourself and not really feel, like, judged,” Slater said. “You can use a whole bunch of different words to express how you feel and sometimes when you can’t talk to other people just writing it out feels better.”
Poetry Club has big plans for the rest of the year, including more open mic opportunities and a poetry week in April, which is National Poetry Month. This is good news for those like senior Cassidy Sutton, who attended the event and wasn’t originally in the club, but now has an appreciation for the art form and wishes to attend more events.
“I always kind of liked [listening to poetry] but I never joined the club because I don’t really write poetry myself,” Sutton said. “But now [I know] I enjoy listening to it and I have an appreciation for it so I will be going back.”
Photo by Anabella Garcia
