News Staff Reporter
Although there was no official master of ceremonies, this year’s head editors of the Lit, Zach Sheldon ‘07, and Liz Larkin ‘07, welcomed all to enjoy the poetry, music, food, and cider. Music came first. Sheldon played a blues tune on the harmonica, and later improvised along to Ben Firke ‘08’s impromptu guitar playing. Before playing on his own, Firke ‘08 prepared the audience for the worst by saying “Ladies and gentlemen, I have suffered for my music, and now it is your turn.” However, one of his songs “I Hope You Got Fat” by the Violent Femmes, turned out to be one of the evening’s many highlights.
The poems themselves proved diverse from their recitations to their content. The titles ranged from “Life” to “Hangover” to “Trees Eat Sunshine” and the readers included students, faculty members, and even one faculty child, Emma Cook . Prepared with an anthology of poems, Emma said “I wrote them when I was in third grade. Now I’m in fifth grade, but I still think they are really good. “ Indeed, the simplicity of the barely double-digited child’s poetry trumped many “deep” poems. However, most student representatives lived up to their honors English titles and produced some wild poetry. Margo Herre ‘07 read a poem that she wrote using art-themed fridge magnets. Michael Lee-Murphy ‘07 read a poem about driving up 1-91 from New Haven to New Hampshire, and the result proved cathartic for many. It was a good decision to stop after five minutes, because Lee-Murphy’s poem had only reached Hartford.
As for the faculty, Mr. Warren, Mr. Cook, and Mr. Easton (provocatively clad in his usual socks and Birkentstocks) graced the meeting with their presences. Soft-spoken and sweet, Mr. Warren’s poetry resembled the humble man himself. Perhaps the most interesting poem of the evening was “The Before People,” read by Mr. Cook. The poem revealed the disastrous effects of the media with haunting lines such as “a fat woman thinks about melting her body away in seven days.” The audience hung on every word of the faculty’s recitations.
A jug of apple cider later, the evening took an even more casual spin. Marian Firke ‘09, Rachel Cohen ‘07, and Allison Raskin ‘07 successfully amused the audience by performing a stunning rendition of Pink’s “Hazard to Myself.” Afterwards, students began reciting memorized poems. Cait Colachio ‘08 recited the classic “Snowball.” Alex Wiske ‘07 proved equally versed in Shel Silverstein when he responded with “We gave you the chance to water the plants. We didn’t mean THAT way--now zip up your pants!”
At the Lit poetry reading, it’s cool to write your own stuff and it’s accepted to be moved by your peers’ poetry. Somehow, the combination of music, blankets, poetry, and candles feels more satisfying than the two hours of sleep that the attendees will have to sacrifice tonight.
