By Hailey MacDonald, Editor-in-Chief
Poetry is a creative art form that allows the writer to express themselves through writing. For decades, poems have been used not only as a form of creative expression, but also as a medium for writers to share their feelings, release inner emotions, and communicate with others.
Poetry that is read out loud and performed in front of an audience is known as spoken word poetry. This is a type of oral performance that not only showcases the skills of the poet on paper, but also gives them the opportunity to use elements such as rhythm, rhyme scheme, body language, and other physical expressions to further tell their story.
The Residence Hall Association of Western New England University as well as the Review of Art and Literature are hosting a poetry program on Wednesday, March 10 at 5:00 p.m. This program will feature spoken word poet Beau Williams, who will perform some of his original work as well as host a poetry writing workshop.
Clarice Berardinelli and Nicholas Karantonis, two students who are currently juniors at the University, were exposed to spoken word poetry at the National Association for Campus Activities Northeast Conference in November 2019. Since then, it has stuck with them.
“At some point, we knew we wanted to bring a spoken word poet to campus, we didn’t know how or in what capacity, but it was something we wanted to make happen,” says Berardinelli, the President of the Residence Hall Association.
In the fall, Berardinelli reached out to Faith Edwards, the Editor-in-Chief of the Review of Art and Literature, to bring another student organization into the program. The Review of Art and Literature, which produces an art and literary magazine each year, is a group that values writing and personal expression, so it was a perfect fit.
The two organizations have been working hard to plan this program and make it a pleasurable experience for those who wish to attend. This kind of program is different from anything the University has done in the past. According to Berardinelli, “sharing something that we personally have an interest in with the greater community is really special and not an overly common theme amongst programmers.”
Students who want to attend the program can either attend in person, as space allows, or attend via Zoom. There will be a few giveaways at the program including journals and goodie bags too.
Edwards is especially excited for the program. “I am really looking forward to being in an atmosphere with other people who are interested in poetry,” she comments. “When writing and even appreciating poetry, it makes a difference to be around other people who want to be there. It helps creativity flow, and it’s just fun to enjoy with others.”
Writing poetry is a great way to use your writing skills and imagination to become more self-aware. It is also good for mental and emotional healing and well-being, and it can benefit others by providing inspiration and connectivity between reader and writer. If you like to read or write poetry or are interested in trying something new, keep an eye out for more details as this program gets closer.
