Sophomore Ashley Harris said she was excited — but scared — to try out her new material for the Sacrificial Poets’ first open mic night of the school year Wednesday.
Harris, a member of the organization, said she loves performing at these open mic nights, which the Sacrificial Poets hold once a month at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill.
“It’s definitely scary but it’s going to help me,” she said.
The Sacrificial Poets, an organization directed by UNC graduate Will McInerney, encourages local youth to write and perform poetry.
The organization also includes a competitive poetry performance team made up of teenagers ages 13 to 19 in the Triangle area.
“We help create places for young people to come and empower themselves,” McInerney said.
Wednesday’s event included readings from both a program veteran and a first time poet, as well as original song performances.
Topics ranged from the serious — the July 20 shooting in Aurora, Colo., unemployment and racial discrimination — to the lighthearted.
One songwriter even performed a piece about ‘FML’ moments.
Though McInerney said the open mic nights — which have taken place nearly every month over the past four years — often have crowds of more than 125 people, about 60 people attended Wednesday night’s performance.
