Article by James Dionisio ’20:
Every passionate poet has the desire to unlock their imagination and inspire the world with their verse. April is National Poetry Month, and to celebrate the literary arts, Kellenberg hosted their first annual Poetry Week from April 2nd to April 5th. Featuring a daily form of poetry on morning announcements and various fun-filled activities, Kellenberg was overflowing with lively excitement during Poetry Week.
The amusement commenced on Tuesday, April 2nd with a scavenger hunt. QR codes were scattered around the hallways and the students were set on a quest to identify literary devices found in famous poems. Those who participated were introduced to the personification in John Donne’s “Death, Be Not Proud” and the enjambment in William Carlos Williams’ “Between Walls.”
Many notable pieces of art were inspired by the compositions of prolific authors. On Wednesday, April 3rd, students were given insight into how art can imitate poetry. The painting Ophelia by Sir John Everett Millais was based off the character from the Shakespearian drama, Hamlet. Students unleashed their inner artist as they put an artistic spin on poems such as “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost.
On Thursday, April 4th, Kellenberg held a Poem in Your Pocket Day. Members of the Latin school and high school selected their favorite poem and shared it with the school. In the chorus room, students orally interpreted the works of Shel Silverstein, Maya Angelou, and Percy Bysshe Shelley. Some even recited original poems, adding to the abundance of poetic voices. At the conclusion of Poetry Week on Friday, April 5th, students were able to join in the friendly musical competition during two sessions of the trivia game Kahoot. The objective of the first game was to recognize literary devices in pop music. Everyone jammed out to the onomatopoeia of The Black Eyed Peas’ “Boom Boom Pow” and the hyperbole of Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles.” The second game required a keen eye for both music and poetry, as students were to discern if a quote was a lyric from a rapper or a line from an author. Many were perplexed at how similar Jay-Z’s style of writing sounds compared to William Shakespeare. Kellenberg’s first Poetry Week was certainly a success. All who participated left with a sense of how influential and inspirational poetry can be. Special thanks to the English department for coordinating this event!