Wenricka G. takes Honorable Mention in the state-wide Poetry Out Loud Competition.
PCS 11th grader Wenricka Griffith made it to the final round recently at the Rhode Island Poetry Out Loud state finals. She performed all three of her poems and got an Honorable Mention.
Her poems covered a range of emotions. “I’m Learning to Abandon the World” explored the challenges of depression and the small beauties of the world that provide reprieve and solace. Francine Harris’ “gravity furnace” celebrated a woman who was going to burn down the institution of oppression and build something totally new. “Self-Inquiry before the Job Interview” gave Wenricka a chance to show off her comedic side as a poet grilling himself on the way to an interview for a job that he probably didn’t want.
The champion of the junior English classes, Wenricka represented Paul Cuffee School in the state-wide competition. She is the sixth representative in the school’s history and the fourth to make it to finals.
Poetry Out Loud encourages students to memorize and recite great poetry that speaks of their world and learn about literary history and contemporary life.
Since 2005, Poetry Out Loud has grown to reach more than 3 million students and 50,000 teachers from 10,000 schools in every state, Washington DC, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.