In celebration of National Poetry Month in April, the Edsel Ford Memorial Library staff has created the school’s first poetry walk. The event features a collection of nature-themed poems by students and professional writers displayed around campus.
The librarians have been working hard to coordinate this event with the community. Ms. Kelly Whelan, instructional services coordinator & outreach librarian, said, “Spring is in the air, everyone is starting to feel more excited about being outside. We’re all cognisant of challenges to the environment right now.”
After seeing a poetry walk at College of the Holy Cross, Ms. Kim Gnerre, assistant director of the Library, wanted to create a similar project at the school. She said, “It is a great way to combine the ideas of elevating poetry during the month of April and getting out and walking around campus.”
The poetry walk also supports the Prep Humanities fourth marking period unit, which explores human beings relationships with the natural world.
The poetry walk includes 18 poems, nine of which are written by students. Sydney Berger ’25, wrote “Tadpoles,” which is displayed between Van Santvoord and Tinker Halls.
“Tadpoles” explores Berger’s childhood love of nature – specifically her fondness for the tadpoles in a pond by her grandmother’s home. In the poem, she writes, “She tenderly cupped her hands around the school of / tadpoles, / And brought the creatures beneath her admiring gaze away / from the spring sun.”
Berger said, “It really reflected my childhood because I would sit there for hours just looking at the tadpoles. It made me look forward to spring.”
The natural world has long been a favorite subject of poets across the world. Berger said, “It’s easy to write about poetry with nature because nature can be interpreted in many different ways and the experience in nature is different for everyone.”
Ms. Susan Kinsolving, poet in residence and instructor in English, said, “Just go outside. Sit by the lake. Talk to a tree. Put your nose in a daffodil. Listen to a bird. Taste a breeze.”
Throughout the month of April, the library will host celebratory events, including a poetry bracket and crafts.
On April 6, for the “Hide-ku Challenge,” librarians hid 17 haikus in throughout the library. Students who found haikus and brought them to the services desk received small prizes.
Librarians encourage students to participate in activities and hopes that they will enjoy exploring poetry, which Ms. Gnerre said is, “at its core, about beautiful language.”
