East Rockaway High School’s annual Poetry Madness event returned to the auditorium stage on Apr. 10, inviting students to reflect deeply on the theme of “empathy” through the written and spoken word. A beloved tradition run by the English department, the competition takes the form of a bracket-style elimination, beginning with hundreds of student entries and culminating in a live finale featuring the Elite Eight.

This year’s talented finalists included: Chrystal Anatalio, Nick Bey, Daimon Federico, Eva Lam, Winter Lara, Shannon Mahoney, Eva Mena and Kaylin Vizelter.

After submitting poems centered on empathy, these eight students took the stage to share their work aloud in front of a packed audience of peers and faculty. The room was filled with quiet anticipation and heartfelt emotion as each poet brought their words to life, offering unique and personal perspectives on what it means to understand and connect with others.

Following the live readings, a panel of judges had the difficult task of narrowing the group to a final four—and ultimately selecting this year’s winning poet.

Shannon Mahoney earned the top honor for her poem, “Coloring Outside the Lines,” a powerful metaphor for emotional vulnerability, self-expression, and the beauty that can be found in chaos.