Power of Poetry
The first time 18-year old Anita Yip performed her own poetry; she was a 15-year old sophomore in high school.
"I was very nervous at first, because I’ve never actually performed poetry. For much of my life, poetry was something to be read, not performed," Yip said.
But as she survived through her first-time jitters, she could feel the empowerment of performance poetry.
"It was empowering for me," she explained. "To be able to look at the audience and project my own voice to the back of the auditorium — to quicken and slow the pace of my speech. I could convey so much more expression in delivering my words to the audience through the tone and dynamics of my voice, facial expressions and body language."
Yip learned about this particular poetry slam in Rockport (PT correction: Rockland) through Susan Manning, editor-in-chief and publisher of Positive Teens magazine.
Manning discovered Yip at a Boston writing project held at the University of Massachusetts several years ago. After hearing Yip read her poem, she asked if she wouldn’t mind having it published in the magazine. Yip agreed, and has been writing for Positive Teens ever since.
Finding new voices and giving teens an opportunity to express themselves positively is what Manning does.
She started Positive Teens six years ago. It is headquartered in Jamaica Plain. "I wanted to produce a magazine that contained content that was inclusive, not exclusive to the audience I wanted to reach — the diverse global community."
Her readership includes all young adults, ages 12–21, from "all ethnic, racial and religious groups."
Manning began holding poetry slams, which is performance poetry, four years ago after meeting Valerie Lawson, a nationally acclaimed adult performance poet.
"These teens are all so dynamic," Manning said. "They have so many things to say, that are very provocative — what they think about life, relationships, politics, being a teen, or family issues — it is really quite engaging."
"A poetry slam is just an incredible way for teenagers to perform their creative work," said Catherine Clancy, acting head of the Honan Allston-Brighton branch library.
She recalled a young many who performed a poem about an anorexic ballerina at the Copley Library poetry slam last year. "By the end of the performance, you could see this young girl shriveling. It was amazing."
"It’s just another way for young people to express themselves," Manning said.
"Teenagers are very observant of life. I’m proud — I’m glad, honored at the honesty they share and that they know that their words will be treated with respect. Because I know young people are tough and what it means for them to share. I’m honored to be a source for them to get their thoughts out."
Positive Teens has published first-person stories on graduation, getting into colleges, careers, poetry and teenage issues. It is published six times a year and welcomes new writers between the ages of 12 and 21.
Donna Borak
Allston-Brighton TAB
April 30, 2004
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