On the evening of February 12 in the Jameson Recital Hall, Asbury’s Music Department hosted a Choral Valentine’s Day Concert. The concert featured classic loved songs performed by the Women’s Choir, Men’s Glee Club and Chorale. Students, faculty and staff, community members and the families of performers all gathered in the Recital Hall to watch their loved ones take the stage. It was a night full of love, hope and laughter. In addition to hearing from Asbury’s choirs, three original student poems debuted at the contest.
The poems were a part of Asbury’s 16th annual Valentine’s Day poetry competition.
During January and February students submitted their poems about romantic love, which were then anonymously evaluated by a panel of judges from the English department.
Winners of the competition included Harper Cryer, who received first place for “Paper Cranes,” Hannah Kachelmyer, who earned second place for “Dead Hedge,” and Santiago Burgos, who placed third for “Old Cinemark Tickets.”
While writing a romantic poem without being overly cliche can be a challenge, each of the winning poems featured a central metaphor exploring an aspect of romantic love in a thoughtful and original way.
“In the winning poem, ‘Paper Cranes,’ the speaker is folding origami paper cranes as the absent lover has taught her to do. In Japanese culture there is a belief that folding a thousand paper cranes will bring a person longevity, and as the speaker folds the cranes, she imagines them bringing her closer to the person she loves,” stated Dr. Rineheart, Assistant English professor and facilitator of the competition.
“‘Dead Hedge’ meditates on romantic love by imagining two lovers weaving a hedge with their voices that will, perhaps, one day become green and living. ‘Old Cinemark Tickets’ likens going to the movies on a date to being on the beach. The speaker finds an old ticket and remembers a past love,” Rineheart concluded.
Through distinct metaphors and personal reflection, the winning poems offered intimate glimpses into romantic love, capturing longing, memory and hope in subtle ways. The competition highlighted how student poets continue to bring a fresh voice to the genre.
