I discovered a passion for poetry in my senior AP English class after reading pieces from Claudia Rankine, Bukowski and song lyrics. It was in those four walls of Smith where I learned that rhymes don’t equal poetry, that light shines through words, that even the most basic of songs have an unspoken kaona. Through Sarah Kay’s slam poetry, Billy Joel’s piano riffs and my own creations, poetry came alive in a way Shakespeare has never made me feel. The images I’ve shared above are a collection of exemplary poetry and quotes that I’ve mediated on over the past few weeks. Although some are spoken words, they ripped through my naʻau and have given me a manual of how to navigate through the next four years. I hope they inspire you too.
