The Poetry Out Loud contest was held on January 12. Winning for the second year in a row was sophomore Anna Baumm. Second place went to freshman Kenny Hicks; and senior Ethan Walker took third.

Baumm read “Revenge” by Letitia Elizabeth Landon and “The Lost Land” by Eavan Boland.

“I chose 'The Lost Land' because I recently went to Ireland and it really inspired me. I chose 'Revenge' because it was mean and sassy and it was fun,” Baumm said.

“You picked it cause you're so sassy,” Walker said.

Baumm has written her own poetry, but as of now the only person who has read her own work is Mike Cherry, her creative writing teacher. Baumm wishes to someday be a professor of English literature while doing some writing on the side.

Hicks read “Alone” by Edgar Allan Poe and “Solitude” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox.

“I chose these pieces because the are reflections on oneself,” Hicks said. “They are about being alone, and I've been on my own most of my life. They complement each other because Poe focuses on the negative aspects of being alone while Wilcox focuses on the positive. It's both worlds.”

Hicks has also written her own poetry, but hasn't shared it with anyone yet. She is unsure whether she will pursue publishing it.

Walker read “Pity the Beautiful” by Dana Gioia.

“I read 'Pity the Beautiful' because it was short and weird, and I liked it. I read another piece that was over 40 lines long, so I needed something fun to balance it out.”

Walker has never written or been interested in poetry before.

“I decided to do this on a whim,” Walker said. “I might continue with it now after winning third.”