WCC’s poetry club crosses borders

A National Hispanic Heritage Month celebration takes the virtual stage

Participants during the WCC poetry club’s National Hispanic Heritage Month zoom call, Sep. 29. James Cason | Washtenaw Voice

by JAMES CASON
Deputy Editor

The WCC Poetry Club and Bailey Library presented ‘Crossing Borders,’ their inaugural virtual poetry open mic event, in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, on Sep. 29. National Hispanic Heritage Month began as a weeklong observance in 1968, called Hispanic Heritage Week. In 1988, the American Government expanded it to a month-long observance: Sep. 15 – Oct. 15.

“I’m looking for more poems, artwork, short pros, on the theme of crossing borders – whatever that might mean to you,” said Tom Zimmerman, a WCC English professor, and poetry club advisor. “We have a rolling blog that’s a living document. We’ll eventually stop it at one time and turn all of those posts into an anthology.”

Students, faculty, and staff joined together for an hour-long reading of various Hispanic poetry with different themes: roots, difficulties, praise, negotiations, and borders. The virtual mic was open as several participants brought their favorite poems to read; some picked them from a virtual basket of Hispanic poetry. Others just came to listen. The atmosphere was filled with inspiration, passion, and the snapping of fingers to appreciate the poetry readers.

Pablo Neruda, José María Álvarez, Ray Gonzalez, and Luis Alberto Urrea were among the poets whose work was shared during this Hispanic heritage celebration. 1973, a poem by Raúl Zurita, was recited by WCC student George White. This piece captures the violence committed against the Chilean people and the corruption of the Spanish language after Augusto Pinochet’s US-supported military coup.

“That really just like shook my soul,” said Betania, a newcomer to the WCC Poetry Club and a first-year WCC student. “I’m from Chile. I have read this poem and have dealt with this issue.”

Definition, by Luis Alberto Urrea, was another poem that stirred up a lot of conversation.

Illustration by James Cason

“It’s so little, but it packs a mighty punch,” said Maryam Barrie, a WCC English professor.

The group discussed how the term alien is still being used for some of them instead of being called immigrants.

“And not to mention when Americans go abroad, they’re not aliens, they’re expats,” said George White, a WCC student.