Classroom Spotlight: Upper School Poetry Students Visit with Poets and Share Original Poetry

Throughout February, March, and April (National Poetry Month!), students in Hayes Davis's "Poetry of Identity and Identification" English class have been treated to conversations with several current-day poets. Hayes, who is a celebrated published poet in his own right, was able to leverage connections in the local and national poetry scene to arrange virtual conversations with Thu Ahn Nguyen (who also served as the SSFS Artist in Residence during May 2022) and Joel Dias-Porter. Most recently, Baltimore resident Tafisha Edwards joined the class in person on Friday, April. 26. Each poet read their original work, answered students' questions, and shared elements of their writing life.

Some examples of these poets' work are available below:

• Thu Anh Nguyen "Awake"
• Joel Dias-Porter "El Magnifico"
• Tafisha Edwards "The E6's Daughter"

Also, on Sunday, April 21, to celebrate National Poetry Month, Izzy Petty '24 and Jonathan Humphrey '26 joined Hayes on stage at the Kensington Day of the Book. They shared their original poetry with a receptive crowd that also heard poems by a host of local writers and Kensington Poet Laureate Nancy Naomi Carlson. Izzy and Jonathan exhibited terrific poise, and the audience thoroughly enjoyed their poetry!

Izzy Petty '24 and Jonathan Humphrey '26 join Hayes Davis on stage at Kensington's Day of the Book

Joel Dias-Porter virtual visit:

Thu Ahn Nguyen virtual visit: