The Student News Site of Norton Science & Language Academy

The Cosmonaut
The Student News Site of Norton Science & Language Academy

The Cosmonaut
The Student News Site of Norton Science & Language Academy

The Cosmonaut
Toochi Samsylvanus ('27) delivers her final poem, "a song in the front yard" by Gwendolyn Brooks at the 2025 California Poetry Out Loud Finals on Mar. 17, 2025. Samsylvanus' ('27) recitation marks the end of the second day's final round held at the State Capitol Annex Swing Space. Each student reciter was required to recite three poems that met the requirements from Poetry Out Loud . The requirements for the three poems are: 1) one poem must be 25 lines or fewer, 2) one poem must be written before the 20th century, and 3) one poem may be used to meet the first two criteria and be the student's final poem. Samsylvanus' ('27) three poems were: 1) "Shall earth no more inspire thee" by Emily Brontë, 2) "No Coward Soul is Mine" by Emily Brontë, and 3) "a song in the front yard" by Gwendolyn Brooks. (Photo courtesy of David Tellyer.)

‘Poetry For Our People’

David Ruiz, Editor-in-chief ♦ August 19, 2025

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