Chicago Urban Prep Poetry Slam

Tonight is Urban Prep's 1st Annual Poetry Slam night, organized and produced by the boys' beloved English teacher Ms. Hamm. Here is the cover of the program, designed by Mr. Essex, Mr. West and Mr. Kennedy, some of Jackie's star students. I'm so sorry to be missing it! She proposed and planned the whole slam, in which some boys will be reciting poems written by published authors and some (round 2) will be reciting their own poetry. Looks like we have some budding spoken word artists on our hands! Mr. Grey will be reciting this (the title is supposed to be uncomfortable--YouTube it) by Jullian Curry and Mr. Jones will be reading this by Lamont Carey. Here is a classic one by Paul Lawrence Dunbar, to be read by Mr. Ricks. I can't wait to read some poetry by the student authors! Good luck guys.

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Invitation To Love

Come when the nights are bright with stars

        Or when the moon is mellow;

Come when the sun his golden bars

         Drops onthe hay-field yellow.

Come in the twilight soft and gray,

Come in the night or come in the day,

Come, O love, whene'er you may,

         And you are welcome, welcome.

You are sweet, O Love, dear Love,

You are soft as the nesting dove.

Come to my heart and bring it rest

As the bird flies  home to its welcome nest.

Come when my heart is full of grief

         Or when my heart is merry;

Come with the falling of the leaf

         Or with the redd'ning cherry.

Come when the year's first blossom blows,

Come when the summer gleams and glows,

Come with the winter's drifting snows,

         And you are welcome, welcome.

-Paul Lawrence Dunbar