Local students had the opportunity to display their art work and read aloud original poetry in front of their peers at the first-ever Sullivan Youth Poetry Festival located at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts on April 2. Students who live in or attend school in Sullivan County in grades seven through twelve were invited to submit original poetry for the festival.

At least 72 students from all around the county offered up a piece of their literary art.

The event was organized by the Sullivan County Poet Laureate Eric Baylin, with the theme being “My Identity, My Heritage, My Dreams.”

“The medium of poetry offers students the opportunity to give voice to what matters most in their lives: what they love, what they hope for, what worries them, what brings them down, what lifts them up,” Baylin said.

This festival is one of the final events to be hosted by Baylin during his 2021-2022 term as Poet Laureate. A new ambassador to the literary arts for the county will be named to that position in the coming weeks.

“The event was hugely successful. Initially my high bar for submissions was 20 given that it was the first year. The number kept growing and growing and the 50 seats we had set up was not nearly enough for the more than 130 students, teachers parents and friends who showed up,” Baylin told the Democrat.

“I thought the festival was a great testament to the power of poetry and the need for young people to have their voices heard.”