STANWOOD — Twenty students sat in silence on the auditorium stage waiting to recite poems learned by heart but presented as if the lines were written on the spot.
Stanwood High School teacher Ella Blackwood introduced each poem, and then stood back to let the student performers speak fo
r poets such as E.E. Cummings, Edgar Allan Poe and Robert Burns. Cheered on by a full audience of their peers, each contestant made it clear that, in Stanwood at least, poetry is not dead.
Stanwood is the only school in Snohomish County participating in this year’s Poetry Out Loud competition. As part of a national contest, the winner advances to a regional competition against schools in Skagit, Whatcom, Island and San Juan counties. Regional winners go on to the state competition. At nationals, the winner takes home a $20,000 scholarship.
The five-year-old contest is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, and Stanwood is participating for the second time.
“It takes a lot to get up here and do this,” Blackwood told the audience. Not only will the performers be better speakers because of the experience, they also know more about the art form, she said.
At the school competition Friday, students performed poetry by writers such as Lewis Carroll, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Wilfred Owen, Mary Cornish as well as a couple of Shakespeare sonnets.
Senior Taylor Riley, 18, who participates in theater and poetry slams, recited a Robert Burns poem complete with a Scottish accent.
Before taking her turn at the microphone, junior Samantha Tichota, 16, stashed a copy of her poem in a pocket close to her heart. Carl Sandburg’s poem “Chicago” talks about the “City of the Big Shoulders.” Sam threw back her shoulders for the delivery.
When all 20 performers — four boys and 16 girls — were done, a panel of adult judges added up their scores based on accuracy, appropriate interpretation, physical movement, quality of voice and articulation.
The student competitors sat silently while they waited, sipping water, stretching, smoothing their hair and staring at the audience.
In the end, a surprised Samantha Tichota was the winner with the Sandburg poem.
“I like reading poetry, but the competition part is just OK. It makes me nervous,” she said. “But I do think Poetry Out Loud is a good way to express yourself.”
For the regional contest on Feb. 1 in Burlington, Samantha must choose another poem. Maybe something by Walt Whitman, she said.
“Then it’s comprehend, memorize, internalize and perform.”
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
Learn more
For more information about Poetry Out Loud, go to www.poetry outloud.org.
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