April is National Poetry Month, and the faculty of Monmouth College celebrated by hosting a poetry reading. The first poetry reading was initiated by chair of the history department Stacy Cordery and former Monmouth College English professor Jan Stirm in 1997. It took almost a decade to organize another gathering, but the event returned in 2006 to a packed house thanks to Cordery and Susan Holm, the Dorothy Donald professor of modern foreign languages.

This year’s faculty poetry reading was held on Thursday, April 10, at 4 p.m. in the Morgan Room of Poling Hall, and was free and open to the campus. Holm took the lead this year, and was assisted by Steve Price, director of communication across the curriculum, and Lee McGaan, chair of the communication and theater arts (CATA) department.

 Eighteen faculty members and one administrator, vice president of academic affairs and dean of the faculty Jane Jakoubek, all participated in “Voices and Verse: An Afternoon of Poetry.” Each person shared a favorite poem and lent their own personal stylings to the reading.  The poetry selections also covered a variety of genres and movements and featured several languages. 

Price read A.E. Housman’s “Terence, This is Stupid Stuff,” and said the experience was valuable in reminding him of what it’s like to be a student. Professor of history Amy de Farias read a poem in Portuguese by Fernando Pessoa. She chose Pessoa because he is relatively unknown to English-speaking audiences despite his reputation as a literary heavyweight in other parts of the world. This was the second year of participation for both Price and de Farias. 

Holm called the afternoon a “great liberal arts experience,” noting the variety of departments present, as well as the range of poetic choices read at the event. Holm would like to see the poetry reading become a biannual event. 

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