Roshawnda Bettencourt, a student at Placer County’s Oakmont High, captured first place in California’s Poetry Out Loud state finals. She recited “Sympathy” by Paul Laurence Dunbar.
I know what the caged bird feels, alas!
When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;
When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass,
And the river flows like a stream of glass;
When the first bird sings and the first bud opens,
And the faint perfume from its chalice steals–
I know what the caged bird feels!
The California Arts Council saw a record number of students from 147 schools compete in this year’s contest. Browse the photo gallery Poetry Out Loud Finals are April 29 in Washington, DC.
Meet the authors of the California Authors Directory. Visit the directory to discover writers like Christina Meldrum, a Bay Area attorney whose book Madapple was just released this month. “In debut novelist Christina Meldrum's mesmerizing literary mystery, 
You can shop online from your local independent booksellers. 