A poet takes the stage. She is nervous, and her pages tremble in her hand as she reads. She pauses and admits her nerves are getting the best of her. The audience applauds in support.
"You can do it," yells someone from the crowd.
Spoken-word poets, both new and seasoned, performed Friday at "exhale," an open mic night held in Pugh Hall.
Featured poet Ishle Park also performed her poetry before a crowd of about 70 people at the event. She has toured with HBO's "Def Poetry" and performed at venues across the U.S.
Her poems focused on themes of heritage, love and war. One poem discussed the challenges of being in a relationship with a soldier.
"Yes, this is a love poem, tucked inside a war poem," Park said to the crowd. "For women left with love bites, roses, bruises, babies and longing stretched wider than any flag."
About 15 other poets performed, with works discussing identity, politics and family.
"It's my escape. It's my food. It's my air. I breathe poetry," said UF freshman Jazmine Davis.
At a poetry workshop held before the performance, Park advised about 20 aspiring poets to notice their diction, posture and eye contact when performing.
"When you make an eye connection, it's always like a soul connection," Park instructed. "When you're writing, don't think about being politically correct."
"Exhale" is part of a series of events sponsored by UF's Multicultural and Diversity Affairs to promote and celebrate diversity.
"We really do need events like this because it helps bring people together," said Jeff Leon, a UF English senior. "I didn't know what to expect, but this was just amazing."
At the end of the night, Park returned to her hotel before her 3 a.m. flight back to her home in Queens, N.Y. Park enjoys the unpredictability of making a living as a poet, she said.
"I enjoy the recklessness of it and never knowing what's going to happen," Park said. "Sometimes it's good, and sometimes it ends up hilarious."
It cost about $2,500 to bring Park to UF, said JR Miller, an emissary at the Institute of Black Culture.
The event was also sponsored by the Institute of Black Culture and the Institute of Hispanic-Latino Cultures.
