by KYW’s Jim Melwert

Philadelphia’s City Hall played host to a poetry slam today, with members of the Philly Youth Poetry Movement showing off their skills less than a week before they head to Los Angeles for an international competition.

“So I challenge you to put a seven-year old boy soldier in Darfur on the cover of Ebony, he a true ebony beauty bleeds bullets for tears…”

In its fifth year, Philly Youth Poetry Movement holds free poetry workshops for teens ages 13 to 19.

Noel Scales says that in her three years she’s learned more than poetry:

“I learned how to be myself, be okay in my own skin, be confident, stand by my words.”

Hear the performances:

“So now is the time to reach for your greatness, follow your dreams and speak your mind.”

Mayor Michael Nutter took his turn:

“I was very nervous.  I’d never done this before and these are folks who have talent.”

“It’s very, very important that we demonstrate to people that we’re paying attention to the many positive things that they’re doing.”

For more information go to www.pypm215.org.