Students at St. Petersburg College recently celebrated National Poetry Month, held every April. The event is the largest literary celebration in the world involving schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers and poets.
On Tuesday, students, faculty and passersby at the Seminole Campus “Let Poetry Lead the Way” by reproducing poetic snippets – both their own and their favorites from others – in chalk on sidewalks in the Quad between the TL and UP buildings. Check out their Facebook gallery of the event.
On Wednesday, students at St. Petersburg/Gibbs held their second Open Mic Night at Retro Joe’s cafe in the campus library. Participants of all ages and inclinations read their work to each other with two hours of inspiring talent.
“Shout out to (instructor) Sheree Greer and her creative writing class and everyone else who read and spoke at our open mic tonight!” said Linda Reifler-Alessi, Reference and Instruction Librarian at Gibbs. “So much talent and emotion in one room. The work alternately gave me goose bumps and shivers and warm, heartfelt smiles.”
“So many different voices — humor, sadness, joy, mental illness, domestic abuse, love, politics, fatherhood, grandkids, little restless feet, retribution, electric kisses, coal mines, Dear John, and more! Such a great show of talent tonight!” Greer said.
https://twitter.com/SPC_SPG_Provost/status/585951180293017601
Upcoming events at SPC include:
Seminole, UP Lobby: April 21, 12 :30 p.m.
Fifth Annual Pizza and Poetry Open Mic: Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to step to the mic and share original or favorite poetry. Scheduled for the UP Lobby with special guest performance.
St. Petersburg/Gibbs, Library: April 21, 7:30 p.m.
Poetry Open Mic
The public, students, faculty and staff are invited to bring their own poems, stories or spoken words to share. Props, musical instruments and costumes are encouraged.
Seminole, UP Lobby: April 30, 12:30 p.m.
National Poem in Your Pocket Day: Find Communications Instructor Sheree Greer in the UP lobby for tiny poems for your pocket. She will have extra poems available if you’d like to help me spread the poetic cheer.