Among my favorite volunteer gigs has been on the panel of judges for Poetry Out Louds’s regional competition at WVIA studios. Shot in January, the program will air this week on Thursday, April 7, in conjunction with National Poetry Month.

Memorizing and reciting poetry is an excellent exercise for the brain as well as ideal public speaking practice. Additionally, in reading poems, we are experiencing the rhetoric of poetry – the rhythms of the language as well as the vivid and creative word choices – which can inspire and inform the choice of more engaging language in our own writing and speech.

Tune in at 7 p.m. to see the program or find it archived online after the broadcast date.

Our regional winner went on to become runner-up at the state level – find out why!

Image of the preview of Poetry Out Loud Regional Competition 2023, WVIA.