UNM student Lorenzo Jon Ireland says that his surroundings, Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes and rapper KRS-One inspire him to write poetry
Ireland, a sophomore majoring in computer science, gave his first public reading in Mesa Vista Hall Friday during a poetry and art show sponsored by African American Student Services.
The two-hour session gave community members a chance to share personal works and read favorite poems that have touched their lives.
Ireland said he has only been writing poetry for only about three months.
"I kind of let them into my thoughts and how I view the world," he said of his first public reading. "I think it is kind of selfish and maybe a little unproductive if I don't share and keep everything to myself."
One of Ireland's poems, "What It Is," was written and inspired by circumstances that affect minorities and what Ireland said he sees when he turns on the television. Ireland read four poems that were warmly received by the audience.
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Pia Jeffries, a freshman majoring in international business and political science, read her original works for the crowd. Jeffries said she writes about one poem per day. Some of her work was about her mother and being a minority woman.
Many who attended the poetry readings did not read. Brianna Ragin, a senior majoring in secondary education with an endorsement in Spanish, said she went to the show with some friends just to listen. Ragin said she enjoyed hearing others' work.
"I think it is very neat - it definitely comes from the heart," she said. "Some poetry you can identify with yourself."
The reading was part of UNM's Black History Month celebration that began with a flag raising ceremony on Feb. 1 and is scheduled to last through Feb. 27, when the dean of students will sponsor a closing reception. The next event is a film presentation titled "The Way Home" at 5:30 p.m. in the African-American Student Services Center in Mesa Vista Hall.
