Readings

UWEC’s International Poetry Night Features Verses in More Than 25 Languages

Kendra Lamer |

Even when listeners do not speak the language, words still carry meaning. When set to poetry, phrases take on new life and a greater understanding. UW-Eau Claire will host the 13th Annual International Poetry Night on Wednesday, April 24, from 7-9 pm in the Ojibwe Ballroom at the Davies Center. The night will feature poetry in more than 25 languages including Icelandic, Chinese, Hmong, Korean, and International Morse Code. Anyone can attend this free event to “celebrate the universal language of poetry,” according to the event’s Facebook page. Readers and audience members alike will observe the multiculturalism and community produced by poetry. Students, community members, scholars, faculty, and staff will be reading their selections. This year, visiting poets from China will also participate in the event. Each reader has selected a piece in the language of their choice to share. Dr. Kaishan Kong, department of languages, and Dr. Josh Bauer, learning and technology services, are co-organizing this year’s International Poetry Night. Dr. Thomas King, a professor emeritus of communication sciences and disorders, the Center for International Education, the UW-Eau Claire Foundation, and the departments of English and languages will sponsor the event. For those who cannot attend, the poetry reading will be live-streamed at uwec.ly/live. For those who can attend, there will be complimentary refreshments. Visit facebook.com/internationalpoetryreading to learn more.