Mayda del valle grandmother poems

When Chicago native Mayda del Valle walked into the ornate East Room of the White House on Tuesday evening to recite a newly written poem about a grandmother she barely knew, it took all of her professionalism to disguise her nervousness.

A nationally known poet and performer, del Valle has appeared on high-profile stages before, from Broadway to the University of Southern California to HBO.

Still, asked about the condition of her nerves, del Valle said this particular gig had gotten to her.

“Are you kidding me? I can’t keep my hands from shaking,” she said. “I hardly slept at all last night.”

While a poetry jam that mixed smooth jazz with groovy verse may seem more fitting for a coffeehouse than the White House, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama invited del Valle and eight other performers for an evening to celebrate poetry, music and the spoken word.

The gathering was not a competition, so it was not technically a poetry slam, a