Poets Frank Bidart, Louise Glück and Robert Pinsky read their favorite poems to a packed auditorium of more than 150 people in the basement of the Stone Science Building. The trio of poets took turns at the microphone, reading from both familiar and lesser-known works.
The favorite poem reading was sponsored by AGNI, a literary journal published at Boston University. Last night’s reading served as a farewell to BU alumnus Askold Melnyczuk, who founded AGNI 30 years ago and named the journal after the Vedic god of fire and guardian of mankind. Melnyczuk will soon be stepping down as editor.
Bidart, a Wellesley College professor, began the night’s reading with “Bottom’s Dream” from Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” He read his favorite poetry with a stressful intensity, clawing his right hand in moments of tension to communicate the depth of the words.
Bidart said the reading was organized to enhance poetry’s image beyond stuffy classroom lectures.
“We want poetry to be associated with pleasure,” Bidart said.
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Louise Glück, a professor at Williams College, read in a surprisingly mechanical voice. Her lack of variety drew the audience’s attention to every subtlety of emphasis and shade of meaning. Glück’s monotone voice allowed the contrasting emotions in “Pad, Pad,” by British poet Stevie Smith, to take center stage.
BU professor Robert Pinsky completed the group of readers as he emphatically enunciated the words of his favorite poems. He introduced the reading as “an evening of poetry and friendship,” and midway through the reading he had good reason to appreciate camaraderie.
Pinsky’s deep voice wound through the lines of a Frank O’Hara poem, but suddenly the fluid rhythm jolted to an unnatural halt. The former U.S. Poet Laureate shuffled through his pages for a few moments, then concluded, “I may have to make up the second half!” However, an audience member was able to produce a copy of the poem, and a very grateful Pinsky finished his reading.
“Poetry is meant for at least imagining its sound, and this is an opportunity to do that,” Pinsky said at the reading’s conclusion.
The audience was appreciative of Bidart, Glück and Pinsky’s readings.
“It’s a wonderful change of perspective to hear great poets reading other people’s poetry,” remarked Kevin Holden, a Harvard University freshman who attended the event. “It was cool to hear Milton read in Glück’s voice.”
“I’ve never been to a poetry reading before, but this inspired me to come to another one,” said Metropolitan College student Bryan Hermannsson.
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