December 9, 2005

Eight students in an English class called Poetry came up with the idea to create Sidewalk Poetry. From noon until 10:00 p.m. students, faculty and staff were given the opportunity to write poems on the sidewalk using chalk near La Sierra Hall. A total of about 75 poems were shared.

“Students will collect, write, and encourage others to write poetry (classic or original) in chalk along the walkway,” according to Anne Marie Hamlin, La Sierra University assistant professor of English and teacher of the Poetry class. Hamlin was inspired with the idea to share poetry when she heard that during National Poetry month in April people stand at bus stops and subways reading poetry. “The assignment is to create something that brings poetry and the campus community together. The students plan the entire event.”

“It is pretty with all of the different styles and quotations,” says Ana Martinez, La Sierra University junior Liberal Studies major who took the time to share her thoughts on the sidewalk in chalk. “Poetry is what people feel. It is nice to see what people feel and it’s just a place to put your words, even though it is washed off after a day.”

“We wanted to bring poetry to the students and staff at La Sierra,” says Lena Abella, one of the La Sierra University English graduate students taking the course. “Poetry is something abstract. It has been a really good experience to see the students get so excited about it. It is something that I really enjoy.”