Tolland Students Share Poetry

From the Tolland Public Library Foundation:

Alianora Reilly, a seventh grader at Tolland Middle School, won the Tolland Public Library Foundation's first poetry slam before an appreciative crowd of nearly 50 people at the Tolland Public Library Friday night.

The Poetry Slam@the Tolland Library, which featured about 20 poets, was held as part of the foundation's Year of the Young Adult initiative, which is funded by the Eaton-Dimock-King Endowment.

The slam was hosted by Tolland High School senior Casey Ellis and THS English teacher Kris Coffey.

Tolland High senior Kate-Lynn Walsh came in second, and THS senior Julia Rose Gottier took third place.

The event was judged by Margot Martello, assistant principal of the high school; Ginny Brousseau, the young adult/children's librarian; THS senior Briana Penney; library assistant Irene Pudelkiewicz, and foundation board secretary Kate Farrish. Pudelkiewicz approached the foundation a few months ago with the idea of hosting a slam at the library.

The judges, who weighed the quality of the writing and the poets' performance style, were impressed at the poise and writing talent of the participants.

"There were so many talented writers here tonight who braved the stage,'' Farrish said. "The foundation and library were thrilled to give them some recognition tonight."

Editor's Note: Check out the photo gallery above, as well as some of the award-winning poetry from the slam.