A hand holding up a stack of poetry books.
Photo by Roderick Sajor

Staying Home: The Way to San Jose

In honor of National Poetry Month please join us for our virtual Annual Legacy of Poetry festivities beginning on April 23 at 4 p.m. Live readings by Ellen Bass and other featured guests!

Watch the Virtual Reading

Portrait of Ellen Bass.

Interview With Ellen Bass

Legacy of Poetry interviews Ellen Bass about her exciting new book, Indigo.

#20SecondBestPoemSJSU

The theme of this year’s Legacy of Poetry Festival is “Staying Home: The Way to San Jose.” Due to the recent events of COVID-19, San Jose State University is closed for the Spring semester, but they will be moving this festival online. To stick to the theme, the poem contest relates to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommending washing your hands at least 20-30 seconds.

Legacy Poems

SJSU has a rich legacy of poetry dating back to the 19th century. Students, alums, faculty and poet friends of the campus built the legacy and help to continue it today. Below are our Legacy Poems, readings from SJSU Faculty and Staff. 

Keynote Readings

San Jose State University’s Poets and Writers Coalition hosted the annual Legacy of Poetry Day Reading and Celebration in honor of National Poetry Month as an online event on YouTube April 23, 2020. The year’s event focuses on the theme “Staying Home: The Way to San Jose.”