Critically Acclaimed Poet to Offer Reading at Lincoln University - April 17

(Jefferson City, MO) - A critically acclaimed poet will visit the Lincoln University campus as part of National Poetry Month.  Tyehimba Jess will offer a reading from his collection of poems on Friday, April 17, at 5:30 p.m. in Scruggs University Center.  Jess will read from “leadbelly,” which won the 2004 National Poetry Series, before being published in 2005.  The reading is free and open to the public.  

Prior to the reading, Lincoln University students will compete in a poetry slam, where they will be judged on their poetry, as well as the performance during the reading.  A maximum of eight students will be selected to participate for their chance at three cash prizes.   The Tyehimba Jess reading and poetry slam event is sponsored by the Lincoln University Student Government Association; the Office of Student Activities; the Department of English, Foreign Languages and Journalism; and the Campus Activity Board.  This is the final event this semester for the university’s Falling Rock Reading Series, which also brought poets Alicia Casey and Chris Hayes to campus, as well as fiction author Alex Taylor.