MSU Libraries to celebrate all things poetry in April
In celebration of National Poetry Month starting in April, Mississippi State University Libraries will be hosting various activities.
Started in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, National Poetry Month is the largest worldwide literary celebration, encouraging booksellers, libraries, poets, publishers, and schools to promote the importance of poetry and its significance to society and culture.
This year, MSU Libraries aims to celebrate National Poetry Month by promoting poetry in ways such as exploring the legacy and achievements of American poets.
Starting on April 1, MSU students, faculty and members of the Starkville community are invited to visit the MSU Libraries website to view a 15-minute presentation on Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem ‘The Odyssey,’ put together by Salvador Bartera, associate professor the MSU Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures.
MSU Libraries will also be providing a link to MSU’S movie database Swank, where MSU faculty and students can log in to view ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ the 2000 film by Joel and Ethan Coen that is loosely based on ‘The Odyssey.’
Associate Dean Stephen Cunetto said MSU Libraries is looking forward to hosting ‘Bully’s Bards,’ a monthlong exhibit showcasing poetic contributions of MSU faculty and alumni.
“These poems highlight the personal experiences, ruminations and feelings of members of our Bulldog family and provide important cultural context to the world in which we live,” said Cunetto. “Our MSU Libraries staff hopes these poems inspire and encourage everyone to celebrate poetry in April and throughout the year.”
MSU Libraries will also have its second annual Undergraduate Poetry Contest where undergraduate students who wish to participate must submit a poem by April 1 by 11:59 p.m.
The first-place winner for the poetry contest will receive four journal issues from Journal of the Month, a Rocketbook Smart Notebook, poetry-themed stickers, and publication of their winning poem in The Streetcar, MSU’S student-made creative arts journal.
The second-place winner will receive a copy of Together in a Sudden Strangeness: America’s Poets Respond to the Pandemic edited by Alice Quinn, The Poet Kit from Magnetic Poetry, and poetrythemed stickers.
The third-place prize winner will receive a Lithograph print of Chasers of the Light: Poems from the Typewriter Series by Tyler Knott Gregson, a Rocketbook Mini Smart Notebook, and poetrythemed stickers.
Throughout the month, posters highlighting Mississippi poets and poetry will be on display at Mitchell Memorial Library. MSU Libraries also will accept recommendations from faculty and staff across campus for poems to share on social media.