At DHS, students are fortunate enough to voice their interests and work. From the art students see on the walls to the dozens of Instagram pages run by kids with clubs and Capstone projects, everyone has a chance to show off their skills. Word Warriors, a spoken poetry club has allowed students to perform their poems to an audience while providing warm beverages at the much-anticipated ‘Poets and Coffee’. 

Attendants were welcomed with the fresh aroma of coffee and a buzzing atmosphere as the room was packed with interested students and supportive teachers. People took their seats and stood in line for a drink while waiting for the event to commence. Once the first poet hit the stage, the room quieted down. It was easy to see that everyone was eager to listen and seemed more and more intrigued with each poet that went up. Snaps and ‘hmms’ filled the room as a way to show amazement towards a certain part of a poem that everyone was pleased with.

This was Mya Johnson’s first public school event as she is in her freshman year here at DHS. She states “I like poetry and it makes me want to go to more events like this in the future.” It’s great to see that events such as these are a way to unlock more student interest. Word Warriors has also done this by giving students WordFest, a poetry gathering during school hours that every student goes to. 

Shea Moore, a junior was one of the students who went up and performed a piece of her poetry. As she spoke, the room dimmed down and the words overtook the room. The poem reads as follows:

Old Soul

I grieve over the child I should have been,

 The child who wasn’t an old soul.

 It was a compliment,

 The highest of praise

 To be called mature at age 8.

 Just because I didn’t care about boys or Barbies.

 I always needed to be in control,  To tell someone what to do

 Be complimented for my leadership skills.

 I was nine.

 And yet the bones in my 4’11” body were crumbling under the weight of the lives I could have lived.

 I wanted to be protected so desperately

 but I was strong,

 no children need to be.

I see the people that I used to be friends with and realize that maybe I judged them too harshly.

 The joy they get out of conversations that I categorize as juvenile,

 Is a joy I have yet to feel.

 I’ve been talking about politics and feminism since I could hold a conversation.

 Stories about intersectionality and listening to feminist panels are how I occupied my time before I hit double digits.

 I just want to be so free,

 That nothing holds me to the ground, not even my maturity.

 I want to be so dumb and reckless, and not be anxious about the way that it makes me look.

And yet it’s not because I grew up too fast, I’ve always been this grown up.

Being old means I was once young and dumb,

 Being older means there’s inner child dreams that are fantasies.

 Never attainable like a mermaid or fairy.

 No I wished to be president,

 had a whole plan from Mayor to Senator, Governor and then D.C

I’ve always been like this.

Because an underdeveloped child makes an overdeveloped teen.

The theme of growing up quickly is something Moore includes throughout her poem. This theme is something that many teens in the room were able to relate to and feel a sense of connection with.  The sense of connection brings a new ambiance to the room and makes the audience feel almost included in what the poets are saying. Moore was prevalent throughout the evening as she announced poets one by one. Her poem is a great representation of using her student voice and expressing her feelings to a crowd of listening ears. 

“Poets and Coffee was not just an event; it was a way for students to speak to interested ears while also providing a deeper understanding of how students think and feel. “Poets and Coffee” was a reminder of the power of words and the simple joys that can be found in a cup of coffee and a well-spoken verse. Kudos to the Word Warriors for brewing an unforgettable evening that showcased the variety of talent we have at DHS.