By SVEA JONES

Beloit, WI – March 1, 2025 – Gallery ABBA brought the art of spoken word to life on Saturday evening, hosting a Slam Poetry Event at the Center for Entrepreneurship (CELEB) in downtown Beloit. The event, which ran from 5 to 7 p.m., welcomed aspiring poets to share their work and invited everyone to sign up to present up to three poems each.

Despite the low turnout for a Saturday night, the atmosphere was charged with creativity and a sense of understanding, with hosts Shobhita Bharadwaj’27 and Helmi Kawsar’27 leading the evening. Among the contributors were fellow students Nancy Clark Mather’28, Jasmine Kingsbury’28, Ella Walters’27, and Svea Jones’25, each bringing their unique voice to the stage.

The intimate setting allowed for meaningful engagement as attendees offered thoughtful feedback on each other’s work. Many poets shared pieces still in draft form, encouraging a supportive environment for artistic growth.

One highlight of the evening was Ella Walters’ poem, “A Tuesday Morning in Spanish House,” written just days prior. The piece painted a vivid picture of a golden, warm atmosphere, captivating the audience with its imagery.

“A Tuesday Morning in Spanish House”

By ELLA WALTERS

As the sun shining so

warms past my open window

I turn a sunflower self

in my seat

to meet it with my face

a women

and her two dogs

stop aside the window

In the taking of a picture

I wonder what for

I pause the music

to almost ask

but she starts to get on going

and I find myself content

in the peace of just observing

Today I pulled open the blinds

Opened my eyes

and let the light in

I cleaned a bit– I tried!

I made myself an egg

laid softly onto a buttered bread

I wished to open the window

So that the rays may meet me

wholeheartedly 

I found the cheeping conversation of birds

upon my ears

such a gift in the endeavor of opening up

The poems’ subjects varied widely, exploring themes of desire, humor, hate, loss, and the changing seasons, showcasing a wide range of experiences and emotions for each participant.

As the event concluded, attendees expressed hope for more frequent gatherings of this nature. With warmer weather soon to be, there is excitement about utilizing outdoor spaces, such as the poetry garden, to further complement the experience of sharing and celebrating the velvety words of poetry.

_{Featured image: Shobhita Bharadwaj’27 at podium by Svea Jones’25}