2008 Woodie Awards
English Dept. celebrates National Poetry Mon
Jen Vazquez
Issue date: 5/7/05 Section: Tempo
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When the Academy of American Poets got together in 1996 to discuss when to have their first National Poetry Month, they talked to many bookstore owners and librarians. Fall had too many holidays and so spring was chosen because children would still be in school. February is Black History Month and March is Women's month, so April was chosen.
Throughout April, bookstores, libraries, schools and cultural institutions put on programs that zero in on poetry. Things like reading festivals, workshops, and book displays are some of the common tactics.
The Academy helps to facilitate this by putting out 200,000 National Poetry Month posters each year, as well as lend their help to any institution that needs it.
According to the Academy of American Poets, some of the main goals of National Poetry Month are:
1. To highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of
American poets.
2. To introduce more Americans to the pleasures of reading poetry.
3. To bring poets and poetry to the public in immediate and innovative ways.
4. To make poetry a more important part of the school curriculum.
5. To increase the attention paid to poetry by national and local media.
6. To encourage increased publication, distribution, and sales of poetry books.
7. To increase public and private philanthropic support for poets and poetry.
At Lewis, the English department is celebrating National Poetry Month with the help of Simone Muench. On Thursday, April 21 SPOM (Student Poetry Open Mike) was held in the Big Red Room at 2 p.m. Five featured student readers performed two pieces, followed by Mary Fonts, a professional slam poet.
On Tuesday, April 26, a writer's panel was held in A133. Three writers came out for the event. Jackie White is a translation poet who teaches at UIC. She read a few of her own poems and compared her translation of "Lectures," called "Readers," to show how things get lost in translation.
Ray Beyoncke is a post-modern poet with an off sense of humor. He read two poems from his most recent book, "Circular Descent," and concluded with a 13-part poem he is working on.
Mark Tardy is a South Sider with an affinity for the Cubs. He read quite a few poems, which were all quite short and mostly humorous with a "smarter" diction. All three poets drew from Spanish to enrich their poetry.
