Students' reasons for choosing the poems they read at Tuesday's International Poetry Recital were diverse as the languages themselves.
More than 60 students and 17 languages were part of the fourth annual International Poetry Recital at Minnesota State University Tuesday.
The event, in which students read poems from other countries and in other languages, was part of Diversity-International Education Week at the University.
Shirley Nieto, a graduate student in Spanish and Computer Science, read several poems at the event, including "Posso scrivere i versi più tristi stanotte," by Pablo Neruda in Italian.
"I wanted to recite a poem in Italian because I am studying Italian and it was a great fit," she said. "I think it's a great recital and we have more people attending this year than in the past," she said.
"Oda al Tomate," by Nerudo was recited in Spanish by Jocelyn Ackerman. "I grow tomatoes," she said. "I can understand the glory of tomatoes."
Boiarschi Roman read the work "Russian Poetry" by Ahha Axmatoba. Roman said he chose the poem because it describes a poet's creative process.
Minnesota State University, Mankato professors Enrique Torner, Department of Modern Language and Dr. Claudia Tomany, Department of Scandinavian Studies, organized the event, the roots of which formed in Torner's literature classes. Tomany has been hosting the poetry recitals for the past two years, and enjoys the idea of poetry as a universal language.
"Listening to over 15 languages by many students is thrilling," she said.
The recital was sponsored by the Department of Modern Languages, Memorial Library, International Student Office, and the Office of Institutional Diversity.
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