Poetry with inspirations stemming from a boat full of cats in Amsterdam, a hanging tree, spices, a tornado child and the mascot of Beaver Creek High School were shared with a large audience on Thursday night.

Two authors with roots in other countries shared their poems with Grand Valley State University students, professors and many other members of the community.

Patricia Clark, GVSU’s writing department chair, has been coordinating Poetry Night as a part of the Fall Arts Celebration since its start in 2002.

“Our goal has always been excellence and diversity – so we choose well-known writers from across the United States and ones whose work reflects many different aspects of life,” Clark said. “Over time we hope to have a wide introduction to poetry, as though poetry is a kind of cuisine and we’re trying to introduce people to as many different flavors and tastes as possible.”

Aimee Nezhukumatathil was the first author to read at GVSU’s downtown campus on Thursday night. Nezhukumatathil is a younger writer who has published three books of poetry with more to come, Clark said. Nezhukumatathil grew up in Chicago, but has roots in India and the Philippines. She visited professor Amorak Huey’s class the morning before delivering her reading and said that GVSU has talented professors, enthusiastic and curious students and an amazing campus.

“In my wildest dreams I never thought I would be at this reading series,” Nezhukumatathil said. “This is known across the country as being one of the premier poetry events. I’m honored to be at a place where the written word is so valued and celebrated.”

Following Nezhukumatathil, Kwame Dawes kicked off his poetry reading by singing a Jamaican hymn. Dawes was born in Ghana, grew up in Jamaica and now lives and teaches in Nebraska. He has published 16 books of poetry as well as various other books. His poetry reading consisted of pieces inspired by racism and he ended with two poems inspired by his wife.

“(Dawes) makes work that is political and historically conscious, but spiritual, lyric and sensual all at the same time,” Clark said.

After the poetry readings, a reception and book signing was held in another room. Patricia Durell, an English student at GVSU, responded to Dawes’ work by saying she didn’t feel uncomfortable at all while listening to him read poems inspired by racism.

“I’ve read Kwame before and I really enjoyed his work,” Durell said. “I found him warm and enduring. I felt like he had the crowd at his fingertips.”

Durell said that this experience can help her in her future studies as an English student. Clark said that after this experience students can take away a new sound, a new taste of language and a new way of looking at the world.

“Each writer has the capacity to widen one’s appreciation of the world,” Clark said. “At the reception, students may ask the writers about how to get published, where to think about going to graduate school. Students often tell me (after the event) that they had no idea poetry was so enjoyable, so accessible. It helps to have the authors here to tell us a few private things about their work.”

More information about upcoming events in the Fall Arts Celebration can be found at www.gvsu.edu/fallarts.