Poetry is something all students are required to try in their freshman year English class but for Ashley Mayfield, Junior poet, it’s something that stuck with her. Mayfield enjoyed this part of the class, and has never let this skill go– even entering in last year’s poetry competition hosted by Nancy ‘Mamma’ Manning.
Although Mayfield didn’t make it to the finals last year, she didn’t let this bring her down.
“Mrs. Geary told me to keep trying and to not give up,” said Mayfield.
Geary handed her the paper for the Fresh V oices Poetry Competition sponsored by the Hill-Stead Museum, and encouraged her to enter. And so she did. Submitting three of her best poems, Mayfield showed the judges what she could do.
“One of them is about my dad, one of them is about cutting up pomegranates and not being able to accept change, and one of them is about being intertwined with someone,” said Mayfield.
All three made it to the finals. Mayfield is one of fifteen finalists out of all Connecticut students. She is the only finalist from Region 16.
There is going to be a workshop in between now and the finals.
“Basically the point is to perfect and tweak the poems,” said Mayfield.
One of the judges is going to be helping the students work on their poems and explain what the judges are looking for in order to win. The first, second, and third place winners of the competition will be rewarded with a monetary prize that is not yet disclosed.
Mayfield will be performing her poems on Friday, April 21st at 5 p.m. during the Hillstead Museum’s Sunken Garden Poetry Festival. Everyone is welcome to attend.
