Living & Arts

Poetry reading runs the gamut at Kitao

In print | March 5, 2009

Members of Small Craft Warnings, Swarthmore’s oldest literary magazine, and other student poets shared their works through the spoken word to a small, but responsive audience on Fri., Feb. 27 at the Kitao Art Gallery.

The confined space of the Kitao Art Gallery fostered a sense of connection between the poets and their audience. “One of the great things about reading poetry to an audience is that there’s a direct connection between the author and the reader that’s challenging to create otherwise,” said Rebekah Judson ’12, one of the readers. “In effect, the poetry becomes a collaboration with both the author and the reader driving the work.”

Among the wide range of works performed, Justin diFeliciantonio ’10 read his English translation of Rubén Darío’s poem “Lo Fatal” (Fatality). Translating poetry became a hobby of Justin’s while studying abroad in Buenos Aires last semester. “I [had to] consider the poet’s aesthetic intentions, as well as her schematic choices — meter, rhyme, form, for instance,” said diFelicianto-nio. “Alongside the translated poet, however, is the translator’s own voice.”

Besides the poetry readings, there were several musical interludes interspersed throughout to provide some levity and variety to the event. Ben Starr ’11, Gabriel Riccio ’11 and Ben Rachbach ’11 performed their own original compositions to the crowd. “A lot of times poetry can be jampacked with information and imagery, and having musical interludes maybe gave the audience some time to process the poetry, and listen in a less intense way,” Starr said. It was refreshing to hear originally composed music alongside spoken word poetry, giving the event another rich dimension.

Small Craft Warnings is currently accepting submissions of poetry, prose and art for the Spring 2009 issue. Send all submissions (preferably through attachments) to submit.scw@gmail.com.