Creative words warmed up a chilly week at Silk Hope School as Phillip Shabazz conducted his Powers of Poetry residency with fifth- and seventh-graders.
“Art is an opportunity to express yourself.” –Mr. Shabazz
Mr. Shabazz shared some of his own work, the words of others, and then let the students know that they would explore, discover, and learn through reading, writing, speaking, and listening throughout the week.
“I hope you learn a little about poetry and a little about yourself,” he continued.
Student Workshops
Throughout the week, fifth- and seventh-graders were eager to try their hand at crafting original poems with guidance, encouragement, and plenty of examples from Mr. Shabazz.
Lunes, list poems, odes, and couplets flowed from the students’ minds onto the pages of their poetry work packet.
Their poems, sometimes inducing laughter in the early stages, began to take shape as the week progressed. There was even time for a quick-rhyme game at the end of some workshops.
“I liked the way we were able to make games including poetry and share topics with new styles of poems.”–Silk Hope School seventh-grader
The young poets wrote about all kinds of topics important to them: sports cars and vampires, waterfalls and Taco Bell, loved ones and pets, and even themselves.
“I liked being able to write whatever I wanted.” –Silk Hope School fifth-grader
Preparing for the Poetry Contest
Ultimately, each fifth- and seventh-grader would be reading their best poem for a poetry reading competition on the last day. So, it made sense that there was plenty of time during each day’s workshop for sharing their work aloud.
Mr. Shabazz listened carefully to each poet who opted to share.
“This experience made me realize that I can write poems.” –Silk Hope School seventh-grader
He privately gave detailed feedback, sometimes offering where to add in some figurative language, rhymes that may be more effective, or lines to add or cut.
“We have one student in the class who is very anxious and shy and reticent to share. He did not get up and share all week in class but did get up and share on Friday at the Poetry Slam. He wrote an amazing poem. It was so wonderful to see!” –Silk Hope School teacher
The students continued to work hard through their workshop to prepare for the last day’s poetry reading contest.
“Something that I liked was that we wouldn’t feel judged to express ourselves through poetry.” –Silk Hope School seventh-grader
Mr. Shabazz encouraged the kids and helped them with their selections.
“Mr. Shabazz was amazing to talk to. He became my favorite person, and I really enjoyed him being there with us.” –Silk Hope School seventh-grader
Poetry Reading Contest
Both the fifth-grade and seventh-grade class performed their poems to parents, peers, and teachers in the multi-purpose room on the final day.
A judges’ table sat at the front, and students were prepped on how to read aloud with a microphone and a music stand to prop up their writing.
“This has been so special!” –Silk Hope School parent
Mr. Shabazz and a teacher judged each poetry reading with a rubric to determine the awards for the fifth-grade.
Our own Chatham Arts Council Board Member and Artists-in-Schools Liaison, Marcia Grimes, helped judge for the seventh-grade.
“I witnessed many students being more confident than usual by presenting their personal poems in front of their peers and families.” –Silk Hope School teacher
Students wrote about thanking parents, wanting the “good ole days when everyone was happy,” and how “women can do anything men can do.”
Mentors and loved ones were the topic of several poems. An ode to a teacher included the line: “You make me a smart fellow.”
Some poems were about grief. There was a poem about a grandma’s fatal cancer: “Like a bulldozer in your body/God used your life wisely.”
Other poems covered topics in nature: “The sun sets/and the flowers rest.”
The poetry contest concluded with a round of applause and Mr. Shabazz commending the students for their bravery, encouraging everyone to appreciate the vulnerability and courage of their peers.
“This was the best week.” –Silk Hope School fifth-grader
The sponsor for this residency was the Lily McCoy Voller Stargazer Fund, a community of family and friends who value the arts for health and healing, bridge building, and a vibrant and enriching education.
This residency is part of the Chatham Arts Council’s Artists-in-Schools Initiative in Chatham County Schools.
Arts for Resilient Kids programming is made possible by partnerships with Chatham County Schools, Chatham County, the North Carolina Arts Council, and many individual, foundation, and business donors. If you feel inspired to help us educate kids through the arts, click here to donate.
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