“A poem is a wish, a dream, a shared thought or feeling between people.”
–Liz Becker, Loanable Technology Supervisor
The DePaul University Library is participating in the 30th anniversary of National Poetry Month with a new book display! Any time this month, you can come by the second floor of the John T. Richardson Library to browse a curated selection of poetry books from our collection and read a spotlighted poem, refreshed daily from a list submitted by library staff.
Liz Becker, a library staff member in Access Services who put the display together, shares more about it below.
Q: Why did you want to put together a book display for National Poetry Month?
Poetry has always been my favorite type of writing! I feel like it has a reputation for being stuffy or boring, but the history of poetry and the range of modern poets extends well beyond the traditional canon of white authors we usually think of. Poetry can be playful, raw, funny, political, comforting, and everything in between.
I wanted to create a display that helps people rediscover (or discover for the first time) that–whether it’s through a new voice or a poem that puts words to something they didn’t know how to say themselves. I hope this display invites people to explore that range.
Q: How did you select which books to include?
I wanted a mix of poetry that felt approachable, meaningful, and a little unexpected. I tried to pull poets that are either contemporary, local to Chicago, BIPOC, or queer. Alongside that, I included some well-known voices that I think should always be uplifted (i.e. Gwendolyn Brooks, Audre Lorde, Langston Hughes). Ideally, there should be something for everyone, whether you already love poetry or are just curious about it.
Q: What books from the display would you recommend?
I’d definitely recommend collections like If They Come for Us, Black Swim, and Super Gay Poems, because they’re grounded in identity and belonging in ways that feel really honest and relatable.
I’d also include Super Sad Black Girl and Refuse to Disappear since they speak to mental health and what it means to take up space–which I think a lot of students can connect with.
And I’d be remiss to not mention some of the Chicago poetry collections–Wherever I’m At: An Anthology of Chicago Poetry is a great way to learn about the local literary community.
All items on the book display are available for check-out at the Access Services Desk on the first floor. Thanks again to Liz for assembling the display!