Bangor -
"Poetry out Loud" took over Husson University Wednesday.
The Maine state final of the annual competition filled the Gracie Theater on campus.
Since December, nearly 8,000 high school students from across Maine have competed in the poetry program.
The top ten performed poems from memory tonight, with just one advancing to a national competition in Washington, D.C.
The event was introduced by a very special guest, this year's presidential inaugural poet Richard Blanco.
Wednesday's top two poets were Iman Omar of Deering High School and Maine State Champion Dyer Rhoads of Waynflete School.
He will represent Maine in the national competition in April.