Schools

Bowie State Hosts 12-Hour Poetry Festival

The 12-hour poetry reading is open to students and community members.

Poets and lovers of poetry won’t want to miss out on Bowie State University’s first-ever 12-hour Poetry Festival, being held on campus on Friday, April 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Students, and community members of all ages are all invited to the campus to either read their own original work or the work of a poet that they love. Poetry will be read all day long, for 12 hours straight. People are also welcome to come and just enjoy the poetry. 

The Poetry Festival is the brainchild of BSU student and poet Melanie Johnson. Sigma Tau Delta Honor Society member Johnson’s initial idea was for a 24-hour poetry reading, but English professor Monifa Love suggested that they try 12 hours to start.

The event is being held outdoors at the Torch, because that is a symbol of what BSU stands for, said Love.

“The idea of student creativity leading the way, lighting the way,” said Love. "To reinforce the idea that student creativity can bring in people from the community."

, students and faculty wanted to hold an event to change the public perception of the school.

“We wanted to do something this spring to offer a different view of what Bowie is and who its students are,” Love said.

Although the schedule is pretty full through 7 p.m., Love said there are small slots open throughout the day, and organizers will make room for people who want to read without signing up in advance.

Anyone interested in signing up can contact Love at 301-860-3674.

The event is a project of the Department of English and Modern Languages, the Thurgood Marshall Library, and the Writing Center. In case of inclimate weather, the event will be moved across from the Torch, into the library.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here