Weekly poetry readings on campus inspire students to express themselves

by | Apr 4, 2011 | News Slider

Plenty of words–some rhyming, many not–are thrown around in Swang every Tuesday night when a group of Lipscomb students gathers to share what they’ve composed. One of those students, Kiara Bland, a senior from Portland, Tenn, said she does it because she considers it a gift. “The ability to write, the ability to be inspired by the little things in life and put it on paper is more of a gift,” Bland said. “It is God-given and it should be shared.” These poets have had more opportunities to express themselves lately outside of the classroom where they meet once a week. Lipscomb University, along with Youth Speaks, presented Lipscomb’s first of what is expected to be an annual “Poetry Slam.” The night featured some of Nashville’s poets from local high schools and colleges including Lipscomb University, Belmont University and Hunters Lane High School. The idea for this slam came from Lipscomb student Sara Warren after she was introduced to an open mic night on the Vanderbilt University campus. “I was so moved by the readings, I wanted something like that at Lipscomb,” Warren said. Jaleeca Yancy was one of the Lipscomb students who presented her poetry at the slam.  Yancy, a sophomore from Memphis, Tenn., loves poetry because it gives her a sense of confidence, as she experiences little to no fear when she speaks. “Sometimes I get a little stage fright [before], but once I get on the stage that all goes away, because I get in my element,” Yancy said. For more information on Youth Speaks and its upcoming events, log on to its website at www.youthspeaksnashville.org. If you are inspired to write...