Spartanburg Day School Hosts 7th Annual Dent Poetry & Prose Speaking Series

Spartanburg Day School will welcome alumna, poet, and author Tabassam Shah back to campus on Monday, Nov. 2, as the featured guest for the seventh annual Dent Poetry & Prose Speaking Series.

The annual event brings writers and spoken-word artists to campus to share their work, discuss their creative process, and engage with Middle and Upper School students through readings, conversations, and hands-on workshops.

A 1992 graduate of Spartanburg Day School and former resident of Gaffney, South Carolina, Shah is the author of Red & Crescent Moons, her debut poetry collection published in 2022 after receiving The Watershed Journal Literary Group's Long-Form Publishing Prize. Her writing is deeply rooted in Appalachia, reflecting her experiences growing up in a Pakistani American family in the foothills of South Carolina and later living in northern Appalachia in Pennsylvania.

Through her poetry, Shah explores identity, cultural connections, social justice, and the relationship between people and the natural world.

“Poetry is an exercise of my voice as I navigate and process the chaos and beauty of this world,” Shah said in describing her approach to writing. “For me, writing poetry is also an opportunity to witness and advocate for social justice.”

Her work has appeared in several literary publications, including Pennsylvania English and Schuylkill Valley Journal, as well as the Women Writers Anthology published by 1455 Literary Arts. Her poetry has also been featured in an art exhibition curated by Creature Conserve, an organization that connects artists with wildlife conservation efforts.

In addition to her writing, Shah performs jazz poetry and particularly enjoys leading outdoor eco-poetry workshops that encourage participants to draw inspiration from the natural world. She is active in Poets Against Racism and Hate USA and serves on the board of Berks Bards, a community poetry advocacy organization based in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Her latest creative project is a children's book series about a Muslim American girl growing up in the Deep South. The project is supported through her selection in the Highlights Foundation's Muslim Storytellers program.

During her visit to Spartanburg Day School, Shah will lead a workshop titled “Creating Poetry Zines” with two Upper School English classes taught by Susan McNeal. The workshop will give students an opportunity to explore creative expression through poetry and the development of their own small-format publications.

The schedule also includes presentations for Upper School students from 11:55 a.m. until 12:25 p.m. and Middle School students from 12:35 until 1:05 p.m. Both presentations will take place in the Valerie M. Barnet Theatre, with Upper School French teacher Margaret Sullivan introducing Shah.

The Upper School presentation is free and open to the public.

Now in its seventh year, the Dent Poetry & Prose Speaking Series has welcomed a variety of accomplished writers and artists to Spartanburg Day School. Previous featured guests include slam poet Andre Bradford (2020), poet Ashley Jones (2021), memoirist and editor Cinelle Barnes (2022), poet Vera Gomez (2023), poet and author Drew Lanham (2024), and poet, writer, and composer Marcus Amaker (2025).

The series provides students with opportunities to interact directly with working writers, gain insight into the creative process, and develop a deeper appreciation for poetry and prose.

To learn more about Shah and her work, visit www.tabassamshah.com.

Additional details about Spartanburg Day School are available at www.SpartanburgDaySchool.org.