Words have the power to move, inspire and bring people together. This idea has been the driving force behind the Heart and Soul Poetry Club since its conception.
The club was formed five years ago by Chelsea Springer and Kenedy Manuel, both of whom have graduated from TU. Their legacy lives on as the Heart and Soul Poetry Club continues to meet biweekly.
The club provides a safe, welcoming place for poetry lovers from all over campus to gather and connect. Members value the strong community found within the club.
“It’s just a really relaxing time to hang out and discuss, like, what parts of poetry move us,” said Janna Hopper, a regular meeting attendee.
Hopper enjoys meeting with others who have similar interests but different opinions and perspectives on poems. The club allows every member to share their thoughts about what they read in their meetings.
This year, meetings are led by Anna Mitchell, the club president. She is in charge of event planning as well as drafting writing prompts for members to engage with during meetings.
The meetings themselves are very rewarding for poetry lovers such as Mitchell. A highlight is sharing time, when members get to read each other poems they have written or been inspired by.
“It’s really great, because it’s just like, I get to peek into your brain and share in these moments with people,” Mitchell said.
Meetings also consist of discussions regarding the poet of the month. Every month, club members focus on the life and works of a particular poet who made an impact on them.
This month, Mitchell focused on the subject of American Sign Language (ASL) in poetry and how it has impacted her understanding of the art.
“Even if you don’t know ASL, just by looking at their expressions and stuff, you’re like, ‘Wow, this is so beautiful,’” Mitchell said.
In addition to studying poems and the poets behind them, the Heart and Soul Poetry Club also provides time for writing personal poems. A prompt is provided, and members are given time to quietly contemplate and transcribe what is on their hearts.
The writing prompts are low-stress and do not require previous experience to participate in.
“One of my favorite things about the club is how you don’t necessarily have to be a poet,” Eliana Cetola, a cabinet member for the club, said. “You can literally just come for the vibes.”
The community of the club is not solely confined to its meeting hours. Members often spend time with one another outside of the club. In the past, events such as apple picking and movie nights have allowed members to form close bonds with one another.
As classes have only just begun, the Heart and Soul Poetry Club is looking forward to what this year has in store for them. The cabinet members are dedicated to maintaining the positive impact the club has made on the school.
“I want it to be a space where you can relax, where you don’t have to think,” Mitchell said. “You get to enjoy what you love and, like, learn about new things and share with other people.”
Poetry has made a remarkable impact on the lives of the club’s members. It is an art form that is treasured by the club as they continue to find new meaning within their favorite poems.
The Heart and Soul Poetry Club meets biweekly in Rupp 164 on Fridays at 4:00 p.m. Meetings are held on the first and third Fridays of the month. No previous experience with poetry is required; all that is needed is an open mind. Anyone who is interested is encouraged to attend and enjoy the rich community the club has to offer.
