This year, Lloyd Schwartz, the Troy Professor of English at UMass-Boston, was chosen to perform that task. In addition to teaching, Schwartz also works at The Boston Phoenix as the Classical Music Editor and appears on NPR's Fresh Air to discuss music and the arts. He received the Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 1994.
In his discussion of the art of poetry, Schwartz shared an interesting insight into the writer's ability to place profound importance and meaning in the smallest of words, and even punctuation.
He stressed the need in poetry to find the right words, not necessarily the most impressive or beautiful ones. It is this ability to make simple words beautiful that Schwartz described as so amazing.
He referenced the famous line from Shakespeare's Hamlet "to be or not to be," which uses the two-letter word "be" to question the validity of all existence, not just Hamlet's own life. Schwartz's short speech set the tone for the poetry that was to follow, illuminating the thought that goes into every word choice and line break.
The main attraction of the evening began when the first student walked onto the stage and for a mere three minutes recited his poetry. Over the next hour, students chose to read either a single work or multiple shorter pieces. They discussed love, loss, and Kurt Vonnegut; they were achingly personal and also incredibly universal.
Marquita Niles, a junior at Pine Manor College, distinguished herself by performing her poetry in the style of spoken word, letting the meter and rhythm of her poem assume a musical quality. Priscilla A. Herrington, a senior at Salem State College, read a heartfelt criticism of war alongside a humorous poem about roaches in an old apartment. The students' work formed a broad spectrum of style and content that was continuously intriguing and engaging to the audience.
The intercollegiate aspect of the festival helps to cultivate the diversity of the readings, but Matson is careful to describe the students as "not really representatives of their schools. There are so many different types of poetry and aesthetic."
A single student is chosen by a faculty mentor from each university, which lends the event a certain amount of prestige. Sean Keck, A&S '07, read his poetry at the festival and said: "You get the sense that it happens once a year; it's well-advertised and well-sponsored. Each school is supposedly selecting the 'best' poet, so it draws more attention than other poetry readings."
Christine Staffon, A&S '10, enjoyed the poetry festival because it was an opportunity that would not be readily available at home or at other schools. "I'm really impressed by something I can't do that well," she said.
Dan Esposito, A&S '10, said the event was inspiring because it demonstrated the creativity and passion of college-age students.
The reinstated Greater Boston Intercollegiate Poetry Festival will continue to demonstrate the talent and accomplishment of student poets in the area for many years to come.
Spring Break
