Brandon Snow, junior, won Poetry Out Loud at the North Georgia Regional Competition held at Woodstock High School on Feb 27. Snow recited “Invictus” by William Earnest Henley and “The Unforgiving” by Russell Edson.

“Walking to the state to recite the first poem, I was so nervous.” Snow said. “But I let go of my fears and let the words flow from my mouth.”

Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation competition where competitors recite two poems in different rounds. The criteria for the poems are that one must be 25 lines or less and the other must be pre- 20th century.

“Besides his wonderful sonorous voice, Brandon uses perfect diction/ pronunciation and pacing in his delivery. His delivery with the perfect pacing was phenomenal,” Barbra Gardner, Etowah Poetry Out Loud sponsor, said.

Snow will compete in the state competition on March 20 at the Atlanta History Center. At the state and national competition, competitors must recite an additional third poem. This poem is for the competitor to decide, yet all poems are chosen from the Poetry Out Loud website. Snow will be reciting “Song of Myself: 35” by Walt Whitman; he chose this because of the amazing story it tells.

“I am so proud of Brandon and his accomplishment of representing the school in the competition,” Nicole Booth, senior class president, said.