“Poetry Madness in a Year of Madness”
Poetry Madness Winner Sofia Bertolotti
April 9, 2021
East Rockaway Junior Senior High School held its annual Poetry Madness Competition this March with an all female elite 8. Every year, students at ERHS are asked to write an original poem related to a theme. This year’s theme, fittingly, was healing. The poems are all collected and submitted to judges within the English department. The judges review the poems in rounds that mirror the NCAA March Madness tournament, starting with a top 64, moving to a top 32, a sweet 16, and elite 8, and a final 4.
With the theme of healing, many students chose to write about their experiences with the pandemic, repairing of friendships/relationships, and loss of freedom over the last year. While some poems tended toward a negative tone, others ended on an uplifting note. The competition kicked off with advice and a reading from former Poetry Madness winner and ERHS Class of 2019 graduate Tyler Kelly. Kelly recalled his fond memories of writing and reading his poems, especially the connections he was able to make with peers whom he’d never spoken to before.
The elite 8 consisted of all female round of poets including Sofia Bertolotti, Rachel Johnson, Ava LaVolpe, Gianna Mancusi, Katie McMahon, Sarah O’Moore, Daniella Pedi, and Madeleine Prucha
To check out the poems and the winners, click the link below:
