Berner Middle School’s second annual Poetry Slam showcased the power of the spoken word on May 24, at the Berner library. The evening, titled Silver Linings, highlighted profound themes that, according to club 
members “inspired and uplifted the soul.”
Poetry Slam club members Lauren Baroletti, Sarah Benedict, Adriana Kamor, Alexandra Lachnicht, Juliette Liebov, Sam Marsh, Meaghan Phillips, Tyler Ramos, Claire Russell and Matt Smithwick are passionate about their work and have been honing their writing skills for months, producing and rewriting numerous poems that reflect their voice. Each student read one or two of their favorite pieces.
“The students really hit the ground running to develop their poetry,” said advisor Marissa Giamarino. “They are incredibly enthusiastic and committed to the craft.”
“Our goal is to open people’s eyes,” said Benedict. “You don’t just write poetry, you feel it. When I see my club mates perform, they genuinely mean every single word and the audience intently listens.”
“People will enjoy going to this year’s Poetry Slam because we are focusing on optimism and seeing the bright side of different issues,” said Liebov.
Club member Sam Marsh added, “When you start to get into it (writing poetry) and your feelings are strong, you are helping people through your voice. The power of choosing the right words brings it all together.”
