Through the Visiting Writers Series, the art and literary community invited the public to share their truth. Last week, Poet Huascar Medina inspired new and upcoming poets.
Poetry comes in many shapes – it just needs a voice.
“Poetry is for everyone,” Medina said. “It’s accessible and doesn’t belong to anyone or to any ideology or particular group. Poetry is an equalizer. It allows anyone to speak and share their truth.”
Medina was invited to UNK by the Nebraska Writers Collective, a nonprofit arts organization that uses creative writing and spoken word poetry to build communities across Nebraska and Iowa. Hosted by the UNK English department and co-sponsor Sigma Tau Delta, student and community poets were encouraged to share their voices, followed by poetry readings by Medina.
Sadie Gardine, a freshman majoring in pre-nursing, said she was moved by the “beautiful way” a poem transformed from a story about a kitchen to a story about heartbreak and loss.
“I realized poetry doesn’t have to be perfect,” Gardine said. “This was my first time attending a literary event, and I was unsure what to expect from it. I find it difficult to follow the rules that seem to come with writing. However, after hearing several different poetry styles, I feel more confident in myself and my writing capabilities.”
Brad Modlin, an English associate professor and Reynolds Chair of Poetry, said that poetry is a gift for students.
“Open mics let students express themselves, that it’s OK to not have the answers, but to share questions,” Modlin said. “There’s a community that’s created.”
Kaitlynn Ashlock, the Sigma Tau Delta historian, wants to inspire everyone to share their voice, believing that poetry has the power to connect people in unexpected ways.
“The more people that are in a room, the more intimate it becomes,” Ashlock said. “We’re all present but also going somewhere else collectively together through someone’s words.”
Angélica Perez, the Nebraska Writers Collective core teaching artist, normally takes on the hosting role at events. She was able to join the audience this time, inspiring her to share her work.
“Getting to be a part of the audience feels so good,” Perez said. “Leaning into it and getting to do a reading and sharing the space with the audience was a neat experience.”
Gina Tranisi, the Nebraska Writers Collective co-executive director, said she encourages students to pursue artistic endeavors. Students can make space in their day for their own healing, whether that comes from writing poems, songs, letters home or journaling.
“Visits from guest artists like Huascar Medina show students that it’s possible to leverage passion into a career,” Tranisi said. “Poetry is alive and thriving, and events like these encourage students to pursue their creative endeavors.”
