Poetry reading engages audience
Renowned poet performs variety of pieces for large audience
Emily Steele / Staff Reporter
Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: News
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As she stepped up to the stage after a brief introduction, the murmurs silenced, phones were turned off and the suspense built.
"This is the Writing Dance," Waldman said, and with that, the poetry session commenced.
Around 80 people attended Waldman's poetry reading Wednesday in the Doudna Fine Arts Center Lecture Hall.
The live performance of an experienced and passionate writer is entirely different than reading their poetry. Waldman's vibrant physicality and her use of song-like vocals and jolting rhythm expressed a style similar to beat poetry.
"You get to see the person talk about her work, there's something about the human voice and what a difference that makes," said John Martone.
Martone, who teaches a creative writing poetry class in the English department, along with members of the women's studies department, helped bring Waldman to campus.
Over the course of the hour the audience was invited to share her experiences and were drawn into a variety of topics.
Waldman performed 10 pieces with themes on the duality of marriage, the ghettos in Venice and society's environmental impact with a poem titled "Manatee Humanity."
Waldman also used a musical arrangement created by her son to accompany two of the poems, further engaging those in attendance.
She ended with "Verses for a New Amazing Grace," which drew resounding applause and a standing ovation from the audience.
"She's a national treasure, that's the best way of describing her," Martone said, while introducing her.
Waldman is the author of more than 40 poetry books including "Fast Speaking Woman."
She is a distinguished professor of poetics at Naropa University in Boulder, Colo., where she is director and co-founder of the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics.
"This is probably one of the better ones I've seen," said Stephani Pescitelli, a junior environmental biology major.
Pescitelli and Carly Guerriero, a senior women's studies major, attended the event together and said despite the generational gap, Waldman's poetry was a criticism of mainstream culture, which included universal topics that college students could relate to.
"As a poet, she's able to pick apart those things and judge them," Guerriero said.
Gina Lendi, a senior English major and president of the English club, did not attend the reading but said it attracts a lot of attention when someone like Waldman comes to campus.
"I think it provides something different to go to," she said. "It's a way to help make well-rounded students."
Pescitelli said the opening of Doudna has given more artists the opportunity to come to campus, helping to create a diverse environment.
"We have the facilities. We should definitely bring in more artists," she said.
The next poetry reading will be by Luisa Igloria on April 6 and 7, as part of the New and Emerging Artists Series in Doudna.
Emily Steele can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENnewsdesk@gmail.com.
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tomfeinberg
Thesis
posted 4/02/09 @ 11:57 AM CST
"She's a national treasure, that's the best way of describing her," great words, thanks for the article.
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