NEWS

Poetry anthology makes space for introspection

K.D. Williams, an English instructor at WCC, shares a poem at the “Inner and Outer Spaces” poetry reading. Lilly Kujawski | Washtenaw Voice

By Lilly Kujawski
Editor

On Oct. 30, the WCC Poetry Club hosted an anthology release party and open mic in partnership with the Bailey Library.

The anthology, “Inner and Outer Spaces,” features writing and art from WCC students, staff and faculty.

The theme of the anthology followed a theme happening at the Bailey Library right now: space.

About six or seven poets shared original work during the open mic, and a number of audience members read poems by well-known authors selected from a “basket of poems” passed around the group.

Poets explored a variety of “spaces” in their writing, covering topics like grief, friendship, loneliness and the “white space” of a page.

Amy Higgins, an English instructor at WCC, shared a poem about collecting fallen apples and feeding them to pigs at an animal rescue shelter.

Kayla Price shared an original poem called “Y still matters if you’re solving for X.” The poem focused on themes like social groups and fitting in.

“Is there a ‘right’ way to grow out of isolation?” Price said in the poem, which is featured in the anthology.

The poetry anthology “Inner and Outer Spaces” was available for audience members. Lilly Kujawski | Washtenaw Voice

“Learning to know myself is probably the greatest journey of discovery I could make,” said Wanda Sanders, another performer at the event, in her poem “Self Discovery.”

Sanders’ work is featured in the anthology as well.

“We want all the falling without the possibility of ground,” said K.D. Williams, an English instructor at WCC, in a poem they performed.

Tom Zimmerman, Poetry Club adviser and Writing Center director, encouraged students, staff and faculty to submit poetry, prose, art and photography to the Huron River Review, WCC’s literary journal. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 31, 2020.

Zimmerman added that the Poetry Club will publish more anthologies next semester, including a Women’s History Month-themed one.

More information about the Huron River Review is available at thehuronriverreview.wordpress.com/ and more information about the WCC Poetry Club and its anthologies can be found on wccpoetryclub.wordpress.com.