LI Senior Takes 3rd Place at VT Poetry Out Loud Finals

On March 14th, Lyndon Institute senior Claire Peacock took 3rd place for Vermont at the state’s annual Poetry Out Loud finals at the Flynn Theater in Burlington. Peacock had competed the week before at the Barre Opera House to become one of five finalists from the northern half of the state. They joined the five finalists from the southern half of the state to perform at the Flynn for this final round. 

Michael Bureau—Education Engagement Manager at the Flynn and the director of this year’s Vermont Poetry Out Loud competition—noted that, according to a long-time teaching artist with the program, this year’s ten finalists “were some of the best reciters they have seen throughout the history of Vermont’s program.”

Hundreds of Vermont high school students competed in this year’s Poetry Out Loud competition in schools across the state. Peacock took first place during LI’s school competition at a special assembly on February 5th with her recitation of Edna St. Vincent Millay’s “Dirge Without Music.” For the state semi-final and final rounds, Peacock was required to memorize two additional poems—choosing Chen Chen’s “Summer” and Emily Bronte’s “Shall earth no more inspire thee”—performing all three at the Flynn.

“POL was a really fun experience,” said Peacock. “I chose poems that really meant something to me. Performing them on stage, at every level, was nerve wracking but empowering. I got to present to an audience something that speaks to me, something that reminds me of myself, something that has come to be part of me. That feeling is like no other." 

“I am grateful for the small community I gained from POL,” Peacock added. “My fellow competitors were so kind and encouraging. Despite POL being a competition, we felt more like an ensemble. Each person got their moment, and we cheered each other on. We took time backstage to get to know each other, find common ground, and give each other tips. I feel much more connected to the world of poetry now.”

A national program sponsored by the Poetry Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Out Loud is an annual public speaking contest in which students memorize and recite poems in their local schools, with winners going on to compete at the state level. Each year in early May, state winners go on to compete at the national level in Washington D.C..