by Blake Anderson
On Wednesday, April 12, the VC theatre played host to the third annual VC Poetry Slam. Talented students sent forth from the stage a diverse and fascinating array of freestyle poetry. Subjects ranged from rage at injustice, to love, to senior Jake Walker's comic call for the geeks of the world to unite!
Junior David Clift emceed the event. First came a special "sacrificial poet" intended to warm up the audience and the judges sitting throughout the room. Then came the real performers, thirteen in the first round. Junior Maleesa Suksiri delivered at breakneck speed a barrage of spontaneous in her piece about the many facets and meanings of poetry. Senior David Celio amused the audience with a rather novel performance, incorporating his saxophone for special effects amidst the words of his raving Captain Hook-esque tirade against ticking clocks. One of the most impressive was senior Laura Judd's "How to Write a Love Poem." With distinctive grace, Judd chronicled in a clever performance her attempts to compose a love poem, crumpling up her page and throwing it away more than once in 'failure' and proceeding to try again until finally arriving at a deeply moving and fundamental definition of the nature of true love.
The plan was for seven poets to go on to the second round, but due to a three-way tie, nine got the chance to deliver a second poem each. Fortunately senior Jordan Apgar was among these nine, as her second piece lent a much happier conclusion to her heart-rending first round about the sorrows of romance. In comical style senior Abram Coetsee parodied the Valley life.
The $50 third prize went to senior Alx Bear, who delivered a poem about an unheeded newspaper crying out about the injustices of the world, as well as a second poem in amusing contrast about her shoes. Second place and $100 went to senior Michelle Upton, who talked about the true nature of success in life. Upton was very impressive in her writing talent but also her masterful delivery and speech skills. The first place $200 grand prize went to senior John Hopkins. His first poem was a romantic piece likening the girl of his dreams to an angel, while his second piece talked about the tragedies of gang life and other sorrows. Both were delivered in with captivating voice and rhythm.
Mr. Dan Meester, who coordinated the event, finished the night with a slam poem of his own, artfully describing the power of words and the meaning of poetry. His performance was a excellent conclusion to a night that was truly a wonderful experience for all in attendance and performance.
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