By Shaleyah Carter

Students across the Pensacola State College (PSC) campus gathered together at the Chadbourne library to share their poetic creations March 11. 

English department professor Jamey Jones defined poetry as “that kernel of honesty that’s inside each of us,” Jones said. 

Inspired by Jones, PSC student Darius Jaford performed an improvised and unorthodox free verse that gave context to poetry and life as we know it. His take on perspective involved his observations of the room and the differences in society.

This goes right along with audience member Haston Newman, who describes poetry as life. “You can speak through anything you do,” Newman said. 

Newman also spoke on the safe haven that the student poetry event creates. He described the world as people moving in parallel lines and said that events like these that allow for those lines to meet. 

James Calfee shared his poetry including one that praised the specific event because sharing his pieces in front of his peers makes him feel renewed despite the draining of life.

This interconnectedness of these events allowed for poets like Rayna Thomas to read her poems that describe her journeys through life and the lessons she learned. 

Student Derrick Barber, like others, was hesitant to allow himself to emerge in this sea of vulnerability. However, he still managed to perform a beautiful piece he wrote in a class called “Unimaginable” about a husband finding joy in his wife.

Aleiah Vitrano presented her works of poetry on stage, “sharing these today is really a milestone for me,” Vitrano said. 

Student Jayden Newman defined poetry as feelings on a canvas or healing itself. Most people at the event seemed to agree that sharing poetry allows for individual stories to be expressed authentically through vulnerability and boldness.  

Taking that step to bear yourself to your peers and yourself is worth it. The student editor of the Hurricane Review, Kaitlyn Boland, explains how poetry events counter the disconnection between people, especially in the city of Pensacola.

Getting connected through poetry is easier than students seem to know. PSC provides students many ways to express their creative outlook. Student poetry readings, such as the one that took place in the library, is one of the ways that students get involved on campus and express their creativity.