Friday night, May 1st, 7 p.m.––lights dimmed in the Pickens High auditorium as student Jolie Bauer stepped to the microphone and delivered a poem about respect. 'Twas the inaugural moment of the first ever Tater Patch poetry slam.
Co-sponsored by community theater group, the Tater Patch Players, and the Pickens High School Drama Club (teacher-sponsor Marcia Wright), the student-only slam offered a forum for creative youngsters to air some poems.
Each piece presented was original to its poet reader. Most poems were short and sweet––often terse descriptions of sensations or thoughts surrounding some single idea or event.
"Fire is super hot," Devin West intoned. "It can burn anything to a crisp. But when it is gone, it cannot hurt anybody." Read aloud, West’s words sounded with the cadence of an Eastern proverb.
A descriptive poem by Peyton Harrington added sound effects to a strong visual: "My brother broke my yoyo. He spun it up, It came back down in a crash. He fixed it up, Put it on, He tried to spin it again. But Plomp. It broke in half."
Sydney Pearson detailed a string of sensations in her poem about a pear: "I ate a pear a day ago. It tasted sweet and juicy. It dripped out of my mouth and ran down my arm."
Jordan Merrell delivered a poem with a cause. Quoting from Merrell’s poem: "Trees are Mother Nature's arms. If you cut them off, she'll have nothing to hug us with."
Hannah Hardison poemed over the special day a new dog joined her household.
Stage veteran and student-aged Tater Patcher, Jolie Bauer, presented a number of her poems. One was The Elders. From its lines: "We have them to enlighten and encourage us. Every wrinkle on their face might tell a story. Every story they have needs a listener."
The slam obeyed entertainment's first rule: "Leave 'em wantin’ more." No time for tedium at this poetry recital. Presenters advanced to the mic on cue and appeared to enjoy their part in the slam.
The event was equally pleasant for hearers. Tater Patcher, Andy Kippenhan acted as master of ceremonies, introducing each reader with a relaxed air that apparently soothed any cases of stage fright. Each reader stood and delivered with confidence.
"Parents, relatives, teachers and students schmoozed afterward to ginger snaps and cold drinks," Kippenhan reported. And each participating poet received a gift.
Expect a return of this poetry slam format, highlighting student participants. |
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| PHOTO BY JEFF WARREN |
| Slam Poets-Shown: (front row, l-r) Peyton Harrington, Emma DiPuma, Lila McArthur, Morgan Jackson, Devin West, Sydney Pearson, Hannah Hardison. Back row (l-r) Jordan Merrell and Jolie Bauer. |
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