American and international members of the Southeast Missouri State University community gathered in front of Kent Library on Wednesday to celebrate International Poetry Day by reciting and listening to cultural poetry.

Presenters read selections written by international poets in their original languages. They then gave an English translation of each poem.

The event was sponsored by International Education and Services at Southeast. There were 23 readers from 12 different countries, according to Suzanne McKinney, assistant director of International Programming at Southeast. McKinney said readers included graduate and undergraduate students, as well as Southeast faculty and staff members, community members and a former foreign exchange student.

McKinney said the program was organized as a way to celebrate International Poetry Month.

"It's important to realize there is beauty in poetry, regardless of the language," McKinney said.

Yixin Feng, a Southeast student from China, read an ancient Chinese poem called "The Reeds." She said the poem is about 2,500 years old and one of the earliest recorded love ballads from China. Feng read the poem first in English and then recited the original Chinese version.

"I like ancient Chinese culture, so I wanted to present it in public," Feng said of her reading.

McKinney said poems were recited in 12 different languages at the event, including Swahili, Russian, Chinese, Arabic and Hindi, giving participants the opportunity to showcase their language and cultural background.