Newspapers / North Carolina Wesleyan University … / Feb. 12, 1988, edition 1 / Page 3
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Poetry readings offer different perspective FEBRUARY 12.1988 — THE DECREE — PAGE 3 By LINDA KLINE Sometimes it seems that few people would choose to attend a po etry reading. Poetry is difficult to understand when read as well as when printed on a page. However, one at least has the advantage of reading or re-reading the poem or poems and ultimately coming to a somewhat sensible read ing. A poetry reading, on the other hand, requires even more concentra tion. Unless one is familiar with the work that will be read during the presentation, it is necessary to ex trapolate a meaning from the words as they are being spoken. One is no longer afforded the luxury of return ing to the printed word for a verifica tion of what has been spoken. Nonetheless, a new perspective of the poetry is gained when it is read aloud. The printed words come alive through the poet’s voice. Through his or her tone and inflection it is pos sible to visualize more vividly what has been written. The disadvantage of not being able to study the poem in more depth still exists, but to hear a poem renders it a quality not readily apparent when it is read silently to oneself. It gives the listener a chance to enjoy poetry in a way not often experienced. Derek Walcott recently visited the campus to read his poetry. It is not Review often that a poet and playwright of Walcott’s stature visits North Caro lina Wesleyan. His reading to a standing room only crowd was chal lenging. Listening to some of his poems required one’s complete attention to his every word. It was often easier to listen to the poems that contained more concrete images than to those containing many allusions and meta phors. Yet, this disadvantage was minimized by the richness of the words being spoken. The influence of his homeland was evident in the poems that Wal cott read. By using his region’s his tory and culture he writes not only for his p>eople but for the outside world as well. His poems enable us to take a look at our society through the eyes of one from a region close to ours geographically, but very different culturally. Bom in St. Lucia in the Carib bean, Walcott possesses a mixed French Creole and English dialect. His dialect and flawless diction are a pleasure to listen to. Also, his poems reflect Walcott’s love of language and the countless ways in which words can be used to convey a mes sage. It is the ability to look at society from a different perspective that makes a literary event such as Walcott’s reading enriching and re warding. Indeed, the notion of a new and different “look” is one of the most valuable aspects of the poetry reading series at North Carolina Wesleyan College. The readings at NCWC also give the audience some sense of each poet’s perspective in his work. For instance, during the spring of 1987 American poets Robert Creeley, Ed Dom, and lonathan Williams each visited the campus to reflect upon how their work was influenced by the reknown Modernist poet William Carlos Williams, as well as read from their works. Through the visits of these highly respected artists the individuals and the community of North Carolina Wesleyan and Rocky Mount are eruiched culturally. Poetry readings may be viewed by some as only for egghead academ ics wearing tweed jackets. But the fact is that a reading can be enjoyed by everyone. An event that occurs rarely in this community, each read ing allows us to experience the beauty of poetry as it is read. A po etry reading will not only reveal how others view life, but affect how you view life as well. WhaVs New At.. DOC'S RESTAURANT N.C. Wesleyan College Campus Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday: 9-10 a.m. Coffee Only 11:30 a.m.-l :30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday: 8:30-11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 9 p.m.-l2:30 a.m. (Pizza and Soft Drinks Only) Restaurant (by the slice) and dorm delivery, Call 977-3388 Luncheon Specials at $2 February Monday — Tuna pita, fresh vegetables w/salad dressing, diet cottage cheese Tuesday Homemade soup, tossed salad, mini ham or cheese sandwich Wednesday Stuffed baked potato, fresh broccoli, cheese and bacon Thursday — Marinated breast of chicken, wild rice, vegetable garnish Movies on WeAiesday 9:30-11:30 p.m. on the Big Screen Tom Cruise and Kelly McGinnis fight Ruskies and each other next in Top Gun X GUEST SPEAKER — NCWC Librarian Anne Wilgus (left) chats with Dr. Maud Chaplin, professor of philosophy at Wellesley College follow ing Dr. Chaplin's afternoon talk on "The Impact of the Computer on Privacy" on Feb. 9. Dr. Chaplin, this spring's visiting scholar, also addressed the issue of "Technology and Gender" in a morning lecture. Chaplin last visited Wesleyan in the fall of 1986. Photograph by Becket Logan I JVLLJVN &UR&A.NXJS ON THE OCCASION OF THE PUBLICATION OF &001> HELP FROM NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN COLLEGE PRESS WILL READ FROM HIS WORK ON FRIDAYJEVENING FS.BRUAJR.1’ 19,19S8 AT EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE COLLEGE LIBRARY Mr Gurganus will appear with copies of Good Help on Saturday, February 20th at: J. J. HARPER'S BOOKS 142 SW Main Street in downtown Rocky Mount from 10 am until noon WALDENBOOKS Golden East Crossing Shopping Center from 12:30 to 2:30 pm BOOKE SHOPPE Englewood Square Shopping Center from 3:00 to 4:00 pm
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Feb. 12, 1988, edition 1
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