By: Sabrina Yates
Staff Writer
Students at Costa were given the opportunity to broadcast their poetry skills to the community at the
Poetry Slam which featured Manhattan Beach’s Senior Poetry Circle, Miss Vaughan’s Creative Writing
class and other students who wanted to read poems. The Poetry Slam was on May 20 th and held at
{Pages}, a local bookstore in Manhattan Beach.
The afternoon started with Costa students sharing their original poems. Performances alternated
between the Manhattan Beach Senior Poetry Circle and students who recited either original poems or
poems from some of their favorite authors.
“I really like writing. Poetry just comes out easy for me,” senior Keira Jett said. “ I also like hearing
other’s poems and reviewing mine.”
The love of poetry between both the students of Costa and the Senior Poetry Circle was apparent. Many
just chose from an array of poems that they had already written and read to the intimate audience.
While some have been writing for years others just discovered their passion for poetry and has been
writing poems ever since. Richard A. Zeif, one of the members of the Senior Poetry Circle, found his love
for poetry after attending the Circle.
“I’ve been with the Senior Poetry Circle since it began which was about four years ago,” Zeif said. “My
wife told me to stand in for her and I challenged myself to write a poem a day after one of the meetings
and I realized I could write poetry.”
Many students do not get the opportunity to display their creative works in a non-competitive
atmosphere. Students get the opportunity to free their inhibitions and just write freely without the
restrictions that are placed with grades. The mistress of ceremony, Costa junior Ariella Robinson, was
able to help bring this event to the community.
“I feel like it is an important part of community to get the opportunity to display creativity and exercise
audacity because people don’t really get the opportunity to do that a lot.” Robinson said.
This is the first year that {Pages} has hosted the event and they have become increasingly involved
with Costa. After sponsoring Costa’s Poetry Out Loud Competition, the bookstore continues to support
Costa students’ appreciation of poetry. The small business has been an instrumental part of supporting
Mustang’s creative abilities. Owner, Linda McLouglin Figel enjoys being a part of the Poetry Slam.
“Ms. Vaughan’s been doing the Poetry Slam for sometimes and this is the first time we got to host,”
Figel said. “We loved it so much and are grateful to have been able to host it this year.”
The poems varied from an array of styles and genres. Each poem had originality and there was always
something different and unique which kept the audience expectant of the next poem. The intimate
atmosphere provided an unintimidating platform for the writers to reveal their feelings through poetry.
Once the Poetry Slam, started many writers and poets went up again to share multiple poems and show
their diverse range of work.
“I felt comfortable reading my work to my Creative Writing class,” sophomore Kate Wessler said. “I read
my poem Character Study but my favorite part is hearing the different styles of poetry from different
people.”
Though the Poetry Slam had many styles of poems, all of the poems were relatable. The contrast of
perspectives from the Senior Poetry Circle and Costa students was interesting, but each perspective still
provided insight on a common idea. The ability for two polar opposite age groups to relate shows how
poetry can really connect people.
“My favorite part of collaborating with Costa students is that despite age we still have so much in
common.” Zeif said.
The Poetry Slam is held annually and other Costa students interested will be given the opportunity next
year to broadcast their talents.
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