International students and students who are learning a second language will read 19 different poems from around the world tonight as part of World Poetry Night.
Although no English poems will be recited during the main portion of the event, University student Anne Leverdier, World Poetry Night’s program manager, expects English poems will be read during an open mic section.
Some of the languages that will be represented are Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Albanian and Arabic.
“There is a poem in Mongolian, which is not a language you hear a lot,” Leverdier said.
The poems are to be no longer than four minutes per person, and they can be traditional poems or written by students themselves.
Amanda Powell, a Spanish senior instructor, will be the master of ceremonies for the poetry night. She hosted the event in 2009.
Leverdier said several people on staff who had helped in the organization of prior World Poetry Night events had suggested Powell as master of ceremonies. Leverdier said when she called, Powell was very excited to be included in the event.
“This is one of my favorite events on campus,” Powell said.
Powell teaches Spanish 330, Introduction to Spanish Poetry, and has noticed there is a poetry phobia in the United States.
Learning poetry by heart used to be the norm in American society, Powell said, but poetry is no longer a required course in many schools. Powell said this has caused a fear of poetry because people think it’s difficult to understand or hard to interpret.
“I write poetry. I publish poetry. I teach poetry in most of my classes,” Powell said about trying to break through the stereotype surrounding the literary form.
Several students will be reading a poem in a language they are currently learning.
“I think people who are doing this are very brave when it’s not their native language,” Leverdier said.
Powell said she might start the event with an English poem to have the language represented at the event.
“Our corporatized culture has been losing a part of our lives that was made rich by poetry,” Powell said.
Patterns such as rhyming are often used in poetry because people enjoy listening to the sounds. However, patterns can be found in many different parts in our lives such as visual patterns, architectural patterns, music patterns and language patterns.
“I notice both differences and similarities (between the poems),” Powell said. “All languages use patterning that are interesting and satisfying to the mind.”
The Mills International Center is hosting the event to bring people from different backgrounds and cultures together. The staff consists of 15 people who represent 12 countries.
“Because of the diversity, this is a very rich staff when it comes to ideas,” Leverdier said.
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Poetry night to feature languages, students from around the world
Daily Emerald
February 24, 2011
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