By Judith Roberts
Two Lincoln Parish students have conquered Regionals and are heading to the State Poetry Out Loud competition.
Elena Baines and Grisham Locke, who studied under coach Tami Alexander, will represent Ruston March 7 in Opelousas with POL, an organization funded by the Endowment for the Arts that allows high school students to compete for scholarships. Baines and Locke competed in Ruston Cultural District’s city competition earlier this year and, if successful at the state level, will compete nationally.
State contestants are required to prepare three memorized poems. One must be pre-20th century and one must be 25 lines or fewer. Contestants perform their poetry one at a time on the stage, and a panel of judges scores each contestant based on poise, articulation, interpretation and accuracy.
“The process of studying and memorizing poetry has given me a new appreciation for historical poets,” Baines said. “I’m also inspired to write more creatively.”
She said she is excited about the next step in the competition.
“I’m not too nervous,” she said. “I figure I don’t have much to lose – I’m just happy that I’ve made it this far.”
Locke said the whole experience, from picking poems that spoke to him to expanding his public speaking skills, has been beneficial.
“I have strengthened my public speaking skills, which is surprising considering the time I’ve spent onstage,” Locke said. “Through Poetry Out Loud, I’ve discovered a new confidence in being myself on stage rather than a character.”
Locke said he would encourage others to participate in POL next year.
“Pick poems that speak to you,” Locke said. “More than that, pick pieces that tell a story; audiences always want to go on a journey.”
Baines echoed that choosing the right poems is important in the competition.
“I would advise anyone who is interested in doing this in the future to choose their poem carefully, because if it resonates with you, you’ll perform it better,” Baines said. “Overall, it’s been a great experience.”
