Poetry Out Loud Kentucky and Indiana Star Participants

Poetry Out Loud

Poetry Out Loud (POL) is a national event for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The competition has high school students from all locations select 3 poems from POL's list of over 200. Then the students memorize the poems and recite them at local competitions often held by schools. The winners of local events then have the opportunity to compete at a state level. After that, one representative from each region competes nationally for the chance to win $20,000.

Kentucky 2025 Top 9 Finisher

Javontae Cranmo was Kentucky's representative in the 2025 POL national competition.  One of the pieces Javontae recites is “We Wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar.

"We Wear the Mask" is about a symbolic mask to show defiance against oppression. While this shows an outward appearance of happiness it conceals the pain the wearer of the mask feels. Below is Javontae Cranmo powerful recitation of the poem.

“We Wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar

We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile
And mouth with myriad subtleties,

 

Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.

 

We smile, but oh great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile,
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!

Indiana Participant 2023 Champion

In 2023 Sreepadaarchana Munjuluri Indiana's representative won nationally POL. Sreepadaarchana recited "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus.

"The New Colossus" was made to raise funds for the pedestal of The Statue of Liberty. The poem can actually be found inscribed on a plaque inside of the pedestal. The poem itself is meant to describe The Statue of Liberty as a welcoming presence for immigrants. To emphasize America as a beacon of hope.

"The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she

With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Poetry Out Loud 2026

This year being the 250th Anniversary of America the poem selection focuses on America's history and culture. The 55 representatives have yet to be chosen for any region. Indiana is selecting theirs on February 21st and Kentucky on February 12th. Nationals will then be held in Washington, DC form April 27-29.