April is National Poetry Month, and Milton is celebrating all of its students who write and perform poetry—especially those who have received awards in recognition of their work. Lyla Rue (Lyla) Tanzi ’26 received an Honorable Mention in the prestigious Hollins University’s Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest, which provides scholarships, prizes, and recognition for the best poems submitted by young women in their sophomore or junior year of high school. EmmaRose Zilla ’26 was a finalist for Smith College’s 19th Annual Poetry Prize for High School Girls in New England; for her poem Entomology and Hugh Kramer ’27 was selected as a regional semifinalist for his performance in the Poetry Out Loud Massachusetts competition.
“I’m always encouraging students to seek audiences beyond the classroom,” remarks English Department faculty member Lisa Baker. “Contests are a great way to do that. These awards have an infectious effect on students. They see that they can win awards. They see that their writing can launch them into these other worlds. That has its own momentum. It propels them forward. It motivates them to continue the work and work even harder. It’s confirmation of the work we are doing collectively. It fuels the excellence of the program.”
Creative Writing, which Ms. Baker describes as “a multi-genre experience,” includes poetry as a key component. “Milton is one of the few institutions that teaches Creative Writing as an arts program class, in which we teach the craft of writing,” continued Ms. Baker. “We view it as an art form.”
When asked what she appreciates most about Milton’s Creative Writing program, Lyla explained“that there is no direct prompt. We can write whatever inspires us the most. I think that is incredibly important for curating new writers who are inspired and who enjoy doing their work. It also gives students a lot of freedom of expression, which I think is very important.”
Students say that writing poetry has taught them the weight and significance of language.
“As a writer, poetry has helped me appreciate detail, imagery, and the notion that every word counts,” continues Lyla. “I now hold each word with a more weighted meaning.”
“Poetry has taught me to be intentional with what I say, adds EmmaRose. “Every word you choose matters and carries a certain weight and importance.”
One of the most unique aspects of Milton’s Creative Writing classes is the workshop process. says Ms. Baker. “It is an extraordinary way to build connection and collaboration and create better writers.”
”I appreciate the vitality of workshopping and how it unveils things you, yourself, could never see,” says EmmaRose, whose first exposure to workshopping was in Ms Baker’s Creative Writing class.
While workshops allow students to collaborate with peers, Milton’s Bingham Endowment Fund for Creative Writing allows students also to work with some of the most talented writers from all over the world. Established in 1987, the fund brings esteemed authors and poets to campus, offering students unprecedented access to feedback and the opportunity to learn about the guests’ creative processes, and hear readings of poetry and prose.
Recent Bingham visiting writers have included Rebecca Makkai, Jamaica Kincaid, Paul Yoon, Dorianne Laux, Kamila Shamsie, Lauren Groff, and Richard Blanco.
“We’ve had some incredible Bingham writers who I knew and was a fan of before they came here, notes EmmaRose. “I got to workshop with Dorraine Laux. She’s incredible and one of my biggest inspirations.”
Poetry also is a featured unit in Milton’s Performing Literature course, taught by faculty member Melissa Soto Figueroa, who has led the class since joining Milton eleven years ago.
“I wanted to have a robust poetry unit in September and end the unit with a poetry performance,” states Ms. Figueroa. “It helped ground students in the art of performing literature.”
“Poetry is complicated and not exactly a story, but at the same time it’s trying to tell a story” explains Hugh. “You have to figure out how you can convey that story when you’re performing, even if the words are a little ambiguous. It has taught me how to add another layer to the words of the poem with my body, emotions, and voice.”
Lyla also enjoys performing and acting. “Part of acting is being able to take your feelings and amplify them for the stage. Because I have this skill for acting, I also use it for poetry. Since I can make emotions seem a lot stronger than they are, I can make a moment in my life into a bigger and broader metaphor for something else with that emphasis on emotion.”
Ms. Figueroa adds, “I am overjoyed when I am able to spark an interest in poetry, and when a student actually pursues the performance of poetry, it makes me emotional and profoundly happy.”
You can learn more about these courses here. Student poetry is also featured in on-campus publications such as Magus Mabus.
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