POEM-a-RAMA

On May 8, 2015, Parachute Literary Arts hosted the first POEM-a-RAMA on the landmark Wonder Wheel in Coney Island. Established New York City poets were invited to read in the white cars of the Wonder Wheel. There was a Poetry Making station with vintage typewriters and a staged reading featuring teen poets from Parachute Literary Arts' teen empowerment poetry workshops at the YWCA in Rachel Carson High School. Soozee Hwang and the Relastics sang songs about books. The fog rolled in around 9 pm making the whole event that much more surreal. The Teen poets who recited at POEM-a-RAMA were: Maya Sanders, Gavrielle McIntosh and Imani Nooks. The established poets on the Wonder Wheel were: Amber Atiya, Marina Blitshtein, Kurt Boone, Michael Broder, Brenda Coultas, Tim Cusack (Walt Whitman), Ian Dreiblatt, Jen Fitzgerald, Matthea Harvey, Brenda Iijima, Lucy Ives, Tyehimba Jess, Wanda Phipps, and Edwin Torres.
And on the ground Brooklyn's own Lynn Melnick and Patricia Spears Jones enrapt the crowd of onlookers with their poetry.

Poetry Rides (hand painted "Poetry" arrow by artist, Philomena Marano)

Poetry (hand painted "Poetry" arrow by Philomena Marano)

Make Poems Here

Teen poet, Maya Sanders reads her poem, "Oreo."

Teen poet, Gavrielle McIntosh

Teen poet, Imani Nooks

Poet, Julie Ezele Patton

Soozee Hwang and the Relastics rockin in the fog

Thrills

More thrills from Soozee Hwang and the Relastics

Poet, Edwin Torres in front of the Wonder Wheel

Step Right Up- MC, Richard Eagan leads the way

Edwin Torres signs his book, Ameriscopia for teen poet, Maya Sanders at Poem-a-Rama

Poets making poems

Poet and Parachute associate, Susan Brennan reads to a rapt crowd in the Wonder Wheel car

Poet, Amber Atiya

Poet, Brenda Coultas

Writer, Lucy Ives

Poet, Kurt Boone

Make Poems Here

Poet, Marina Blitshtein

Poet, Matthea Harvey

Poet, Jen Fitzgerald

Poet, Michael Broder

Poet, Tyehimba Jess

Edwin Torres and his type written poem

And the crowd goes wild for poetry...

Poet, Ian Dreiblatt

Poet, Patricia Spears Jones

Tim Cusack, recites Walt Whitman

Poet, Brenda Iijima

Parachute Literary Arts' Founder and Artistic Director, Amanda Deutch

a car full of passengers enjoy poet Wanda Phipps words

Poet and Parachute workshop facilitator, Lynn Melnick

Lavell's typewritten poem from Parachute's Poetry Making Station

Parachute associate, Susan Brennan and Parachute's director, Amanda Deutch

Poets under the wonder

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