The rhetorical prowess of Palmerton Area High School senior Madeline Wentz shone brightly Jan. 31 as she emerged victorious at the Region 5 Poetry Out Loud competition.

The prestigious event, which drew eligible students from Carbon, Northampton, Lehigh and Monroe counties, served as a platform for budding wordsmiths to showcase their oratorical skills and passion for poetry.

Wentz’s stellar performance secured her a coveted spot to represent Region 5 at the Poetry Out Loud state competition slated for March.

“I’m so grateful for this achievement,” Wentz said. “Poetry Out Loud is a wonderful competition and I’m excited that I get to continue with it.”

Each participant in the regional event was tasked with reciting three published poems, carefully selected from a compilation curated by the national Poetry Out Loud organization. Per the rules, one poem had to be 25 lines or fewer, the second from before the 20th century, and the third contemporary.

“Preparing for this competition was just a lot of rereading and reciting the poems out loud,” Wentz said. “Before you can work on your delivery, you have to have the poems memorized, so it was more of that than anything else.”

Wentz also sought guidance from her mentors, including Dawn Burke, her English teacher at Palmerton.

“I met with all of the English teachers at Palmerton to get feedback on my delivery, which was incredibly helpful,” Wentz said.

Burke added, “I am so proud of Maddy. She did an amazing job at the regional competition, and I am looking forward to watching her represent Palmerton at the state competition in March.”

Wentz’s poem selections reflected her keen appreciation for storytelling, emotional depth, and artistic challenge. She elaborated on her choices, highlighting the allure of each piece.

“All three of the poems I picked are beautiful, and I love them,” she said. “‘Abandoned Farmhouse’ by Ted Kooser, I picked because it tells a story, but still leaves a lot open for interpretation, which can affect how you deliver it. I was originally drawn to my second poem, ‘Often rebuked yet always back returning’ by Emily Bronte, because of its poet. Emily Bronte is renowned for her works, and I had studied some of them in English classes before, so I knew I wanted to do a poem of hers. I picked this one specifically because of its emotional quality and its detailed imagery.”

Wentz also picked “Siren Song” by Margaret Atwood because of its uniqueness compared to the other two.

“I wanted to challenge myself with something a little out of my comfort zone, and I’m really glad I did,” Wentz said.

Despite her talent and dedication, Wentz admitted to grappling with nerves leading up to the competition.

“I do a lot of public speaking, but it never fails to cause anxiety,” she said. “And, this was so much different from anything I’ve ever done. I was most nervous that I was just going to forget everything I’d spent so long memorizing and completely mess up on stage. I just had to keep telling myself that I knew what I was doing. Honestly, I think the nerves helped.”

Looking ahead to the state competition in March, Wentz said she’ll draw from her past experiences in competitive settings.

“I think I’m most looking forward to the people I’ll meet,” she said. “I’ve been to a lot of state competitions in the past for Future Business Leaders of America, and my favorite thing is to meet new people who share the same passions I do.”