Rubicon hosts poetry reading on campus for National Poetry Month

For National Poetry Month, the English Department and the Rubicon, Troy University’s student-run literary journal, are hosting a poetry reading on the library steps.

Patricia Waters, assistant professor of English, was instrumental in organizing the event, according to Samantha Loff, editor-in-chief of the Rubicon and a graduate student.

“It gives the students a chance to express their own work, as well as read some of their favorites,” Waters said.

Loff was also an important part of the planning.

“Any student and every student can and should read at the event,” Loff said. “I think poetry is always a good reason to gather. It is supposed to be a lovely day, and poetry is the best way to celebrate. Or, if the weather is bad, you can mourn that, too, I suppose.”

Original work by aspiring student poets is welcome, and participants are also welcome to read poetry from their favorite authors contemporary and classic alike.  Waters will be reading some of her own original work.

Waters hopes that some of the students involved in “Midsummer Night’s Dream” will bring some Shakespeare to read.

The event will be open-mic, but there will be a two-minute time limit.

“Be mindful of people’s sensibilities,” Waters said. “We expect Troy etiquette regarding language.”

Ben Robertson, associate professor of English, also contributed to organizing the event. Robertson, who was in charge of this year’s Alabama Literary Review, will be videotaping the event, and some selections will be put online.

April has served as National Poetry Month since 1996, and the Academy of American Poets initiated it. April was chosen for many reasons. The most important reason is its position between Black History Month (February) and Women’s History Month (March).

“T.S. Elliot said ‘April is the prettiest month,’” Waters said.

According to poets.org, some of the month’s goals are to “highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poets” and to “make poetry a more important part of the school curriculum.”

This is the third year that Troy University has held a poetry reading to celebrate National Poetry Month.

“We’d like to see it become a tradition,” Waters said.

The reading will begin at 4 p.m. and last about an hour.