My Poem

For my Poetry Out Loud poem I am reading one called To the Desert by BENJAMIN ALIRE SÁENZ. I decided on this poem because I could tell that the author felt very deeply about what he was writing, and what he was saying spoke a lot to me. The poem is about a religious relationship that the author has, and how it is the key to happiness in his life. I believe that everyone should search for this in their own lives.

When I perform my poem, I intend to be very solemn during the lines where the author talks about how important his relationship with God is to him, and then when he is saying how God has changed his life completely I am going to be very happy sincere. I'm excited to perform this poem!

Poetry Out Loud

Part One:

1. Listening by Jean Valentine
2. "Alone" by Edgar Allan Poe
3.  To the Desert by Robert Saenz
4. Experience by Ralph Waldo
    In the Desert by Stephen Crane

Part Two:

I liked the poem, "To The Desert" the most out of the poems I read because it made me really think, and I am interested to discover the background of it. I disliked the poem In the Desert because it was so weird! I am very interested in discovering more about the poem Echo, and uncovering its layers. I personally connected with this poem because sometimes I feel invisible, just like an echo.

Part Three:

I think that dramatic appropriateness and voice and articulation will be the easiest criteria for me to accomplish because those two things come naturally to me. The only part of the criteria that I think I will have trouble with is physical presence because when I speak in front of crowds my body language can make me look nervous.

Part Four:

I watched the the videos of the poems Pied Beauty, and Danse Russe. When listening to the speaker of each poem recite, I could really tell that the speaker understood the poem, because of his and her body language, volume, tone, and facial expressions. One of the poems was very difficult, so it was impressive that she knew it so well.

Part Five:

After spending time on this website, I think that Poetry Out Loud is a great organization. All kinds of people who otherwise would never think to speak poetry are learning about how amazing it can be. I hope that the competition isn't nerve wracking, but I'm sure it will be. I'll do my best researching about my poem, and will do my best in the competition!