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Student poetry on display, Spring Literary Festival planned

We hear it in the music we listen to. We read it to our children. We study it in literature courses. We share it with friends on social media, laughing at humorous verses and empathizing with those expressing sorrow.

We may not often be conscious of it, but poetry is an important part of our lives, and April is a time to celebrate it as National Poetry Month.

Two librarians at East Tennessee State University work hard to promote poetry among the university’s students and in the community not only in conjunction with National Poetry Month but also year-round.

Lydia Gwyn and Sarah Bull promote poetry and more through Coffee and Creative Writing, a monthly workshop in which students share and discuss each other’s creative writing. Poetry will, naturally, be the focus of this month’s session, which will be held Thursday, April 10, at 5 p.m. in Room 309 of the Sherrod Library.

In collaboration with fellow librarian Rebecca Tolley, Gwyn and Bull organized and coordinated a Student Poetry Contest at the Sherrod Library, with the theme of nature poetry.

Thirty-four students submitted poems for this contest, which may become an annual event. Faculty and staff judges selected 16 poems to be displayed in April on the walls of the gallery space on the third floor of the library.

Ruby Purgason won first place in the contest with “The Garden,” followed by Suzi Peter’s “Angel of Melton Hill Lake” in second place and Rachel Nester’s “Please Do Not Take Me” in third. Three additional finalists were named: Sierra Arguello with “Nature’s Quiet Plea,” Rebekah Saulsbury with “Damaged Observer” and Nguwasen Tor with “Nature Poem.”

The poetry contest came about as a way to use the library’s gallery space, which was created through a recent renovation.

Because of their work with Coffee and Creative Writing, Gwyn and Bull were familiar with the poetic talents of ETSU’s students. They said they chose the theme of nature to help the judges evaluate the work on more than general quality, and also in honor of Earth Day, which falls on April 22.

“I think students can find poetry to be an emotional outlet where they are able to express themselves freely,” said Bull, an assistant professor and arts and humanities librarian at the Sherrod Library. “Even when they’re not reading or submitting to contests, just the act of writing is a great outlet for students who are feeling the pressure of school, politics or just young adulthood.”

“Poetry and writing in general is a great way to examine your life, your thoughts, your emotions,” added Gwyn, an assistant professor and student engagement and instruction librarian in the Sherrod Library. “It can help give you a deeper understanding of self-awareness, especially at a time when you’re just starting to get to know yourself and to form your own opinions.

“Also, because poetry often asks us to take a close look at our subjects, to express our ideas through symbolism and metaphor, and to use language in surprising ways, it can help build students’ critical and creative thinking skills, which everyone can benefit from regardless of their major.”

In addition to their work on campus, Bull and Gwyn recently led a poetry workshop for the community at the Johnson City Public Library in conjunction with National Poetry Month.

Later this month, poetry will also be a highlight of ETSU’s annual Spring Literary Festival, which will take place April 22-24, sponsored by ETSU’s Bert C. Bach Written Word Initiative and Department of Literature and Language. This festival includes readings of new works from ETSU faculty members Dr. Amy Wright and Megan Krupa; a poetry writing workshop led by Dr. Gaylord Brewer, a poet and professor of English at Middle Tennessee State University; and more.

In addition to these literary activities, check out some of the other concerts, exhibitions, performances and more taking place this April at ETSU, which is home to a vibrant arts community.