poets read at harvard sit-in
- phdesmond
- phdesmond
- KayDay
- phdesmond
- KayDay
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» phdesmond - seek poems about work
Poets Read Again at Harvard Sit-InThirteen poets recited their own works and those of others on the evening of May 4th, in front of the student-occupied building in Harvard Yard. Massachusetts Hall was seized more than two weeks ago by students demanding that Harvard pay its blue- and pink-collar workers a living wage. The Friday night reading was the third action by Boston-area poets who support the students' demand, though participants have included visitors from as far away as New Hampshire and West Virginia.
Perhaps 40 people were in the audience, and some of the occupiers leaned out windows to listen. As they do during their nightly vigils, supporters in front of the building held candles; it was charmingly quaint to read poetry by candlelight and without a sound system. (Republican first-year students in nearby buildings have complained about noise levels.)
Sonneteers as well as slammers participated. Selections ranged from William Blake to Martin Espada to Albrecht Haushofer, a poet dragged out of prison and shot by the Nazis in the last days of World War Two. We concluded with a rousing May Day chant by Langston Hughes. Whee! I don't remember the late sixties being quite so cultural. :-)
If you have a favorite poem about work, please email Peter Desmond with suggestions and web links: TaxHombre@cs.com. Winning entries may be recited at the next poetry support action, tentatively scheduled for May 9. Meanwhile, here are some web links to poems that glow with the spirit of respect for labor:
For Carl Sandburg's poem, "The Mayor of Gary," click here; it's the fourth poem down:
http://www.geocities.com/~spanoudi/poems...
"Jorge the Church Janitor Finally Quits," by Martin Espada:
http://members.tripod.com/~cabby01/poem/...
Philip Levine's title poem from his collection, "What Work Is":
http://www.ibiblio.org/ipa/levine/work.h...
Follow news of the building occupation here:
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~pslm/livingw...
The occupiers have set up a poetry page:
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~pslm/livingw...
Peter Desmond
-- posted by phdesmond
» phdesmond - Re: seek poems about work
In response to message posted by phdesmond:May 9 Poetry Reading at Harvard Sit-in
The next poetry reading in the series supporting the living wage will be on Wednesday, May 9, at 8 p.m. Suggested themes: social justice, the struggle, the dignity of labor. Each poet should try to take no longer than five minutes. Recite your own work or a favorite poem by someone else.
The reading will be held in front of occupied Massachusetts Hall, without amplification and by candlelight. Use the Johnston gate to get into Harvard Yard -- it's the one nearest the smaller subway entrance. Don't be late! At 9 p.m. Harvard police start carding people who enter the Yard.
You can follow the news of the sit-in at the students' website:
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~pslm/livingw...
The site has a growing section of "poems for a living wage," including classic poems about work by Seamus Heaney, Robert Pinsky, Martin Espada, and others. Thanks to everyone who suggested poems! If you have other links or poems you'd like to add, email them to peter desmond: TaxHombre@cs.com.
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~pslm/livingw...
The Harvard Crimson also carries news of the occupation:
http://www.thecrimson.com/
-- posted by phdesmond
» KayDay - Hey, Peter,
Thanks so much for keeping us informed about this event. I've seen some of the news clips; you're really kind to post the information here.I hope anyone who reads or participates will share his or her experiences with us! Best of luck on this worthwhile protest.
-- posted by KayDay
» phdesmond - hi, kay
In response to message posted by KayDay:thank you much! well, the students left the building and tonight's poetry reading is consequently canceled. that's a relief and a disappointment at the same time.
but i have this feeling that not enough poems have been written about work. funny thing. callahan's saloon, where i preside, has already had a contest for poems about work, which is linked to on the sit-in website. but if you ever run contests here, i recommend "work" as an under-utilized topic.
tired but happy,
peter
-- posted by phdesmond
» KayDay - Hi, Peter
I'm so glad you posted again--I want to come and visit Callahan's. I've heard so much about it, but I've never taken the time to come over. So I'll do that.Keep us posted on the demos.
Yes, work is an underutilized subject. Now you've got my brain wandering.
Thanks for keeping us up to date, Peter.
-- posted by KayDay
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