2-06-2024 9:46am

BRSD Teacher Highlight: Poetry in Motion with ELA Supervisor Mark Jarmon

Donnella Tilery Editor

Mark Jarmon presented a challenge to his students when he was teaching English 20 years ago.

And that was at the time in his life when he began dabbling in poetry writing.

“I started writing poetry in my classroom when I was teaching English at CBA (Christian Brothers Academy),’’ recalled Mr. Jarmon, who today is the Supervisor of English Language Arts at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, a position that he has held for nine years.

He figured if he were to beat them, then he first must join them.

“I wanted my students to write creatively. I knew writing poetry would be a tough sell but I wanted the kids to enjoy it so I joined them to show them that it could be done,’’ Mr. Jarmon revealed. “I gave them a challenge that they could write better than me.’’

But his challenge also made him aware that writing poetry could be fun—for him, too.

“I found out that I really enjoyed writing poetry,’’ he said.

That method could have sparked an interest in poetry writing for those students 20 years ago at the parochial high school in Lincroft.

But that strategy has resulted in two poetry publications that were penned by Mr. Jarmon, who even gained national recognition that has reached the Hawaiian islands.

His writing first began finding its way to poetry journals in 2011, he recalled.

Then he gathered his collection and published his first book in 2015 that is titled “Monster Surf Tails.”

A second book followed in 2020 that is titled “Back to Echo Beach.”

Yes, his passion to surf—he grew up down the Jersey Shore in Spring Lake–is shared throughout his publications.

Both poetry journals are also filled with tales of surfing, the ocean and beaches, but he also wrote about a roller coaster, a commencement from school and a trip to heaven.

“I grew up a surfer and a lot of my poems are inspired by the surf culture,’’ Mr. Jarmon said.

His interest in writing poems relating to the ocean led him to hook up with the surfing hotbed of Hawaii.

“Last year I got connected to the Surf Poets Society, a group of poets and artists based in Honolulu,’’ Mr. Jarmon said.

The editor of the organization’s journal, “Party Wave’’ goes by the nom de plume of Manny Aloha.

The publication is full of writers and poets from Hawaii. And also one surfer/poet who resides in Wall Township, N.J.

“He (Manny Aloha) saw some of my writings and they started an online group.The Surf Poets read at galleries, cafes and museums,’’ Mr. Jarmon reported.

“And this past spring they kicked off an event in Hawaii and read some of my poems. Since then, they have held readings of my poems at a Halloween event at the Bishop Museum,’’ said Mr. Jarmon in reference to the well-known museum of history and science that is located in the historic Kalihi district of Honolulu.

Closer to home, his works will be shared this spring in Monmouth County.

“In April I will be leading a reading at the Spring Lake Public Library,” Mr. Jarmon reported.

“I like to think my poems are written for kids of all ages. l do like to write for students in grades two to four,’’ he said.

He stated that he “is always tinkering with stuff” and “his new year’s resolution will be to spend more time writing and “keep at it with the Surf Poets Society, even if they are 6,000 miles away.”

“The word is smaller due to the internet,’’ he added.

He remains a surfer, living near the beach in Wall Township with his wife, Cathy, and two daughters, Eliza and Juliette.

He summed up his journey as a poet.

“It is crazy. A little surreal.’’

You can visit and read about his poetry works by going to:

https://www.markjarmon.com/