Way to Go! Syosset student wins state poetry contest
James Masson, a student at Syosset High School, has been named the winner of this year’s New York State Poetry Out Loud competition. Credit: Teachers & Writers Collaborative
A Syosset High School student has won the regional and state crowns in an annual poetry contest and will represent New York at the national level in Washington, D.C.
James Masson, a junior, took the top spots in both levels of Poetry Out Loud, a recitation contest managed statewide by the Teachers & Writers Collaborative in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts. At the state level, he beat about 20 other competitors at the Center for Fiction in Brooklyn and won a $200 cash prize as well as an additional cash prize for his school to purchase poetry materials.
Participants recited three works — a pre-20th century poem, a poem of fewer than 25 lines, and a poem of their choice — and were judged based on criteria including accuracy and stage presence.
“I was so happy to win these, especially because the competition was really good in both tournaments,” said Masson, who credits Syosset English teacher Lydia Esslinger for helping him to prepare. Of the contest’s importance, he said: “I think poetry needs to be pushed a little more in high school; it’s a really valuable thing to be able to express yourself in language in such a way.”
Masson’s three recited poems were “The Spring,” by Thomas Carew, “Larkinesque,” by Michael Ryan, and “Poor Angels,” by Edward Hirsch. He will next compete at the national level May 8-10.
Masson, 16, is also a member of his school’s speech and debate team, DECA Club, and National and Spanish honor societies.
A Syosset High School student has won the regional and state crowns in an annual poetry contest and will represent New York at the national level in Washington, D.C.
James Masson, a junior, took the top spots in both levels of Poetry Out Loud, a recitation contest managed statewide by the Teachers & Writers Collaborative in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts. At the state level, he beat about 20 other competitors at the Center for Fiction in Brooklyn and won a $200 cash prize as well as an additional cash prize for his school to purchase poetry materials.
Participants recited three works — a pre-20th century poem, a poem of fewer than 25 lines, and a poem of their choice — and were judged based on criteria including accuracy and stage presence.
“I was so happy to win these, especially because the competition was really good in both tournaments,” said Masson, who credits Syosset English teacher Lydia Esslinger for helping him to prepare. Of the contest’s importance, he said: “I think poetry needs to be pushed a little more in high school; it’s a really valuable thing to be able to express yourself in language in such a way.”
Masson’s three recited poems were “The Spring,” by Thomas Carew, “Larkinesque,” by Michael Ryan, and “Poor Angels,” by Edward Hirsch. He will next compete at the national level May 8-10.
Masson, 16, is also a member of his school’s speech and debate team, DECA Club, and National and Spanish honor societies.
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
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