Students rock the microphone at the Meramec Poetry Slam.
By: Eve Cohen, Staff Writer
Meramec hosted a poetry slam on Nov. 26 at 11:30 a.m. in SC 200, sponsored by Professor Maxine Beach’s Creative Writing Class and the English Department.
Two students, Morgan Canton and Ian Eldridge, served as Masters of Ceremonies at the event. Participating students referred to the poetry of beat generation writers as the inspiration for the event.
“Allen Ginsberg [and his poem] Howl [inspired her],” said Student Amra Halilovic.
The Creative Writing class attended Herb Arts, a downtown St. Louis gathering place. Incidentally, its surrounding geographical location was one of the spots, outside of New Yorks Greenwich Village, central to the beat generation poets which also included St. Louis native William Burroughs whose eccentric prose can be found on YouTube.
Another source of inspiration was the prose of Langston Hughes, said Student Kristin Priest. Much of the class agreed that performance poetry was instrumental in bridging heir appreciation for poetry.
“[It] made poetry approachable, building a connection,” said Priest.
Additionally, Student Lucie Donovan said that performance poetry “transformed the medium from an intellectual… catered, sophisticated form [to one that appeals to the general masses].”
Student Morgan Canton said that she prefers structure when it comes to different forms of poetry. “Rules make you push yourself on those barometers,” Canton said she finds inspiration from Gwendolyn Brooks.
During the event, students focused on issues that need more awareness, such as climate change. “Writing makes you dangerous [when you] raise awareness, [and] talk about issues,” said Professor Beach.
The line-up at the Poetry Slam included Student Jacob Wooton, who started his readings with “Black Boy Moonlight,” a powerful poem imbued with the social fear and consequence of racial injustice. He took the grand prize.
In all, 11 student-poets took the mic. Amra Halilovic closed the show with “Procreation Agitation.”
