For some, the last day of school before a week-long vacation can seem to last forever, but for four Lyndon Institute seniors, the day before Thanksgiving break was a whirlwind of travel and poetry. 

On November 22nd, school librarian Trisha Jackman and I took a group of students from my Creative Writing class—Vivy Courtemarche, Josue Hernandez, Arica Kidder, and Claire Peacock—to the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts on Main Street in downtown Burlington to attend Vermont’s first Youth Poetry Summit. 

The event was run by Sundog Poetry—a non-profit whose mission is to promote the growth of Vermont poetry and poets—in collaboration with the Flynn Center, the Vermont Foundation, and Vermont Humanities. Hosting over 60 students from six different high schools primarily from Chittenden County, the summit offered a day of workshops capped with an afternoon poetry slam.

It was perfect timing for this particular group. We spend most of the first semester in Creative Writing undertaking a deep dive into poetry, culminating in a portfolio of their best work. We were also in the midst of the English Department’s Poetry Out Loud project, in which students memorize and recite poems before their peers. All four students had aced both their final portfolios and their Poetry Out Loud recitations two days earlier. Needless to say, poetry was on the mind.

The workshops—two before lunch and one after—gave students a chance to work with professional poets, each one featuring a reading and discussion session of selected poems followed by a writing session that drew from the discussion as inspiration for their own work.

The day culminated with a “poetry slam”—a public reading hosted by the always entertaining Vermont poet Geof Hewitt. All four LI students braved their way to the stage and read from their portfolios.

“I had a ton of fun,” said Josue Hernandez, a recent transfer from White Mountain School in New Hampshire. “It was a new experience to write poems by hand instead of on the computer. It was revealing—it made me realize there’s a difference in the process. I also liked having a chance to talk about poems with new people. There was a nice variety of work with interesting themes.”

For Arica Kidder, the workshops also offered something new. “It reinforced the idea that it’s not about being correct but about sharing your story.” Kidder especially appreciated the poetry slam at the end of the day. “It was a great experience. Getting the courage to get up and talk in front of a group was something I didn’t think I’d be able to do.”

Claire Peacock, also a recent transfer from White Mountain School, similarly found the poetry reading to be a highlight. “Getting to hear other students from around Vermont was inspiring. Overall, I gained confidence not only in writing my own poetry but also reading it, as well!”

Like Peacock, both Hernandez and Vivy Courtemarche appreciated not only the opportunity to read but also the range of student voices. 

“There was some really good stuff at the reading,” Hernandez commented, “lots of difficult themes being explored.”

“I really enjoyed the fact that we were around a diverse group of students, many from different racial and ethnic backgrounds,” Courtemarche added. “You got to experience a lot of unique perspectives and get a broader sense of the voice of youth in Vermont.”

Courtemarche enjoyed the workshops, as well. “The instructors were fantastic. The exercises were fun, and there is something powerful about sharing out your work. You feel a little vulnerable, but it’s nice to be able to judge something at face value when you don’t know the other person.”

Courtemarche also appreciated an unexpected part of the experience—the journey there and back. “I really enjoyed the van ride! It gave me a chance to connect with my classmates in a way I wouldn’t have otherwise.”

Jackman—who facilitated the trip and who also coordinated with the Flynn Center to bring a guest artist to LI the week before to work with students on their Poetry Out Loud performances—was pleased with the event.

“Often, the first time you do something it can be a little uneven, but Sundog Poetry organized the event extremely well. Everything went super smooth. I appreciated the fact that the workshops featured smaller groups where everyone had a voice. And the poetry slam was really fun. It was so nice to see so many students chomping at the bit to share their work. The enthusiasm was refreshing. We’re looking forward to going back next year!”