May Our Voices Ring True
Poetry is a lens that can be both microscopic and telescopic, representing the “. . . clear expression of mixed feelings,” as poet W.H. Auden suggests. Poetry creates space where we can discover ourselves, find our place, and revel in beauty and truth. But through poetry we can also find connection with one another. Poet Mahmoud Darwish said it like this: “Poetry and beauty are always making peace. When you read something beautiful you find coexistence; it breaks walls down.” This presentation will use poetry to help us find our voices, share our words, and discover what truly connects us. May our voices ring true and may our truth have the grace of beauty.
Huascar Medina is a poet, writer, performer, and Literary Editor for seveneightfive magazine who lives in Topeka. He is the current poet laureate of Kansas (2019 - 2021).