Happy National Poetry Month, readers! Today we’re taking a moment to decompress and take a glimpse into the world of writing, with a focus in Poetry. As we take this moment to relax, this reporter banded together with some of the professors behind SMCC’s English Department to discuss National Poetry Month. This month’s highlight works alongside an interview with Kevin Sweeney, the current Chair of the English Department.

Kevin and I sat down on Friday afternoon to discuss what he’s doing to spread the word on National Poetry Month. For starters, staff are holding poetry readings in the SMCC Chapel every Tuesday afternoon from 12:30p-1:30p. Currently, staff are simply reading requested poems from staff, so there’s no word just yet on an open mic day. For those of you that are currently in Poetry or Intro To Lit class, be sure to check-in with your professors, as some are giving extra credit to anyone who attends! Sweeney has also been working diligently to have 3-4 days worth of content to share with staff, as he sends out daily emails about their Chapel meetings, shares a poem with all staff weekly, and even works to coordinate with Mike Bove, another one of the English professors, on poems that they have either written themselves or find to be timeless. Kevin has a Masters of Fine Arts for English/Creative Writing, and  he’s very passionate about what he does. 

Poetry is an artform that anyone can write for themselves or sit down to enjoy, and all staff and students at SMCC are encouraged to either request a poem to be read during the weekly chapel meetings or come and listen. Kevin hopes to schedule an Open Mic afternoon for the last Tuesday of the month so that students and staff may share their own work as we come to a close on National Poetry Month.