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A weekly video reading of poetry by the poet.
Interview with Darren Sardelli
(The Funniest Poet in School)
When did you start writing?
Before the age of 20, I wasn’t a big fan of poetry. In fact, I wasn’t a big fan of reading and writing either. English was always one of my worst subjects and I hated doing homework. When I was a junior in college, I started thinking about what I wanted to do with my life. For some strange reason, Children’s Books popped into my head. I got excited about this idea and truly thought it would be a fun and exciting career for me. That night, I had a dream that inspired me to become a writer. Since that day, I have written over 250 poems and have visited more than 200 schools. I guess I’m living proof that dreams do come true!
Why do you write poetry?
I’m going to answer this question by asking a question. Have you ever tried to write a humorous rhyming poem without forced rhymes? I’ll tell you one thing, it’s not the easiest thing to do, however, it is a challenge. I enjoy the challenge of writing this type of poetry. I also enjoy seeing the expressions on people’s faces when they read my poems. Whenever people smile, giggle, or laugh after reading or hearing my poetry, I feel like I am making a positive difference in the world. To make a long story short, that’s why I write poetry!
Do you write anything other than poetry?
Absolutely! I think it’s extremely important for all writers to explore other areas of writing. Besides poetry, I write short stories, song lyrics, screen plays, young adult fiction, children’s stories (rhyming and non-rhyming), and TV commercials. Although poetry is one way to express yourself, I encourage every writer to step out of their comfort zone and try new things!
What was your most embarrassing moment at the school’s you’ve visited?
Luckily, I have never had an embarrassing moment during a school visit, but I have seen embarrassing things happen to teachers and principals! A few months ago, I was doing a one hour assembly program for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders in the gym. The students were seated on the gym floor and the teachers were sitting on folding chairs (side by side – lined up around the students). In the middle of my assembly, I read one of my poems and watched the crowd break out into immediate laughter. One of the teachers laughed so hard - she lost her balance, fell off her chair, and spilled coffee all over the assistant principal. The assistant principal wasn’t amused by this embarrassing moment, but the students had a field day with it!
You can e-mail me at iceray2000@aol.com
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