Spring Poetry Marathon Friday hosts classic, original student readings

Students were able to read and share poetry at the spring poetry marathon on Friday Afternoon.

The all-day event, which ws held from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the pond across from the Charles V. Park Library. Students were not only encouraged to read poetry, but also were invited to play music and read works of fiction.

Robert Fanning, assistant professor of creative writing, hosted the event, and the work of several poets, both classic and contemporary, were read, including W.B Yeats, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, Gary Snyder, Charles Bukowski as well as works from students on campus.

Elise Becker, a Grand Ledge sophomore, attended the event for a class, and said she ended up being more engrossed then she originally thought.

“I have actually never been interested in poetry,” she said. “I stayed longer then I thought, way past when my class ended.”

Becker said that the event sparked her interest in poetry.

“It is definitely something I want to try,” she said.

Jeremy Caron, a junior, presented several pieces of poetry throughout the event, including “Invocation” by Stephen Vincent Benet and “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe. He didn’t use any aid when presenting the poems,and recited the works from memory.

Caron said that poetry is important to him because it allows him to be, in a sense, fulfilled.

“Why is poetry important? I guess I feel like you need to have had to search for something in your life,” he said.”And Poetry gives you that.”

Matt Dimitroff, a senior from Georgia, attended the event to share his fictional work. He read a story called “A trip to Florida”, which he referred to as an “unpleasant tale.” He also read a poem written by his father, who was a published poet. Dimitroff said that the event held more significance to him because of his fathers work.

“I’m not big into poetry, and I’m not a big fan of my fathers poems.” said Dimintroff, “but I thought it would be appropriate to showcase his works in the event.”

Fanning said that the event displayed the role poetry had in students lives.

“That’s what is really terrific about this-it makes evident the way poetry is a part of everybody’s lives,” said Fanning. “You don’t have to be a creative writing major for poetry to create an impact.”