Since Valentine's Day 2019, the University of Antwerp is the first university in Flanders ot have its own campus poet. Zainab Noor el Hejazi, a PhD student and teaching assistant in the Faculty of Business and Economics, holds the title. She regularly wrote poems about life on and around campus under her pseudonym Noor Intisar.
“Poetry is more than spoken word. It's a compass that helps me navigate the world, wherever I am. Without poetry I'm lost. I believe that everyone can tap into their (latent) creativity, but people are also inclined to think that poetry has to be of a certain quality, to be meaningful. If I can pave the way and lower the threshold for others, to use express creativity in their lives, then I've achieved what I set out to do.”
In times of corona, poetry can sometimes provide a welcome break from reality, alleviating our concerns, or producing a fleeting smile that had long faded. So search for poetry online, in books and newspapers, listen to your family and friends, or why not write some yourself.
Read, watch, listen, discover and enjoy 'The Legacy' of UAntwerp's campus poet Noor Intisar.
This article was written for fromyourkot.be, an online platform that was created in times of corona at the request of the University of Antwerp.
Are you keeping busy and staying creative in quarantine? Let us know!