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Health & Fitness

Sunken Garden Poetry Festival

Sunken Garden Poetry Festival on July 6th. Perspective from a Poetry Out Loud competitor.

On July 6th, Sunken Garden is featuring amazing artists such as Connecticut‘s Poet Laureate, Dick Allen; poet, performer, and teacher, Elizabeth Thomas; and award winning, American/Celtic band, Atwater-Donnelly.  This year I have the honor of reciting at this prestigious event as Connecticut’s 2011 Poetry Out Loud representative (that sounds so cool to say).  POL is a national recitation contest in which students choose three poems to memorize and recite.  At least one poem must fit the “under twenty-five line” and “pre-twentieth century” requirements. 

Way back in February, Rockville, along with 29 other high schools around the state, hosted a school-wide POL competition.  The winner would move on to the state competition held at Southern Connecticut State University.  This year, actress and director, Tanya Wright, hosted and the director of the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival, Mimi Madden, served as one of the judges.  The state winner would receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C. to compete in the national competition at Lincoln Theater.

The state competition was the most amazing experience of my life.  My creative writing teacher-turned-coach, Mrs. Nordlund, rehearsed with me everyday after school for a month and a half to make sure I would feel comfortable performing in front of audiences.  She put me in front of all the faculty, brought me into various classrooms, and had me perform at poetry events held at the school.  Although it took up a large amount of energy and time, I loved every minute of it.

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When the day of the State Competition rolled around, Mrs. Nordlund put together a fan bus so the creative writing students could come.  It felt so great having all their support behind me.  I remember Mrs. Nordlund telling the fan bus group not to be too obnoxious because that might annoy the judges.  So, after the first round of poems, they lightly clapped.  After the second round they clapped a little more.  Then, the judges cut the group down to the top five to recite their last poem.  Mrs. Nordlund told the group, “okay, if Erin makes the top five, you can cheer.”  So, I made the top five and half the room stood and screamed, startling most of the other spectators.  When Tanya Wright called my name as the State Champion, the fan bus section exploded.  It was the greatest feeling in the world.  They were all hugging each other, some people even crying.  They made a mob on the side of the stage and fist pumped.  I was so proud to represent Rockville and I was so honored to have the opportunity to travel to Washington!

Thank you Mrs. Nordlund, all the students and faculty at RHS, and the Connecticut Poetry Out Loud organizers for making this experience one I will never forget!

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I am so excited to recite again with all of these talented performers.  It’s going to be a fun time.  Hope to see you all there!


Sunken Garden, Farmington, CT

POL info:

http://www.poetryoutloud.org/

My poems: Domestic Violence by Eavan Boland, Dog by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and Amor Mundi by Christina Rossetti.

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