April is National Poetry Month, and there are plenty of free events around campus and East Lansing for those who want to be involved.
In addition to events in the community, the RCAH Center for Poetry has invited a series of Michigan poets to share their work and facilitate discussion throughout the month as part of their Spring Poetry Festival series.
April 7
Tonight at 7:30 p.m., the MSU Saudi Intercultural Exchange Club will be hosting this year's Arabic Poetry Night in the RCAH Theater, located in the basement of Snyder-Phillips Hall.
In addition to poetry readings in Arabic, sociology professor Abdullah Alrebh will be speaking about poetry and its importance in Arabic culture.
April 15
Terry Blackhawk will hold a discussion at 3 p.m. in C204 Snyder and will be giving a reading of her poetry at 7 p.m in RCAH Theater.
Blackhawk is one of the founders of Detroit's InsideOut Literary Arts Project, and will be speaking about her outreach work with poetry and its use in empowering young students.
April 18
The Haiku Hike with MSU Science Festival will be held at 1 p.m. in Chemistry Building Room 109.
As part of the event, the RCAH Center for Poetry will lead participants on a nature hike, during which they will be encouraged to take notes on what they see and compose a haiku based on a "moment in nature."
April 22-23
MSU Alumna Carolyn Forché will be presenting her work on April 22 at 7 p.m. in the RCAH Theater, with a discussion at 3 p.m. in W449 in the Main Library the following afternoon.
Her conversation will primarily focus on her travels to El Salvador, Lebanon, South Africa and France and the poetic experiences she had in those countries.
April 26
The third annual Poetry Attack, hosted by the Lansing Poetry Club, will feature poems hung on trees outside of the East Lansing Public Library.
Poets of all ages are encouraged to participate. More information can be found here: http://poetryattack.com/
April 28
Dublin Irish Pub will be hosting a Poem in Your Pocket Open Mic event beginning at 7:30 p.m.
"Pocket poems" are those that can be read in less than three minutes, and performance of original pieces is encouraged.
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April 29
The Wednesday Night Live series will be hosting the singing and storytelling ensemble "Potluck" at 7 p.m. in the RCAH Theater.
The event will feature food and community-based songs, stories and poetry.
