Junior Keshav Nair views poetry as a vital means of exploring human experiences. He has been writing since middle school, using the art form to understand himself and others. Nair became the first winner of the National English Honor Society (NEHS) spoken word poetry contest on April 23, held in the library.
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Nair likened writing poetry to making concentrated coffee, stating, “It’s potent and really tests the boundaries of the English language.” He began composing poetry in eighth grade and appreciates its free-form structure, allowing for less rigid grammatical constraints. His friend, junior Carter Nichols, attested to Nair's growth as a poet, noting his increasingly intricate language and deeper themes.
English teacher Kaysi Sheehan encouraged Nair to join NEHS after being impressed with his poems. He submitted one as part of his application. “Keshav is a very spirited student,” Sheehan remarked. “He has always been really interested in putting his poetry out there.”
Upon learning about the NEHS poetry competition, Nair submitted a poem the same day, unaware it was a spoken word event. He quickly prepared himself by printing the poem and channeling his nerves into performance. “I used my experience in band to help me out,” he said, acknowledging the need for emotional contrast during delivery.
The poem he performed, titled “Cycle of Tragedy,” draws inspiration from Jorge Luis Borges' story