BY BETH FEINSTEIN-BARTL
Hands raised in the air, the teens snapped their fingers in a beatnik-style show of appreciation.
The bohemian display of approval was strictly from another era, adding a cool-cat coffeehouse vibe to the library at Miramar High School. The hep alternative to applause mixed with the hip prose coming from some 37 students who took turns reading works to commemorate National Poetry Month on April 23.
Using clear voices that exhibited an impassioned zeal for the art form, their flowing self-penned verses at times took on current -- and sometimes controversial -- subjects such as suicide, homelessness, world hunger and overcoming drug addiction.
Christine Medeiros, an English and journalism teacher, was impressed. ''These were serious topics,'' she said. ``The students tackled them with sensitivity.''
The words also made quite an impact on Patricia Hammond, another English teacher who started the annual poetry cafe program three years ago. The annual after-school activity was formed to give the teens a platform where their creative efforts could be heard by peers and visitors.
''I'm always shocked at the depth of these young people,'' Hammond said.
Unlike previous cafes, this year's event had an added feature, a competition with cash prizes. Top honors went to a piece titled Homecoming Surprise, about a woman waiting for her soldier husband to return from war, only instead to receive an unexpected knock on her door and bad news.
Nabbing first place and $100 was a complete surprise to its author, Fredreka Daley, 17. ''I've only been writing for the past couple of months,'' she said. ``This just came to me.''
Fredreka said she drew inspiration for the work from watching TV news reports. Other students found their cues in a variety of places. Their poems ran the gamut of emotions, capturing everything from angst to happiness.
It's a good outlet, said Lady Bryana, 17, whose entry took a cynical look at love. ''I love writing poetry,'' she said. ``It expresses my innermost feelings.''
Camille Gilbert, a newcomer to the cafe, took the microphone with Broken, a deeply personal plea to a friend going down the wrong path. Being at the event was an opportunity to reach out, she said.
''I wanted to get my message out to people who might be dealing with similar issues,'' said Camille, 15.
The program also included selected published works by songwriters and established poets. One girl recited Rudyard Kipling's If. Another, Christian Rodriguez, 16, picked the lyrics to Home, by Above & Beyond. An aspiring marine biologist, he chose the tune by the trance music group because of its ocean connection.
Guest speaker and published poet Anastasia Clark of Miramar believes the event is a great motivating tool. She has been involved since its inception, giving readings of her works, advice, encouragement, bookmarks and pens to participants.
Her advice to students -- stick with it and don't throw anything away. ''Some of the poems in my books were ones I wrote in high school,'' she said.
Clark served on the judging panel. ''The winning poem jumped right out at me,'' she said. ``I loved it as soon as I read it.''
The cafe concept may be spreading. Mary Brown said she's planning a similar gathering next year at Charles W. Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines, where she works as a language arts teacher.
Watching the students at Miramar High read their works was an amazing experience, Brown said.
''Their poems were heartfelt and truthful,'' she said. ``They were so grown-up.''
