Poetry Event at SFSU Fosters Connection, Vulnerability, and Resistance
SAN FRANCISCO – A recent poetry reading hosted by the San Francisco State University Spanish Department provided a space for connection, vulnerability, and artistic expression, drawing praise from attendees and organizers alike. The event featured poet Marisol Perpinyà and showcased the work of students, highlighting the power of poetry to transcend language barriers and foster community.
Professor Ana luengo, who organized the event, emphasized its importance as a form of “resistance” in challenging times, stating, “With everything that’s going on, it’s a moment for the community to show itself…it’s vital in order to get through this situation.”
Attendees expressed appreciation for the opportunity to engage with Perpinyà’s work. department chair David Hammer, who was unfamiliar with Perpinyà’s poetry prior to the event, purchased her book after being “phenomenal[ly]” impressed.He noted the event’s value as part of the overall university experience, stating, “It’s part of the university experience to attend these kinds of events and open new windows to the world.”
The event also served as a platform for students to share personal experiences through their poetry. Cristina Sobolev, a master’s student in Spanish, performed her poem “La dama blanca,” which addressed harmful stereotypes about her native Colombia.”I want to show them that we aren’t what they think,” Sobolev explained.
Benito Beltrán, an SFSU student pursuing a master’s degree in Spanish after earning his bachelor’s at the university, described poetry as an art form “that does not have an age or barriers.”
Perpinyà herself highlighted the importance of in-person connection, observing a current “tendency of isolation” and praising the “rich” exchange happening at the event. “It’s what fulfills us, really, talking to one another, looking into each other’s eyes, seeing ourselves,” she said.
The event underscored the power of poetry to create a safe space for vulnerability and to strengthen community bonds.
