I Am Smitten by Her Smile

Abstract

In this personal call-and-response piece, inspired by a poem made through a dialogue with a poet at the Pop-Up Poetry session at the symposium in Banff, I explore the transformative power of Pop-Up Poetry and new encounters made. By taking the reader through the poem, I illuminate how human qualities are essential for personal growth and “Bildung.” The Pop-Up Poetry broke the confines of academic discourse, fostering vulnerability and introspection. Integrating personal poetry into conferences might empower individuals to transcend the academic race. Through this journey of self-discovery, I found that Pop-Up Poetry and new friendships are one possible key to unlocking new paths of personal and professional enlightenment, nurturing our humanity, and fostering collective growth in the academic world.