Started in 1996, National Poetry Month celebrates poetry's vital place in our culture. At Calvin, we have a great many poets among our student body and faculty. Here are just a few of our resident poets:

• Lew Klatt, English professor and poet laureate of Grand Rapids, 2014-2017, writes poetry.
• Debra Rienstra, English professor and department co-chair, writes poetry and books on the use of language in religion. 
• Otto Selles, French professor, writes poetry. 
• Henrietta Ten Harmsel, English professor from 1957-1985, translated Dutch poetry. 
• Jane Zwart, associate English professor, writes poetry, published here, and here.

If you want to know more, here are 30 ways to celebrate National Poetry Month.

(Written by student worker, Lauren Cole. Photo is of Lew Klatt at an English Department Writers Retreat).