March 16, 2025
By Caitlin Correia
Staff Writer
Class of 2004 LHS graduate Gia Clark-Grillo, a local poet, returned to LHS on Feb. 14 to host two poetry workshop sessions for a total of 25 students.
Students who attended the 15th Annual Winter Poetry Slam in December 2024 and members of Ms. Pastor’s English II-Honors classes were invited to participate.
Clark-Grillo said her main goal for the workshop was to offer exercises that help students create metaphors to include in their poems at the 23rd Annual Spring Poetry Slam, which will be held on April 18 in the media center.
“There [is] a tendency to write more literally,” Clark-Grillo said. “[I was] trying to break out of that habit [by] getting them to express emotions without saying them.”
At the workshop, participants generated lists that they wove into short compositions. Clark-Grillo also encouraged them to keep writing.
“I hope that they see that poetry isn’t confined to the classroom or dusty old books. There’s a lot more potential in their writing and what their poetry can be,” Clark-Grillo said.
She said for poets to be successful, they should not judge their first drafts too harshly. Therefore, she advised students to avoid editing their work as they write and allow their thoughts to flow freely, as there are no rules or standards when creating poetry.
“You have to fill the well in order to start pulling from the well. That’s a big piece of advice I have for anyone writing poetry or [involved in] creative arts.”
“I wish I had been told when I was in my teens that the thing getting in the way of [my] writing [was] trying to make it perfect the first time out,” Clark-Grillo said.
Participants read love poems from Brendan Constantine and William Shakespeare during each workshop.
Clark-Grillo also shared a love poem she wrote titled “elephant.” She said her husband–who was her boyfriend at the time–was her inspiration to write the poem, which is about the type of exuberant love that feels too big to fit inside one’s heart.
Clark-Grillo advised students to take inspiration from the examples she shared and research the topics they address in their poetry.
“You have to fill the well in order to start pulling from the well. That’s a big piece of advice I have for anyone writing poetry or [involved in] creative arts,” Clark-Grillo said. “You have to experience the art of others in order to fill that well.”
Sophomore Nicholas Rizzo, who has never participated in a poetry slam, said he enjoyed interacting with an experienced poet and his classmates.
“It was very interesting to hear how other people interpreted the [activities],” Rizzo said.
He said the main lesson he learned was how to incorporate metaphors in his poetry.
“If you’re trying to convey your emotions in poetry, compare [them] to something you yourself are very passionate about,” Rizzo said.
Sophomore Lila Pearce-Jaryno, who has participated in three LHS poetry slams, said she liked reading her work and having Clark-Grillo as a facilitator.
“She’s really fun [and] has an exciting energy,” Pearce-Jaryno said. “It’s fun to share poetry with everyone and I’m not nervous about it.”
She said Clark-Grillo’s unique prompts helped her consider new topics to write about.
“You can take inspiration from anywhere,” said Pearce-Jaryno.
