‘I am so thankful:’ Youth Poet Laureate, BHS rising junior
“I’m so thankful,” she said. “I feel very lucky.
“I’m glad I get to put my work out into the world,” Voyles added.
Voyles, daughter of Jason and Danielle Voyles, is only the second Youth Poet Laureate chosen in Knox County — the first being Melody Dalili of Farragut High School.
Rhea Carmon, Knoxville Poet Laureate who also organized the Youth Poet Laureate competition, “is my mentor,” said Voyles, who will serve in the YPL role for two years.
She has been writing poetry for several years. “I took creative writing classes my freshman year,” Voyles said. “We spent almost a month on poems, and I just loved it.
“I find it’s a lot easier to put my thoughts down instead of trying to explain them,” she added.
To vie for the Youth Poet Laureate title, entrants submitted three poems online in February to get to the semi-finals.
Voyles and two other semifinalists were required to read two of the three poems, as well as a submitted original poem. For the finals, the BHS student said she had to read a new poem and one of the submitted poems in front of a Central Cinema representative.
She was chosen for the title during an awards ceremony.
“I’m very grateful and so excited,” she said.
In her Youth Poet Laureate role, Voyles has the opportunity to visit town meetings, attend charity events and give speeches.
After graduation, she plans to attend East Tennessee State University and study art restoration.
