By: Serena Edwards and Eddy Prince
On Oct. 30, the Brooklyn College (BC) art gallery, in conjunction with the Wolfe Institute, hosted an event spotlighting up-and-coming student poets. Four undergraduate students shared different poetry styles, demonstrating the diversity within the art.
The Vanguard sat down with Professor Burgess and the poets to talk about their devotion to the art of poetry.
“I’ve been teaching at Brooklyn College since 1999, when I was an MFA student in the graduate poetry program,” said Burgess. “The class that I’m teaching this semester is called ‘Crossing Brooklyn’.”
The Professor went ahead and explained the course outline.
“We start with a poem by Walt Whitman, one of the most famous American poets. [Whitman] published a poem in 1855 about his commute, taking the ferry from Manhattan to Brooklyn, and everything he observed.” Burgess continued, “And so, this class that I’m teaching now [focuses on] poets who have lived in Brooklyn, who have written poems in Brooklyn, and many of which have either gone to Brooklyn College or taught at Brooklyn College. We’re tracing this lineage of Brooklyn-centered poets, and in some cases, Brooklyn College poets.”
The poets in attendance shared some prepared works and shared how influential poetry was in their own lives.
Shea Stevenson, a senior majoring in Anthropological Fiction, presented her poem “The Post-War City (directions for the set)”.
Stevenson stated that her process for the poem was “unorthodox” since she doesn’t usually write poetry.
Stevenson also said that after presenting this poem and having others present the poem, she loved the aspect of performing this poem herself.
“I’ve seen other people read this poem, and I am like, no, no, no, let me do it. […] I have specific ideas about the cadence, and about, like.”
After presenting her poem, Stevenson shares a reflection on her performance.
“I was happy. I’m not the kind of person who gets, like, super nervous about public speaking or anything. So, there isn’t necessarily a relief, it’s just, I’m happy to have done it.”
Harvey Wright, a studio art major with a passion for creative writing and poetry, also took the podium to present their poem, “Golden.”
“I wanted to try and see if I could write a cohesive poem that felt like my voice while adhering to what is a bit more of a restrictive guideline,” said Wright. “My poem is a celebration of resilience.”
“Stubbornly, I persist.” This line from “Golden” echoes Wright’s response to facing hurdles in their own life.
“I’ve overcome quite a bit to get to where I am today,” said Wright. “My hope is that [people might connect with] this poem. Anyone who has had to overcome or figure out how to live with mental health challenges. That has been a major part of my experience as well.”
“I have always been drawn to poetry. Something about it feels honest and raw,” Wright said. “Reading and writing poetry is something I enjoy immensely. I find it incredibly moving to read a powerful poem, and writing is a release for me. I appreciate the brevity [of poetry], every word used needs to be intentional and functional. A good poem has moved me to tears on more than one occasion.”
Burgess recommended Wright for the poetry spotlight. “[Wright] is a musician, and I love their writings,” said Burgess. “I was watching them read [a poem she wrote in class], and I was just seeing this quiet pride. One of my favorite things about teaching poetry is that I love watching people surprise themselves with what they create. They access their own creativity, and they write something that surprises them. It’s beautiful to see.”
Angelina Lambros, a student at Macaulay Honors College at BC and published author, read “See That Tree,” one of her poems from her book, “Imagination and a World of Dreams.”
“My poem was inspired by Enlightenment philosophy, human rights movements throughout history, and the natural world,” said Lambros. “It’s a call for civic awakening, compassion, empathy, and love […] I spend a considerable amount of time thinking about how history and society intersect with personal experiences.”
Lambros is currently a double major in both History and Art.
“I think ‘Imagination’ [from my book] is especially important because it gave the collection its title […] It’s an allegorical poem about the creative journey and its connection to dreaming and perseverance. [Imagination] encourages resilience and frames creativity as a shared and transformative experience.”
Lambros expresses what many poets feel about their art.
“My work reflects both of my passions,” said Lambros. “Poetry has been a means of expression for me. It’s about liberating oneself. While I aspire to continue publishing books, my career focus is in public history. I’m passionate about history and about making it engaging for the public. I hope to create experiences for people to connect with the past in ways that are both interesting and meaningful.”