The power of the spoken word
JCC instructors start poetry series at Thunderbird
By Tyler Devereaux
Staff Writer
While the weather imposed snow and a harsh wind to anyone walking down Jackson's sidewalks, the Thunderbird Coffeehouse provided a warm place for people to check out the Fourth Tuesday Poetry Night on Jan. 24.
Jackson Community College instructors, including Kawita Kandpal, hosted the first of a monthly series of readings by teachers and students, as well as anybody else who wants to read their creative writing.
Reading any piece of creative writing - whether it is poetry, a short story or anything else of the sort - is a hobby that some people don't immediately discover they enjoy. This was evident by the students and locals who stepped up to the mic for the first time at the Thunderbird, reading material that they otherwise may have just kept to themselves.
Kandpal, a creative writing and composition teacher at JCC, was one of the featured writers. Kandpal, 34, said she hopes that word gets out about the Poetry Night and that others will be inspired to attend in the coming months. The next reading is scheduled Feb. 28.
"I would adore that, people getting more involved in poetry," she said. "It would be great to interest the craft of poetry to everyone and make it acceptable."
Kandpal encouraged some of her own students to attend the first event at the Thunderbird. One of the first-time readers, Pierre Holland, is taking her composition course.
"I've always wanted to read in front of a crowd," said Holland, 30. "It was my first time reading in front of people, so I was a little nervous. But once I was up there for a minute or two, I mellowed out and got more comfortable."
Kandpal said she hopes the Fourth Tuesday event sparks a curiosity among other people, not just JCC students.
"Art is essential," she said. "Hopefully we can seek out others who are interested. . This is a way of changing the world, one word at a time."