Open Stage for Teens @ Jan K. Platt Regional Library [Wednesday, November 30th]

Open Stage for Teens

@ Jan K. Platt Regional Library

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Teens : Come check out our Open Stage event! Enjoy the café atmosphere with tea, coffee, and snacks while you watch your friends perform their favorite talent. Those that want to go on stage can sign up in advance, at the library information desk or by calling 813-273-3652, or at the door for a three minute time slot to perform a song, poem, dance, magic trick, or any other talent you want to share.

This event is hosted by the Jan K. Platt Regional Library Teen Advisory Board and funded by the Friends of the Jan Platt Library.

Teen Poetry Café @ the Jimmie B. Keel Library

The Poetry Café on April 29 at Jimmie B. Keel was a huge success. The group of fifteen who came out was just the right size for everyone who wanted to read their poems to feel comfortable and run for the mic. People read works from their favorite poets, and there were loads of original poems—some old and some written specifically for the night. The highlight of the evening was when everyone started writing original poems during the actual event! There were poems about the art exhibit in the Community Room, where the event was held; about Jimmie B. Keel’s own TAB group, and many others on a variety of subjects.

We had some awesome music, chosen by Abby S., who played emcee for the night, and Louis B. treated the crowd to his guitar playing. Of course it wouldn’t be a TAB event if it didn’t include some dancing! We even got together and sang Happy Birthday to TAB member Justin J., whose birthday had passed the previous weekend. Everyone had a really great time, but the food and atmosphere really pushed it over the top. All in all, the Poetry Café was a wonderful event. When’s the next one???

Post by Briana S., TAB volunteer

Teen Poetry Slam @ Bloomingdale Library

Thursday and Friday, April 22nd and 23rd, Bloomingdale celebrated National Poetry Month by hosting a poetry workshop for Teens and Poetry Slam. Teens were invited to participate in a Spoken Word Poetry Workshop with nationally renowned Spoken Word Poet, Adrienne Nadeau. Then, on the second day of the workshop the teens stood up to test their poetry skillz against each other in a Poetry Slam. Each teen performed two poems and then were judged on their performance for each. After all the poets competed, the poet with the highest score was Bailey McCoy, who received a copy of Adrienne Nadeau’s poetry CD and an opportunity for the poem to be published on our Teen Blog. Second place went to Rohan Snyder.

Praise Poem
I was told to write a praise poem,
to tell about who I am by what I have done.
But, where to start?
The scar on my knee from when I fell off a scooter?
or the one on my elbow from my bike?
(miraculously I didn’t cry either time, however, I did cry when I hit my thumb with a hammer)
The anxiety which has prevented me from so many friendships?
or my ADD which ended so many others?
Maybe I should tell about the time I got sick and missed the bucket
(I couldn’t stop apologizing to my mom for that)
Should I tell about my religion?
(or lack of it)
The people who bullied me as a child?
I should definitely include my fast pace in walking and talking
and the lack of rhyming and structure in my poems
I am a 14-year-old girl who has not done much (besides school)
But even the little that I have done has managed to shape me into the
beautiful person I am today

- Bailey Lynne McCoy

Congratulations to Bailey and all of our poets for their creativity and for their courage in standing up in a room full of strangers and allowing their poetry to be judged by others.

Michelle Frasier @ BDL

More Poetry Fun

Looking for new ways to express yourself? The Internet Public Library's Teen Poetry Wiki is a great place to start. Post your poems in the online open mic section, help create an exquisite corpse, discover work by the poet of the week, or stretch your writing skills in the wordplay section.

Poetry in Motion

April is National Poetry Month, and the library has lots of cool stuff in store. Show off your own skills at a slam, listen to nationally recognized poets share their work, learn to use technology to create poetry, or all of the above! Click here to find out about all the great poetry programs going on this month.