Oral Interpretation of Poetry Finals
speech and debate team members
competed every week
new schools, new judges, input sought
national finals at Niagara University
eleven hundred contestants
vying for trophies worth their weight in gold
mix up the meter, don't stress the rhyme
select a "poem" that would be unique
then give it your own tweak
casting Longfellow and Whitman aside
I emulated Walter Brennan’s voice
reading “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss
in finals judging was stiff
but I gave them a laugh or two
nabbing a fourth place
first time Monmouth ever had a winner
riding home, we cheered and laughed
Old Lorax’s environmental message won favor
*Entry for Joe’s “Contest Contest”
True story
Copyright © Carolyn Devonshire | Year Posted 2012
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