Power In Poetry
Emotions that are kept inside can manifest in the ugliest ways: Violence, depression, suicide attempts, etc.. For these and other reasons, teens are encouraged to express themselves in more positive ways. They are encouraged to do something with those feelings. To tell someone what is on their mind, but teens seem to have an innate mistrust of adults. They are concerned we will ultimately not care, not act, not feel the same way they do.
For teens that struggle and wish to look for a medium through which they can express themselves, they may want to consider poetry. Opportunities through creative writing and poetry workshops have offered teens a safe environment to share what they are feeling. For some this small group is enough, but others may choose to perform their poems through song, rap or spoken word, the slam. Youth poetry slams are popping up all over the place. If you have not had an opportunity to catch one, please do. The expression of struggle, abuse, confusion, and betrayal that teens speak through these slams is mind blowing and inspirational to say the least.
One example of how teens are getting their voice heard is the work of Shadrack Boake a young man who has written a play called The Truth. It speaks to the sometimes ugly and frustrating world that teens must live and survive in. Organizations like his thrive on support, so check out The Truth Play to hear some outtakes and offer your support if you can.
You can find other poetry resources at:
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