April is recognized as National Poetry Month, a time dedicated to celebrating poetry and its impact on culture, communication and communities. At Cornell, this month is marked by a wide range of events focused on poetry and creative writing, all with the shared goal of sparking creativity. This article will highlight the campus groups and activities that contribute to the growth of poetry and support student expression throughout the month.
Marginalia: The Cornell Undergraduate Poetry Review, founded in 2015, is an undergraduate run poetry magazine and society. Created to foster a poetic community among students from all majors and colleges at Cornell, Marginalia publishes student poetry and hosts workshops and open mic nights to cultivate a collaborative and intimate environment. No experience in poetry required, just interest and enthusiasm. Submission windows for the magazine are typically open to all Cornell undergraduates, not just club members. Marginalia publishes a print and digital magazine once per semester and has become a cornerstone of Cornell’s undergraduate poetry scene, providing a platform for emerging student voices.
The Black Cats, founded in the spring of 2025, is an expressive artwork literary magazine and poetry organization created by a team of artists of color. It was established to foster a poetic community that celebrates all the forms poetry may take, whether sonic, rhythmic, spoken or written. The Black Cats publishes student work annually in its literary magazine and hosts monthly showcases to cultivate a warm community where everyone is welcome to speak and encouraged to share their lived experiences and creative visions in whatever form they choose. Its presence marks a novel blend of different art forms and media that is likely to inspire many.
Mango Poetry, founded in 2023, is a South Asian poetry collective for undergraduate students across the diaspora. Founded to provide a dedicated space for AAPI students to develop their writing and to increase visibility and participation of Asian diaspora students in the literary and arts communities, Mango Poetry organizes various events including writing sessions and cultural events to highlight diverse experiences. Mango Poetry has quickly established itself as a meaningful space for AAPI students to explore poetry and cultural identity. Its events have contributed to the broader conversation about representation and expression within the Cornell community.
The Quill Guild, founded in 2015, is a creative writing organization. Founded to create a collaborative and supportive environment for writers at Cornell, the club focuses more on the practice and appreciation of writing rather than publication (although a few publications can be found in their Instagram bio.) The Quill Guild hosts weekly meetings, typically on Wednesdays, featuring write-ins, workshops and critique sessions. The Quill Guild has also hosted guest speakers, including authors and literary agents. Since its inception, the Quill Guild has provided a valuable space for aspiring writers at Cornell to develop their craft and connect with peers. Their presence on campus is important for focusing on the joy and journey of creation rather than the destination of publication.
The month of poetry also provides space for numerous events, to either sharpen your poetic pen or simply watch in awe as the campus’s thriving and talented creative community takes the stage.
The Black Cats are hosting their first showcase, “Pen to Pulse,” on Apr. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Alternatives Library, an event dedicated to bringing words and sound to life and building community through creative expression. The evening will feature Cornell musical artists, poets, spoken word performers and more, expressing their creativity among their peers.
The event “Gardeners’ Labyrinths: On Plants, Poetry, and the Printed Book” is scheduled for Thursday, May 1, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the Brian C. Nevin Welcome Center. This lecture is part of the William and Jane Torrence Harder Lecture Series and is hosted by the Cornell Botanic Gardens in collaboration with the Department of Literatures in English. The lecture will be delivered by Jessica Rosenberg, an Associate Professor with particular interests in the intersections of literature, science and material culture. Her talk will explore why printers and poets saw an affinity between their work and the plant world, examining the cultural and literary significance of this relationship in sixteenth-century England.
The event “The Spring 2025 Ammons Reading” is part of the Ammons Reading Series, which honors the legacy of the late A.R. Ammons, the Goldwin Smith Professor of Poetry at Cornell University. It showcases the work of Cornell's undergraduate creative writing community, featuring readings of poetry and flash fiction. It is scheduled for Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 5:00 PM, at Groos Family Atrium in Klarman Hall.
Before poetry month comes to a close, it is important to celebrate the spaces that value the differences in our experiences, and the value of our emotion and voice, which is what poetry is all about.
Daniel Addoquaye is a freshman in the Brooks School of Public Policy. He can be reached at da533@cornell.edu.
