It was a warm afternoon, and I was surrounded by a group of eager young faces, curious and excited, waiting for our poetry workshop to begin.

The room hummed with quiet anticipation, the kind that sparks creativity. As part of a volunteer program with peers from my school, I had embarked on a journey to help underserved primary school students write and perform their own poems. The classroom was bright but modest, its walls adorned with colourful posters. Around 15 students from ages eight to 10 sat at their desks, sharpened pencils and freshly printed booklets in front of them. The challenge wasn’t just about putting words to paper — we wanted to help them unlock their voices' unique rhythms, to teach them the art of telling their own stories and bringing them to the world.

Poetry, I’ve realized over the years, is more than rhyme schemes, literary devices, or metaphors. It’s a way to express our emotions, much like music, which carries rhythms and resonances that touch the heart without the need for elaborate explanations. In many ways, poetry mirrors music, turning words into melancholic melodies and feelings into harmonies. It’s an art form that can convey any message of any depth with just a few carefully chosen words (known as diction).

My tryst with poetry began when I stumbled upon a dog-eared anthology in the library. At that time, I was more familiar with the art of writing prose and expositions, and the exquisite sensation of finding another means of escape has never truly left me. I still remember the thrill of finally penning my first poem; although clunky, it was wholly mine.

As we guided these young students through the poetic process that day, I was able to further understand firsthand how art, in its many forms, can be a powerful and amazing tool for us to discover ourselves.The journey began with blank sheets of paper, empty save for a few printed lines, and hesitant pens. Many of the students were unsure of where to start, and looking at their blank pages reminded me of how similarly daunting it had been for me to first make my way into the world of poetry. Since then, I’ve learned that poetry is not really about perfection but about connection. We reassured the students that they could write about anything that moved them, be it something they loved, something that made them delighted, or even something that made them wonder.

Slowly, pens slid across the pages. As I read through their drafts, I really enjoyed looking at the often musical meaning their poems conveyed. When it came time to perform, I could see the students’ initial nervousness start to melt away, and we spent time teaching them to use their voices: to emphasize certain words, pause for effect, and let the rhythm of the poem shine through. Some wrote about impactful, meaningful figures in their lives. One student wrote about her grandmother’s garden, and the depth of imagery was gripping. She spoke of her grandmother’s sudden passing and the subsequent withering of her garden, and her pen found its way to our hearts. Another student’s performance stood out differently — his poem about his love for football showcased his energy and humor to the audience. Describing the thrill of finally scoring a goal, he stomped his feet and mimed the action of kicking a ball, earning cheers and laughter from his peers. The students didn’t need to pinpoint various literary devices used to pique the reader’s attention, for their poems wholly captivated the audience with their rawness, almost as if they were offering us a glimpse into their souls. The joy they found was truly meaningful and struck me.

In this age dominated by screens and various distractions, it was amazing to see the students' receptiveness to such forms of art, and their conviction truly impressed me. Some of them managed to leave the room completely still, their peers hanging on every word. To be honest, the real beauty was watching the students develop not just as poets but as speakers, too, and this was incredibly fulfilling. Public speaking is a skill that may terrify even the best of us, but through their poems, the students actively tried their best, and learned to express themselves openly and confidently. As the workshop came to a close, they built meaningful connections with us and their peers by bringing their poems to life through performance. Their voices managed to add another layer of meaning to their poems, each intonation and tone coupled with the impact of the words striking a deep-set chord in our hearts.

This journey has deepened my love for the arts, and shown me how wonderfully they can bring people together. Everyone’s voices matter, their tales deserve to be heard, and art, in whatever form, can indeed strike a chord deep within us all. Sometimes, the most profound connections are created through simple words, shared in a room brimming with listening hearts.