Rhyme & Reason

Registration for poetry slam for youth (open to local high schoolers ages 14-19) takes places until April 21. Contact Daniel Garcia at (956) 358-7211 or by e-mail at [ mailto:rgvipf@hotmail.com ]rgvipf@hotmail.com

Another youth event:Sunday, April 27
6 p.m.

Readings: Young Adult Poets @ Lark Branch Library
2601 Lark Blvd., McAllen
Featuring: Lady Mariposa and teenagers from the community; open mic

By: Sandra Gonzalez

Ayesha Zahid had no idea what a pachanga was, but the only word she really needed to hear was "poetry."

"I just knew it was something having to do with poetry, so I thought ‘I'll go for it,'" said Zahid, a 15-year-old native of Pakistan and student at Weslaco East High School who won first place at the campus' Poetry Pachanga two weeks ago.

After only three weeks in her new hometown, she will now move on with five other students to compete April 25 during the Youth Poetry Slam at the University of Texas-Pan American, part of the first Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival.

Festival founder Daniel Garcia said the Poetry Pachanga was supposed to be held at other high schools in the Valley, but all except Weslaco East were slow to organize events of their own. Originally, the idea had been to have the youth event act as a regional competition, bringing the area's most talented young poets together in once place.

Renee Dyer, head librarian at WEHS, said she jumped at the opportunity to get involved because she knows what a unique outlet poetry is for teenagers.

"I can remember as a teen that it helps you through emotional times," she said. "I think it also soothes them and lets them know that they can get through tough times."

For Zahid, the verses and stanzas are a sanctuary from worry and frustration.

"... Sometimes when I have a lot of stuff building up in side I think the easiest way to let it out is through poetry," she said. "Also, children usually go take drugs or smoke when they have a lot on their mind and can't take it off."

But her poems aren't solely about teen angst and growing up. Zahid said the political conflicts between the Middle East and the United States sometimes sneak into her poetry as well.

"I don't mention the countries - like, the proper nouns - in the poetry, but in general, I sometimes do," she said.

Zahid's quiet composure seems fit for a poet, but there are exceptions in the competition - like second-place winner Jaime Perez.

Strolling into the library in black cutoff pants and a metal-head T-shirt,the musician may have just a few weeks ago been literally and figuratively in a different world than Zahid. Today, they find a common ground through poetry, though they rarely cross paths in one another's daily lives.

"My poetry is not so much about a person, but a ghost or an angel - but I don't deal with them too much," he said. "But they change. They are laments about how we should be a certain way, what they've learned, what the world should be, how this world is. It's a revealing kind of thing."

He cares deeply about the figures and subjects he writes about. As he sits in the crowded and noisy hallway of the high school, he reads with conviction, as though he were the only one speaking in the area.

Zahid and Perez will join a group of four other students, who will take turns reading one poem, at The Youth Poetry Slam at UTPA, starting at 6 p.m. For more information contact Daniel Garcia at (956) 358-7211.