e Battalion
Aggielife
*1 camfranc
’oets meet to express themselves through spoken
BY AMANDA PAIM ^ i ^ .
loks
BY AMANDA PALM
The Battalion
'estled in the back of Barnes and Noble
Booksellers in College Station, between
stacks of psychology and science fiction
hides a group of aspiring poets and their
eider
phomoft!
)uadra*: :
'&77y
um
A6S (
Poetry Night began in June 1998 with more
30 people. Since then, the Thursday night po-
readings have drawn a crowd of regular
[onthly attendants.
Cale Harfoush, community relations director for
imes & Noble, said other Barnes and Noble stores
mighout the country host Poetry Night, but the
le in College Station is unique because there is
ire freedom for the poets to express themselves.
“None are the same as ours,” he said. “From
|hat I’ve seen, they are more regimented. They
st don’t do anything interesting. There’s noth-
5else like this. Sweet Eugene’s [Coffee House
College Station] has poetry readings periodi-
ly, but there really aren’t a lot of places in town
a literary bend.”
Harfoush said people are drawn to Poetry Night
:ause Barnes and Noble provides a relaxed at-
[osphere for literati in training.
I “We are completely laid back, and there is no
pssureon anyone to read,” he said. “People who
kite just get up in front of the audience and can
[ad as much or as little as they want.”
Eric Anthamatten, a senior political science
lajor, who has been writing poetry since high
:hooI and attends poetry readings at Barnes and
oble and readings at other locations.
Anthamatten said he participates in poetry read-
igs because he likes to perform.
“The spoken word has been neglected,” he
bid. “Performance is as important as reading.
( go because I can incorporate acting and
(ounds to go along with the poetry.”
Anthamatten said he enjoys seeing oth
ers’ reactions to his poetry.
“1 like to shock them, but I want to get
up there and turn them on to poetry,” he
said. “I like having people listen, even if
they don’t agree with me. I like to see their
reaction. Poetry can be so much more than
just words.”
The English Language and Literature
Society at Texas A&M has in past semes
ters hosted poetry readings. They have
held poetry readings on campus and at
Sweet Eugene’s. This fall, the group has
held one reading.
“You can take the small
est inspiration and turn
it into a poem."
— Cale Harfoush
community relations director
for Barnes and Noble
Amber Agan, vice president for the Eng
lish Language and Literature Society and a
junior English major, said the group decides
if poetry readings will appeal to the public.
“We usually don’t even talk to the people
at Sweet Eugene’s,” she said. “We just set
the date and time, and everyone shows up.
“But the group decides whether or not to
have them. We discussed having another
one, but they weren’t too excited about it, so
we didn’t schedule one for November.”
Agan said the group hosts poetry readings
to fulfill its mission statement.
“One of our functions is to host literary
events,” she said. “Everyone in the group is
interested in literature and poetry and the
group decides the types of things we do.”
Harfoush said he wants to make Poetry
Night more creative and imaginative for the
poets and the audience.
“We’ve had giveaways and games to make
things even more fun,” he said. “We had a
game where the poet had to choose a word
from the top of their head and then make up
a new poem using that word. If we get a new
poetry book in, I may hand out some copies.”
When possible. Poetry Night hosts guest
poets who read from their books and share ex
periences. Guests have included James Bran-
dendberg, author of The Pursuit of the Butter
fly and Jack Brannon, author of The Vigil.
Harfoush said he hopes to have Glen Allen,
author of Huckleberry Men, visit the bookstore
in December.
Harfoush said he Poetry Night is suc
cessful simply because people enjoy po
etry. He said many shoppers in the book
store stop and listen.
“People enjoy the rhyme and rhythm of po
etry,” he said. “It’s great. I feel that someone
is opening up a little more to poetry and to
reading and to literacy.”
Harfoush said the poets are drawn to Po
etry Night to gain experience reading.
“Writing poetry is such a solitary endeav
or,” he said. “I think the poets like to share
their work and see how people react.”
Poets find inspiration for their work from a
variety of places. Anthamatten said he can
turn anything into a poem.
“You can take the smallest inspiration and
turn it into a poem,” he said. “There’s this
homeless dude who wears a golden cape
and pulls a cart — it’s so poetic. Something
as simple as the moon or as large as a polit
ical or social issue can become a poem. Po
etry forces people to look deeper. ”
OW
adfc Show
Your Site for Digital Audio,
Free Audio Software and
Things to Stick