Northside High School students were treated to a mock poetry slam performed at their school recently by four rising North Carolina spoken-word artists.

Dasan Ahanu, a writer, performer and professor at St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, was the event’s master of ceremonies, which featured a competition among Church da Poet, Sumthyng Like a Poet and Elliot Axiom, all of whom have performed nationally. The event featured judges chosen from the school-wide audience, rules of audience participation and poetry covering a variety of topics.

One poem about body image and the words families speak to each other seemed to draw the largest response.

“I liked the strong imagery and the way the ideas dealt with everyday teenage life,” said Ray Alonso.

Britney Alligood said, “The poems’ ideas connected what we learn in school with our own lives.”

The event was sponsored by the NHS Poetry Club, whose members also attended a workshop prior to the performance.