Poetry is meant to be recited. Recited poetry has its own cadence, one that is a little different from spoken English. These two children recite poems that each, in their own way, speak to the central issues in their lives. Note the musical cadence. The poem by the Mikaela Miller speaks to her growing sense of self-identity — it is a coming of age poem. The poem by Brandon Sanders also speaks to the struggles of growing up, in this case, a growing awareness of the difference between his inner happiness and how he projects himself to the world.
Spoken Word
Kioni “Popcorn” Marshall a Sixth-Grade Poet from the Bronx, New York
This is a well produced nine-minute video features the poetry of the sixth-grade poet Kioni Marshal from Bronx, New York. Kioni reads poems and talks about poetry in this December, 2012 video. “Meet Kioni “Popcorn” Marshall, an extraordinary 12-year-old poet from the Bronx. Despite her age, Kioni has earned the respect and admiration of the NYC poetry community by developing her own unique voice and bravely exploring mature themes like alienation, abandonment, loneliness, and abuse. Follow Kioni’s emotional journey as she prepares for her first featured performance at New York’s famed Nuyorican.” The YouTube introduction to this video.