Students and Professors on National Poetry Month: What Poetry Means and Why it’s Important

April is National Poetry Month. Celebrated across the U.S. and Canada, the observance spreads appreciation and awareness for poetry. Whether composing prose on paper or simply skimming stanzas, according to Loyola students, poetry has a way of connecting people to themselves and others.

Through literary core classes, creative writing electives and Diminuendo — Loyola’s student-run literary and arts magazine — the poetry scene at Loyola is fueled by passionate students and professors who believe in the power of language.

English senior lecturer Philip Sorenson said he’s read, written and worked with poetry for decades, and identifying as a poet is integral to his sense of self. Sorenson teaches a poetry workshop, human values and literature, exploring poetry and university core writing at Loyola.

“I assign poets, I read poets, I hang out with poets, my wife is a poet, I’m a poet — our life is built around poetry,” Sorenson said. “Almost literally we live in an apartment that is essentially nothing but books — floor to ceiling on every wall.”

Seeing poetry as an encounter with revelation, Sorenson said he appreciates its ability to make one feel transformed or transported. Unfortunately, the once-vibrant poetry scene of Chicago suffered greatly during the COVID-19 pandemic and has yet to fully recover, according to Sorenson. Readings, publishers and presses have diminished, and people’s attention has divided.

Even so, Sorenson remains steadfast in his belief in poetry’s power and resistance to societal forces. He points to its ability to challenge norms and offer a space for new ideas.

“[Poetry] stands actively opposed to systems that attempt to rationalize and immiserate and exploit,” Sorenson said. “Poetry in its radical rejection of a capitalist capture, in its total excess, that’s where I think the value really lies — it contains that utopic surplus.”

Amelio Collins, a first-year philosophy and English major, is a general body member of Diminuendo, also serving on its literary committee. Collins says poetry is an important part of their life, having started writing in 8th grade. 

Collins meets with Diminuendo every Wednesday night to critique and vote on magazine submissions and attends their English 317: The Writing of Poetry, workshop class every Friday. 

They said poetry is a way for people to express their feelings, as well as their entire being. Using words to materialize intangible emotions, Collins said poetry’s limitless potential is remarkable.

“Poetry is important because it’s about the community as well and it’s a way that people can connect with others,” Collins said. “It’s a really great interest to have, in my opinion, being able to connect with someone so deeply — you can’t really do that by just having a sit-down conversation.”

Fourth-year sociology and urban studies major Anton Jahn-Vavrus said he started writing poetry consistently in high school. In 2021, one of his poems was published in a book featuring selected student’s writing.

“That was surreal to me because I never thought that I could do something like that,” Jahn-Vavrus said. “It kind of opened my mind to what’s possible and that people like myself who maybe don’t have the highest educational background can also be on that stage.”

Jahn-Vavrus said he appreciates how poetry breaks traditional literary structures and provides a more accessible and inclusive way of expression than a typical essay would. He said he keeps the tradition alive by implementing poetic structures into his papers at Loyola.

Poetry also offers more diverse perspectives and voices because it doesn’t require code switching — alternating between different languages, registers or styles of speaking, according to Jahn-Vavrus. 

“Everyone has to code switch to turn in an essay, but with poetry you can just speak in whatever language you want and it’s accepted as the same level of intelligence,” Jahn-Vavrus said.

Similarly, Collins described poetry as a tool of inclusion for underrepresented individuals and one of defiance that inspires change. They said slam poetry especially — where poets recite their work aloud or perform in spoken word, usually in a competitive environment — is a way art can channel emotion and draw attention towards social issues. 

“A lot of people use art to escape reality,” Collins said. “But when we use slam poetry and other art forms to talk about social issues, we can help bring change and give a voice to those who need it.”

Jahn-Vavrus said he wants to see the expansion of writing opportunities for young students in the future including writing activities, more extracurriculars, workshops and performances.

“Especially in a world where there’s so much turmoil happening, and at this age so much happening internally, having an outlet outside of one’s phone and texts, that’s healing,” Jahn-Vavrus said. “Not strictly for the production of likes or for a class. I think that’s a really good internal tool for all of us to have.”

Sorenson said National Poetry Month reminds people of the tools poetry provides, allowing connection, change-making, expression, inclusivity and creativity.

“It’s art for the future,” Sorenson said. “It’s not about the writer, it’s about communicating to a future that we cannot even conceive of. To me that’s incredibly exciting. I think it’s revolutionary practice.”

Those looking to celebrate National Poetry Month can do so by writing a poem for every day of April, signing up to read on Poem-A-Day, buying poetry or supporting local poets.