Students gathered on March 11 for an evening of creativity as the Reading Jaguars hosted a Blackout Poetry Night from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event invited students to explore poetry in an unconventional way. Students transformed ordinary book pages into unique works of art.

Blackout poetry is a form of creative writing where people  take a page from an existing text and black out most of the words. This leaves only selected words visible that create a new poem. By carefully choosing which words remain, writers build new meanings from the original text.

For the event, members of the Reading Jaguars’ executive board brought in their own books for students to use. With markers and highlighters, students searched through the pages for words that stood out to them. The tables became filled with book pages covered in ink and newly formed poems.

The music playing softly in the background throughout the evening helped to create a relaxing vibe and a welcoming environment. As students worked on their poems, laughter and conversation filled the room. Many participants shared their progress with their friends and reacted to the surprising combinations of words they discovered on the pages.

 The highlight of the event came when several students chose to read their finished blackout poems aloud. Each poem reflected a different style and perspective. Some were dark and humorous while others were thoughtful or emotional. This showed how a single page of text could be transformed in many different ways.

The event gave students a chance to express themselves creatively while also connecting with others who share an interest in reading and writing. By the end of the evening, participants left not only with their completed poems and left over pizza but also with a memorable experience of creativity and community. 

Through events like  the Blackout Poetry Night, the Reading Jaguars continue to encourage students to explore literature in new and engaging ways. Reminding us that poetry and art  can be found anywhere, even hidden within the pages of an old book. Be sure to catch the Reading Jaguars’ book meeting on March 25th at 4:30pm where they will be discussing the book of the semester, the  romantic comedy Funny Story by Emily Henry.