On Friday, December 11, The Mayhem Poets dropped the mike at Walt Whitman with what they called “hip hop mixed with stand-up comedy.” From slam poetry to rap, The Mayhem Poets captivated students that will be going into the world in only a few months.

The poets themselves were as diverse as the subjects they covered. One poet, Scott Raven, has a double degree in Theater and Journalism. He has dove so far into Shakespearean literature that he has become a couplet connoisseur, having written writing a book of sonnets or “Sconnettts.”

There was more talent to be shared. Mason Granger, also known as “Sublime Divinity,” designed the app Slamfind, which allows poetry fans to discover and connect with live poetry all over North America. While Scottt gets his inspiration from literature, Mason writes his poems like a composer writes symphonies. He lets his poems flow to whatever beat feels right, which adds to his performances.

Our next meter enthusiast erases the lines between powerful poetry and creative rap. Mikumari Caiyhe, or MC, is an established actor, emcee, spoken word poet, and arts educator. He performs his poems in more of a rap style, and the senior class clearly embraced the various styles of expression he presented that day on the PAC stage.

The Mayhem Poets not only entertained the senior class with their own spoken word but also brought in another talent, Cary Goldberg. Cary performed the first set of poems of the assembly. He chose not to use a microphone, instead forcing the PAC into a devoted quietude.

His first work drew in the audience by using lyrics from popular Drake song, “Hotline Bling”. This led to “powerful orations” concerning student loans and changing priorities. His next few poems touched upon epidemics such as Donald Trump and hypocrisy. At the end of those seven minutes, Cary started what would be two periods worth of thought provoking messages.

At one point, volunteers were chosen to aid in different forms of poetic expression. Benjamin Morales and Nicole McNulty aided in creating a few one-word poems. Others, including Julianna Pasquarello, used their bodies instead of words to express thought.

When it was time for MC to perform his poems, he also asked for a little help. With Mr. Valarmos and rs. Papiano, MC used his initials to describe his past, present, and future, and specifically his identity and passion. At the end, the Mayhem Poets and volunteers posed in a wonderfully chaotic photo–a freeze frame of all the creative energy in the room.

The several poems unleashed a variety of thoughts and opinions on the senior class. Students were either laughing, raising their eyebrows in wonder, or nodding their heads in agreement with whatever reached their eardrums. There was no shortage of topics. From global climate change to Dr. Seuss to the paleness of one’s skin, the Mayhem Poets connected with their audience to their fullest potential.