Poet and Princeton University professor Tracy K. Smith shared the rich world of contemporary African-American poetry during her March 18 to 23rd visit to Cyprus

Poet and Princeton University professor Tracy K. Smith shared the rich world of contemporary African-American poetry during her March 18 to 23rd visit to Cyprus. Students at the European University of Cyprus and Eastern Mediterranean University learned about the works of renowned Black poets from the United States, such as Gwendolyn Brooks, Yusef Komunyakaa, Terrance Hayes and Elizabeth Alexander, President Barack Obama's inauguration poet. During her discussions, Ms. Smith explored themes of race, gender, and sexuality and demonstrated the power of poetry as a unifying force. She also read some poems from her collection Duende and represented the U.S. at an International Poetry Night held at the Arabahmet Cultural Center in Old Nicosia. Professor Smith capped off the visit by leading a writer’s workshop for students at the University of Cyprus, helping guide the voices of future poets with the help of some great American poems of the past.