The Saint Rose Chronicle

Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Cecelia Martinez Professor Nester introducing students Mary Catherine Owen, Jonathan A. and Kali Zigrino who performed last Thursday night.

As students at The College of Saint Rose are scrambling in these final weeks before summer to finish up final projects, papers, and portfolios, the students in Daniel Nester's Oral Interpretation of Literature class had a different kind of presentation at the Social Justice Center on Central Avenue in Albany.

As part of the Third Thursday Poetry Night hosted by area poet Dan Wilcox; the monthly event consists of an open mic and a featured poet. On April 17th, 2008, students in Nester's class came together as The Shoutin' Rosebuds of Saint Rose to perform as the featured poets.

The class performed in five groups of three or four students, reading original pieces of poetry in a style that included dancing, pantomime, and acting.

"I'm a little nervous," said Kris Wildermuth, an English major and one of the students performing that evening. He practiced before the event began, reading from a tattered-looking piece of paper.

"I've been carrying this in my pocket for three weeks," Wildermuth said.

Katie Vermilyea, who was not part of the class but is an active member of all things English at Saint Rose, also practiced beforehand outside for a reading as part of the open mic.

The night began with an "invocation of the muse," in which Wilcox read two poems by beat poet Bob Kaufman. Then, the first half of the open mic took place, with numerous announcements of upcoming readings and events taking place between poets. Wilcox is a charismatic host, often exchanging quips with the poets, many of whom he is very familiar with.

There were many announcements as April is National Poetry Month and there are many events taking place throughout the Upstate New York area.

Saint Rose student Chris Petterson read as part of the open mic, reading a poem entitled "The Mosaic Inn," which made use of repetition in a haunting poem about a man troubled with sleeping problems.

When it became time for Nester to read for the open mic, Wilcox decided to break for the featured poets, allowing Nester to introduce his students. But first, Wilcox shared the story of how the Shoutin' Rosebuds and the Third Thursday Poetry Night came together.

Continued...

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