Poetry Out Loud

Nick Merlo, a senior at Crossroads College Preparatory School in St. Louis, is the 2023 Missouri state champion of Poetry Out Loud. He won the championship at the Missouri state competition held in Jefferson City on March 9. He went on to represent Missouri in the national finals May 8-10 in Washington, D.C.

“I got into poetry through the Poetry Out Loud competition, so I am in a way a product of one of the goals of the competition, which is to spread and share poetry with students across America,” Mr. Merlo said. “I enjoy the sense of community that Poetry Cut Loud fosters between complete strangers. Heading into the competition rounds, I did not know any of my competitors but we had an instant connection. A shared experience with poetry.”

Mr. Merlo chose to perform these poems. “I centered them around a loose theme—rather apocalyptic, nature reclaiming the earth.”

• Ah! Why, Because the Dazzling Sun 19th-century British poet Emily Brontë
• Advice to a Prophet by 20th-century American poet Richard Wilbur
• Another Antipastoral by contemporary American poet Vievee Francis

The runner-up in the Missouri state finals was Erin William, a senior at Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City.

“Students tell us this dynamic competition has a powerful impact on their lives,” said Michael Donovan, Missouri Arts Council executive director. “Poetry Out Loud reaches students in schools all over Missouri. We are proud to have been part of this program from its beginning in 2006.”

Poetry Out Loud encourages the study of great poetry by providing free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high school students across the country. Competitions start in individual high schools or with local organizations such as libraries and other nonprofits. The winners of one tier of competition advance to the next, ending at the national finals.

Poetry Out Loud helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. The program was created in 2006 by the Poetry Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and is supported by the Foundation, NEA, and state and jurisdictional arts agencies. Missouri has participated in Poetry Out Loud from the beginning. The Missouri Arts Council and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education work in partnership to bring Poetry Out Loud to Missouri.

Judges for the Missouri state finals, drawn from throughout the state, were Kate Brown, 2019 Missouri state champion; Aryiel Everett, 2008 Missouri state champion; Teresa Miller, digital expert, Hannibal; Stuart Smith, assistant curriculum director, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; and Janette Williams, retired teacher, Raytown South High School.