Atalissa Wells

As we turn to the month of April on our calendars, National Poetry Month officially begins. The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus is ready to kick off poetry month with Naomi Shihab Nye! Nye, an acclaimed poet and author with multiple publications, was also a Young People’s Poet Laureate from 2019-2022. She will be joining the Eau Claire community on Thursday, April 6th. The event, which begins at 7:30 pm in Schofield Auditorium, is open to students and community members. Tickets can be purchased at the UW-Eau Claire Ticket Office Home page.

Kate Hinnant, who works as a professor, librarian, and is the head of Instruction and Communication at UW-Eau Claire, has been organizing this Forum event in collaboration with the annual Frederick and Joan Christopherson Schmidt Robert Frost Celebration of American Poetry. After having the opportunity to speak with Hinnant, here’s important information for future attendees of The Forum poetry event.

Atalissa Wells: What can attendees expect from this Forum?

Kate Hinnant: Naomi Shihab Nye writes poetry that is both direct and often provocative, but with a wide range of subject. She uses the personal to open up questions about the clashes that occur between different cultures and people. As a long-time resident of San Antonio, Texas and a Palestinian American, she has a lot of experience to draw upon, and has written quite a bit about the Middle East and Muslim Americans. But her poetry can take a much more internal focus, such as with "Boy and Egg" which captures the singular focus of a child's attention.

AW: Why was Naomi Shihab Nye chosen as a Special Forum guest? What unique things will she bring to the series?

KH: One of the things we considered heavily was our audience. We wanted to bring a nationally acclaimed poet to campus, but we wanted someone who students would be interested in hearing: she is political, she is personal, and I think students will enjoy her writing. Nye has worked, almost ambassador-style, for poetry for many years. She has reached many different audiences. In addition to her 14 books of adult poetry, she has many for both children and young adults. She was the Poetry Foundation's Young People's Poet Laureate from 2019-2022.

AW: How will the Forum tie into the Robert Frost celebration occurring on the UW-Eau Claire campus?

KH: We wanted to invite an acclaimed poet for the 10th anniversary of the Robert Frost celebration, so we decided to mix up the format and collaborate with the forum to bring Naomi Shihab Nye here.

AW: What else should audiences be aware of before attending this event?

KH: Both the Eau Claire Public Library and McIntyre Library on campus have copies of Nye's books available. Readers can also sample a selection of her poems at the Poetry Foundation and at the Academy of American Poets site.

Get your tickets now for the April 6th event, highlighting Naomi Shihab Nye and the Robert Frost Celebration of American Poetry to uplift the art of poetry during National Poetry Month. The event begins at 7:30 pm in Schofield Auditorium on the UW-Eau Claire campus.