The DSI Comedy Theater in Chapel Hill held its monthly poetry slam, hosted by Sacrificial Poets member Colette Heiser, Dec. 2. A few members of Northwood’s Poetry Club attended.
English teacher and Poetry Club advisor Terrence Foushee used to work for the Sacrificial Poets, a poetry organization that hosts a youth poetry slam during the school year on the fourth Saturday of every month from September to April. The Youth Poetry Slam is open to people ages 13-19.
“Sacrificial Poets is a non-profit organization that creates safe spaces for people within the community to write poetry or tell their stories,” Foushee said. “Particularly for youth, they host open mics and slams, and they teach workshops within Durham County, Chapel Hill and Carrboro City Schools, and they’re moving into Chatham County.”
Freshman Daniella Gillis attended the poetry slam and recited her poem Them.
“It was really fun being up there,” Gillis said. “I performed Them. It was very interesting. I liked that when you go up on stage you really can’t see anything, which was nice so you don’t see all the faces in the audience. You could hear snaps from people when they like your poem.”
This was freshman Nicole Fowler’s second performance at the poetry slam. She recited her poem Today.
“The first time, I didn’t see any faces, and I was scared to do it,” Fowler said. “It’s nice because if nobody really likes [your poem], you won’t hear anything, and it’s not like they’re going to boo you. That’s a welcoming environment, and that’s good for people who have stage fright.”
Gillis explains her creative process and what inspires her to write poetry.
“If I’m reading a sad poem or story, I write about what I just read and how I feel about it,” Gillis said. “A lot of my poetry comes from what I’m feeling. We had to put my dog down, and I wrote a poem about that. The first poem I ever wrote was about someone that was really annoying.”
Foushee wants to encourage students to join poetry club.
“It is a very welcoming [and] supportive space, and it allows for you to be able to tell your story [in a] nonjudgmental space,” Foushee said.
Poetry club meets on Wednesdays after school from 3:30 to 4:20 in room 917.
– By Rania Kazmi