A Tribute to Poetry Month: Soul Fire

By Barbara Olivis

Kelly Drew

            The National Month of poetry is upon us! National Poetry Month has been around since 1996, and is designed to give people time to appreciate the art form. Soul Fire is a group that makes time to appreciate the art of poetry every Wednesday at 5 p.m., so there isn’t a better way to kick of National Poetry week than to show them the same level of appreciation that they show to poetry.

            Soul Fire is a group that is very accepting of new members. This past week, there were at least five newcomers and they were all readily embraced and encouraged to be proud of the work that they create. The people that were in the group for longer periods of time greeted and encouraged the newbies to be more confident and share their words with the world, including the group’s faculty adviser Dr. Michelle Pinkard.

            “ I love when someone stands up and you can tell that their piece is coming from their heart,"Soul Fire member Kelly Drew says. "It makes me feel like the world is much bigger than I am.” It is interesting to find that Kelly Drew is a Dental Hygiene Major, because it seems to be a testament of how the love of poetry can bring people together within the group. 

    

        Soul Fire Cordarius Ellis explains, “It’s like the walls from everyday life tear down and I can just be myself. Poetry is just like an escape from the world.” Drew and Ellis have both been members of Soul fires for several years and strongly feel as though Soul Fire is a group that has a strong impact on their lives.

            Soul Fire meets at 5 p.m., every Wednesday, in Humanities 103.  Learn more about the group by visiting them on Facebook: Soul Fire Facebook.