by Jeffrey Stanley

“Life is a novel, a long, long novel that you can’t let go,” began one student’s poem.

“Snowboarding on cement,” went a line from a poem about skateboarding.

Puffer fish, Stone Cold Steve Austin, computers, Chevy Impalas, subway cars, mothers, and lunch were but a few of the other topics explored in verse at the 7th annual fourth grade poetry slam last week which was again organized by poet, actress and singer Gha’il Rhodes Benjamin.

The energetic fourth grade audience sat on a classroom floor and took turns approaching the lectern at the front of the room to recite their work. Like any poetry slam a key component here was performance. The students had been coached and rehearsed, and many carried props and wore costumes to suit their subject matter. Many of the poems had a choral element, with the students in the audience sometimes participating in a rehearsed call-and-response.

They cheered each other on to victory. The only slamming going on was in the form of students applauding and waving their fingers to direct good energy vibes at the performers, and exhortations from Gha’il who sat near the lectern to offer moral support. “In case you don’t know we have some magnificent and amazing poets here!” she said to the group, a few of whom struggled to overcome shyness and a bit of stage fright. Gha’il praised these students for their bravery. “She had on her cloak of courage!” she said, applauding one student. “She had hers on when she got up here, make sure you have yours on when you get up here!”

The slam ended with Gha’il leading the class in a poetic chant apt for the occasion:

Whether the weather is cold!
Whether the weather is hot!
We’ll be together whatever the weather,
whether we like it or not!