Visiting poet Stephen Cushman did more than share his work Saturday at Foxcroft School's Paul K. Bergan Poetry Festival. He shared some working definitions of the genre, some wonderful insights into why and how it is used, some fun exercises to create poems, and some fine examples -- that he wrote.

"Poetry is language that sounds better and means more than everyday language," said the University of Virginia professor and author of four volumes of poetry. "It is a place where it is permissable to say one thing and mean another. Some language is what I called 'nailed down' language. It doesn't move; you don't want it to move. if a sign says Stop, it means STOP.  Poetry is language you want to move -- the language we use for larger subjects, like love or God, is not nailed down." 

Poetry may not be nailed down language but a few students nailed down titles with outstanding performances at the Festival. Alexis '12 defended her title at Friday night's Poetry Slam and Olivia '12, Miranda '13, Allie '14, and Lilly '15 earned laurels Saturday at the Competitive Readings. An open mic hour featuring sung and spoken word, and readings of original and published poems in nine languages rounded out the weekend.