By: Monica Aviles
In 1996, the Academy of American Poets Established National Poetry Month. April is a month to share the achievements of famous poets, encourage others to write/read/listen to poetry, and to share your own poetry.
Poetry is a way to express your emotions, thoughts, and memories into words. For some, poetry is a sense of comfort, understanding, and connection.
Literature and Expression teacher, Ms. Link has been writing poetry since the age of eleven. So far, she has written more than one hundred poems throughout her life. She recalls the moment of when she wrote her first poem, she was looking at the ocean in her new home, where someone had left a legal pad. She got inspired by her view, and just started writing. Link describes poetry to be a form of art and an “expression of an emotion that cannot come out in any other way.”
Some of her favorite poets are Emily Dickinson, Naomi Shihab, and Li Young Lee. She loves writing/performing slam poetry and free verse poetry. “Slam poetry is meant to be performed out loud, rather than written on a piece of paper. It’s different from regular poetry, because if you’re not there speaking it, you’re going to miss a part of it.”
Creating art in any way comes with its difficulties, whether it’s painting, sketching, singing, etc. There is always something to struggle with. “Finding the right words for the emotions that you are feeling is the hardest part of writing poetry” explains Link.
She gets her inspiration from everything that’s around her, or the struggles and emotions she is facing, “I like to write slam poetry when I’m angry, or when something bothers me. Other poetry (page poetry) comes from anything I see or feel that is beautiful.”
Poetry has helped Link tremendously, such as keeping her “sane.” When she’s going through difficult times, she is able to turn to the poetry community, and say, “Here’s what’s on my heart, here’s what’s bothering me, here’s what’s getting to me right now. It’s like therapy, It’s so good for the soul.”
Link is focusing on publishing a novel, but would love to publish a poetry book as well in the future.
“Just try it (poetry). It doesn’t have to be good, it doesn’t have to be the best. I always give my students permission to write absolutely terrible poetry, because that’s what turns off that voice in your head that says It has to be perfect, or I can’t do it.”
– Ms. Link
Tags: #poetry, art, arts and entertainment, national poetry month, poem, writing