Some brave teenage souls took the microphone at the Sunflower Theatre Wednesday night to share their thoughts, feelings and colorful reflections on life.
It was the first Open Mic Night performed by the class of Lissa Lycan, an eighth grade English language arts teacher at Montezuma-Cortez Middle School. The only requirement of the night was that students perform an original poem.
“Everything you are going to hear tonight is original art,” Lycan said at the opening of the show. “Which is really cool, and is a big step for them.”
Poem themes ranged from funny to poignant, and many were both. Some student performers spoke of their search for belonging and understanding, and others pondered particular elements of life, like dreams, blacksmithing – or what it would be like to be a dog.
A whole cadre of young poets turned self-reflective and read aloud “I am from” pieces, detangling the threads that shape them, from family traditions and migration paths to Nike gear.
Dean York took a humorous look at his experience being accidentally “hit by an ax” by his brother. Luckily there were no serious injuries, it just went “five stitches deep,” he said.
“It’s OK, ’cause it could be worse. At least I’m not in a hearse,” he said to rousing laughter.
A few teachers joined the fray as well. Eighth grade social studies teacher Tyson Wood brought to life recollections from his grandmother’s kitchen, with a poem that is also a song.
“Dreaming of home cooking put a smile on my face, and I thought to myself of the most wonderful place,” he said.
ealvero@the-journal.com