WASHINGTON ― First Lady Michelle Obama was moved to tears after hearing a group of young poets share their work at the White House on Thursday. Standing underneath a portrait of Abraham Lincoln in the State Dining Room, the five 2016 National Student Poets read their work as Obama sat in the audience listening. After the Class of 2016 read their work, poets who had the honor in previous years gave a group performance on how the National Student Poets Program had changed them. But for so many people, poetry can help them open up.”The National Student Poets Program recognizes five poets in grades 10 and 11 and their original work each year. The program’s website describes it as “the country’s highest honor for young poets.” Obama said Thursday that the program had received over 70,000 submissions and chosen 20 poets since 2011.

Source: Huffington Post September 08, 2016 20:15 UTC