What art forms provide a mirror to your own experiences?
颁辞苍迟谤颈产耻迟辞谤鈥檚鈥疦辞迟别
鈥淧oetry is and has always been at the very heart of society.鈥疘t gives voice to our emotions and imaginations, and to our humanity. Through it, we share our stories across the planet and across generations.鈥疨oetry helps me see the world around me; it helps me make sense of our world and reflect on who we are now and who we can become.
鈥淚鈥檓 grateful that poetry is now more popular than ever, thanks to the essential truth-telling of poets like Joy Harjo, U.S. poet laureate; the inspirational work of this year鈥檚 inauguration poet, Amanda Gorman; and so many more.鈥疘鈥檓 pleased to share a poem from this year鈥檚鈥疨oetry Out Loud鈥痗hampion 鈥 Rahele鈥疢egosha鈥痮f South Dakota. Enjoy her鈥痳ecitation!鈥
About the鈥疌ontributor and鈥疧rganization
Pam Breaux, a member of the Commission on the Arts, is鈥疨resident and CEO of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies鈥(NASAA).
NASAA鈥痠s a national, not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization that champions public support for the arts in America. Together, NASAA and the state arts agencies advance the arts as an essential ingredient in the well-being and prosperity of our nation鈥檚 individuals, communities, and families. Learn more鈥.
About the Artist
Rahele鈥疢egosha鈥痠s a鈥痜irst-year鈥痵tudent at Columbia University.鈥疪eflecting on her experience with鈥疨oetry Out Loud,鈥疢egosha鈥痵aid 鈥渋t really helps me understand the multitude of perspectives that exist in this world, and I think that鈥檚 a really beautiful thing.鈥濃疭ee more鈥.
The poem was written by Jehanne Dubrow, the author of nine books of poems, including most recently, Wild Kingdom (LSU Press, 2021), and a book of creative nonfiction, throughsmoke: an essay in notes (New Rivers Press, 2019).
Additional Notes
The National Endowment for the Arts, the Poetry Foundation, and鈥痶he United States鈥欌痵tate and jurisdictional arts agencies organize this poetry recitation program each year, and over four million high school students have participated in it since its inception.
Commission on the Arts
The Commission - drawing on the expertise of its members who are artists, scholars, activists, and leaders, as well as the input of people across the country who participated in listening sessions - dedicated itself to recognizing and supporting the essential role of the arts and artists in American life.