The Ohio State University Urban Arts Space and Rare Books and Manuscripts Library will host Poets Against War, a two day poetry reading beginning Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m., featuring both local and nationally-known poets.

The event is a commemoration of the university’s acquisition of the library of Sam Hamill, award-winning poet and founder of PAW.

PAW was created in 2003 after Hamill and other poets declined an invitation to take part in an American poetry symposium hosted by First Lady Laura Bush.

In five years, the group has grown to include 12,000 members who have helped create the largest single-theme poetry anthology in literary history, boasting over 20,000 poems, Hamill said.

John M. Bennett, professor and associate curator of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, as well as one of the poets reading during this event, said PAW is a great example of the long-standing tradition of poets engaging in political and ethical matters.

“Poets Against War has been a far-reaching activity involving poets from many countries, writing in many languages,” Bennett said. “PAW has had the effect of encouraging poets to be politically active in other more direct ways.”

Bennett said his personal position on warfare was what swayed him to present some of his own work.

“I am also opposed to war as a way to resolve problems, unless there seems to be no other course of action,” Bennett said. “In the current situation, there were plenty of other courses of action, and by reading at this event, I wish to affirm that.”

Hamill, a self-described political pacifist and roaming poetry ambassador, denies his poetry is propaganda for ending the Iraq War.

“Poets have always addressed the social concerns of their times,” Hamill said in an e-mail. “We write out of common experience, shared concern.”

Hamill, who served in the United States Marines for four years, said PAW serves to unify poets’ voices not only against the war in Iraq, but worldwide conflicts as well.

“We have also carried news from Darfur, the Palestinian plight and published poets’ position papers on things like secret prisons and torture,” Hamill said.

Geoff Smith, professor and head of the Rare Books and Manuscripts library, said PAW is an important organization.

“Poets Against War doesn’t mean you’re against your country. Waging war isn’t always patriotic,” Smith said. “Sometimes stopping war is more patriotic. I don’t think there’s any indication they’re against the soldiers … perhaps they’re trying to save lives.”

Smith said the PAW event is also an opportunity to see literary icons.

“[Students] have an opportunity to see three award-winning poets that have had a great influence on two generations of writers,” Smith said.

In addition to Hamill, Thursday’s reading will include Breyten Breytenback and Eleanor Kilner, both internationally renowned poets.

Hamill said Breytenback and Kilner’s presence should encourage students to come to the event.

“Breyten Breytenbach spent years in a South African prison for the courage of his convictions to stand against apartheid,” Hamill said. “His poetry and prose is admired around the world, as is his leadership in human rights causes. Eleanor Kilner is one of this country’s finest poets and a literary essayist in the great tradition of humane arts.”

Poets Against War will take place at the OSU Urban Arts Space, located at 50 W. Town St., on Oct. 29 and 30. Wednesday’s readings will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and include 20 local poets including Jennifer Bosveld, Connie Everett, Steve Abbott and Zaineb Alani. Thursday’s event will be 3 to 5 p.m.

PAW at the OSU Arts Space is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the OSU Urban Arts Space Web site at www.arts.osu.edu.

Amanda Forbes can be reached at [email protected].