Outstanding Recitations Mark Poetry Fest 2024

For three decades, Poetry Fest has stood out as a highly anticipated annual occasion at Belmont Hill.

This event embraces the belief that poetry finds its true essence when spoken aloud rather than merely read. Reflecting this notion, ten students, under the guidance of Dr. Jeanne Tift, took the stage in Hamilton Chapel and delivered remarkable performances. Spanning a diverse spectrum of poetic works, each student showcased exceptional poise and fervor. Refer to the list below for the names of the participating students.

The following boys were recognized for distinctive recitations: Alex Chen '27, Alex Laidlaw '25, Yusuf Roba '29, and Adrian Tan '25.
Honorable Mention: Yareh Constant '25.

Participants and poems:

Yareh Constant (V): “My Shot” by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Henry Hagedorn (V): “1492” by Emma Lazarus

Arun Lenhart (I): “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T. S. Eliot

Alex Chen (III): “Paper People” by Harry Baker

Polo Brice (IV): “If you Forget Me” by Pablo Neruda

Alex Laidlaw (V): “Let America Be America Again” by Walt Whitman

Zach Park (II): “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” by William Bulter Yeats

Gabe Umlas (V): “Bird” by Pablo Neruda

Yusuf Roba (I): “If We Must Die” by Claude McKay

Adrian Tan (V): “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe