Middle School students' poetry on display at Gaffney City Hall

Several poetry projects sit on a table upstairs in Gaffney City Hall. The poems are being displayed at city hall as part of the city's month-long observance of National Poetry Month. The works of several Cherokee County middle school students have been put on display as part of the area's month-long celebration of National Poetry Month.

The exhibit is one in a series of displays put on by the city. In the past few months, the upstairs area of Gaffney City Hall has been flooded with artwork to help celebrate Black History and National Women's months.

However, with poetry having no boundaries, Gaffney City Clerk Leigh Ann Turner believed it was the perfect opportunity to highlight work done by local students.

"This is something different than what we have had in the past," Turner said. "The art is amazing and I love it. But this is different and something I believe people will like."

The exhibit features poetry submitted by students from Blacksburg, Ewing, Gaffney and Granard middle schools, Village School and Journey School of the Arts. A number of the poems are accompanied by artwork from members of the Cherokee Alliance for Visual Artists (CAVA). In addition to the poetry and artwork being displayed, a special Poetry Expo and reading will take place at city hall Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. Selected students from each school will read their poems aloud to the group. A proclamation signed by Gaffney Mayor Henry Jolly recognizing April as National Poetry Month will also be read to those in the audience.

According to Turner, it is a great opportunity to see and observe the talent held by young people locally. "I am very excited. These students have done a good job and deserve to be recognized," Turner said. The public is encouraged to attend the event. For more information, call (864) 487-6247.