The second poetry reading in partnership with the GHC Creative Writing Club took place on October 18 at Southern Muggs on Main Street. Several members of the group read their own original works, as well as the Mr. and Mrs. Professor Kozees, who read some of their own works and shared some of their favorite poems by other writers.  The professors head up the club, and the Mr. is responsible for building it from the ground up.  

Emily Sharp, a co-president of the club, read her poems “Ok????”, “Dream Boy”, “There’s Really Only You”, and “This Is Literally about the Bookshelf in My Closet”, ranging in topic from unknowing love to long, emotional showers to—you guessed it—her bookshelf.  

Tori Smith, the secretary, read her works “Thunder”, and “My Life Is Underlined”, the former about the comfort of a thunderstorm and the latter stemming from an inspirational last line.  

Anthony Troy DelFavero, the other co-president, read “Flight or Fight”, “Needle”, and an untitled work. The first is a palindrome, a type of poem that can be read forwards or backward with different meanings. Forward, the poem follows Troy as he runs from his anxiety about talking to a girl. Backward, the poem sees Troy overcome that fear and talk to her. “Needle” is a perspective poem about a tattoo needle, and the untitled work is about him liking a person because they’re damaged.  

David Gossett, a member of the club, read “A Necessary Letter” and “Chase Your Camp Crystal Lake Bliss”, the first about an awkward teen at the beach. The second is best described in a quote from David, “Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th is a good good boy doing his best, who deserves some kudos.” 

Thanks to the open mic, I had the opportunity to read some of my own poems: “Ode to the Simile”, “Started Out as a Writing Prompt”, and “May”. The first is written in similes about similes, the second is loosely about my experience with disassociation, and the last is part of a twelve-part series about the months in a year of my life.   

The next reading, the last until spring, is November 15 at Smuggs, like always. We hope to see you there! 

For information about how to submit to the Old Red Kimono to potentially publish your art, stories, or poetry, go to https://sites.highlands.edu/old-red-kimono/submissions/ 

For information about how the club got started and what they do, see my article https://chschipper.com/2018/10/poetry-reading-ghc-writing-club/