Michael Jackman, associate professor of English, took members of his creative writing class — along with other students — on a cultural trip to hear famed poet Yusef Komunyakaa.
The poetry reading took place on Sept. 23 inside the Krannert Room, located in Clowes Memorial Hall on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Admission was free to the public and on a first-come, first-serve basis.
“I thought it was a very important cultural event, and with it taking place right up the road at Butler, I thought it would be pretty accessible,” Jackman said. “So I contacted Campus Life, and they agreed with me and made it an official IUS student event. They even provided me with a charter bus and a driver.”
Komunyakaa is a world-renowned poet who has won several distinguished awards in literature, none bigger than his 1994 Pulitzer Prize for poetry.
Currently teaching creative writing at New York University, Komunyakaa was invited to Butler University as part of the Vivian S. Delbrook Visiting Writer’s Series.
“The American poet Yusef Komunyakaa fits IU Southeast’s mission of diversity and history with his Vietnam service and Civil Rights work,” Jackman said.
The proof of Komunyakaa’s influence was the size of the audience inside the Krannert Room. Capacity was exceeded and several students had to be turned away.
The audience consisted of both young and old. There were college students, professors and poetry lovers in attendance.
Komunyakaa read excerpts from a Muhammad-Ali-influenced poem titled “Charmed.”
Komunyakaa then read excerpts from his experience in the Vietnam War, something that took him 14 years to write.
Komunyakaa drew the audience into a dark world of terror, pain and agony with lines such as “As we lay silently on the ground, small animals took refuge against our bodies.”
Other lines referenced a fallen comrade of his.
“I pulled the crumpled photograph from his fingers.”
Another line said, “I turned him over so he wouldn’t be kissing the ground.”
Hearts sunk and teary eyes were spotted throughout the audience, but Komunyakaa wasn’t through with his tales of Vietnam, finishing that particular excerpt with “We played some deadly game for blind gods.”
The last poem Komunyakaa read was “Grenade,” which he dedicated to the sacrifices soldiers make.
Komunyakaa began the excerpt by setting the scene of a soldier making the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
Many stunned faces were spotted throughout the Krannert Room as Komunyakaa visually took them back to the
battlefield.
When Komunyakaa finished reading his poems, he left much on the minds of many in attendance.
Students in the audience could also ask Komunyakaa questions and receive answers following the reading.
When asked when he started writing poetry, Komunyakaa said he wrote his first set of poems during his years in high school.
Komunyakaa drew a few laughs from the audience in his response to the question of what he does when he gets stuck writing.
“I move on,” Komunyakaa said. “I do what I love. I read and write every day.”
This statement ended the night of reading for Komunyakaa.
“It was nice to hear his deep poetry in person,” Kellie Taylor, nursing senior at Marian University, said.
Taylor, who also got a program signed from Komunyakaa, said she was still in amazement as she left the Krannert Room.
Tabby Mehring, theatre junior, said she enjoyed the experience.
“He has a great voice and his presentation was amazing,” Mehring said.
Thomas Olges, English junior, said he agreed.
“It was a good presentation,” Olges said. “I never heard him speak before, so I didn’t know what to expect. He really moved me, especially his poetry on his Vietnam experiences. The opportunity to hear a fantastic poet read live is amazing.”
Students can look forward to more events like this in the future.
“When I see an opportunity to attend a cultural event, I try to make it happen,” Jackman said.
By GARRETT TAYLOR
Staff
gartaylo@ius.edu