Free Expression Poetry Club offers more than just meter

Whether you want to vent about the semester or recite a pining love dedicated to your valentine, the Free Expression Poetry Club wants to hear what you have to say – as long as it is expressed through some poetic form.

Alex Davidson, senior and club president, explained the goals of the club are far from limited to what most consider traditional poetry.

"It's our goal to be open to all forms of self-expression." This includes monologues, comedy, hip-hop, interpretive dance, musical performance – well, pretty much anything.

The community is very important to the club; the form of expression one chooses is secondary compared to the goal of simply involving the community.

"One of the aims of our club is to foster community involvement through the events on campus," clarified Davidson. "We encourage our own members to go out into the community, and we invite the poetry community onto our campus."

The club has gone through several stages of development. It has been both extremely popular in the past, and has lost appeal. "But over the last year [it] has really exploded," said Davidson.

Students of all backgrounds are welcome. Davidson explained, "The club includes only one English major," so don't feel limited by your background or previous experience.

"We try to have something going every week; there is an event at least three of the four Saturdays in the month as well as every Wednesday."

The club organizes events all around town, including an event called Word Wednesday that is hosted by the V Bar downtown and Hear Here, which is the second and third Saturday of every month at Lofty's, a local coffee shop.

The club also uses money allocated by the OSA in order to bring in guests from around the country.

"We've had Ken Arkind, who is a national slam poetry champion, come, as well as a slam poet named Alejandro," which, said Davidson, are some pretty exciting names.

The club meets every Wednesday in MOSAIC, which Davidson described as "an inviting space." Meetings offer a poetry workshop as well as an outlet for unhindered expression.

The club has also organized an open mic and poetry slam event at Clyde's that will take place on Feb. 17 at 6 p.m.

This will be a competition utilizing a point system, which allows poets to track their achievements and win certain prizes, but not all participants have to compete. Again, the focus is community relationships and free expression.

If you're interested in other poetry events around town, be sure to check out the Facebook page Poetry 719, which posts all upcoming gatherings in the Colorado Springs area.