Courtesy of @thepoetryclubusfsp on Instagram
By Lily Cannon
The Poetry Club turned over a new leaf for its fourth year at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus with the election of new e-board members.
The administration welcomes Adriana Lopez as president, Serena Lozandi as social media director and Nathanjah Carty as treasurer, after their predecessors graduated last year.
The board is already in talks about new events and social outings into St. Petersburg museums, setting the tone for a fresh crowd of students.
Since its creation, the club has offered a stress-free environment for even the most inexperienced writers, and the effect of the creative low-key atmosphere comes out in both their weekly workshops and seasonal open-mics.
According to Lopez, the goal is to always “have a safe space for people to share,” and likewise, students come with a mash-up of their favorite poetry books, notebooks or simply a few sheets of paper to jot their ideas down on.
As students approach finals, the added element of meditative freedom is more important than ever. It just so happens that some beautiful verses come out of these activities as well.
Both Lopez and Lozandi initially joined the Poetry Club to better incorporate creative writing into their schedules as biology majors.
Burned out from high school creative writing, Lozandi said that the consistent workshops brought her “back into the habit” of writing without deadlines hanging over her head. The endless possibilities of the art form also enabled Lozandi to explore her heritage as a first-generation American and her mother’s experiences in the Philippines.
Similarly, Lopez explores both English and Spanish verse in her work, all while incorporating a whimsical side of the genre through metaphor and imagery. Her work draws influence from the surrealism of her dreams, and she frequently uses an on-campus place by the bay, which she refers to as her “philosophical spot,” to write.
“I let my mind take me where it takes me,” Lopez said.
During the fourth year of the Poetry Club, Lopez and Lozandi are looking to pay the benefits of the art form forward via new events centered in St. Petersburg. Both cite downtown as the creative heart for local writers, especially with the proximity of Studio@620, Black Crow Coffee, the Dali Museum and the spontaneous open-mics held around town.
There are also plans for members to submit their work to the St. Petersburg-based poetry zine, Neptune.
Students who are unsure about joining the club should rest assured that there is no pressure to share with other members. The open-mics function as a social hour with some creative flair, and students even bring their guitars to perform songs.
Lozendi urges those who are considering joining that they “don’t have to know how to write to start writing.” There are so many different faculties and mediums that fit within poetry, that members can take their time finding one that fits for them.
For any new initiates, the Poetry Club holds Monday meetings from 3 to 4 p.m. in the University Student Center Ocean Room.
