Poems recited by Glen Rockers, past and present
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Don't Waste the Day by Okey Chenoweth
Introduced by Jon Cole • Recited by Okey Chenoweth Okey Chenoweth, renowned GRHS teacher and Glen Rock's own "Poet Laureate" says his inspiration came from being in a large family, "being… alone in my head, and poetry itself, probably.” • Introduced by GR Councilman (and GRHS Class of 1970 alum) Jon Cole
► Read the article in The Glen Echo. Waist Envy by Kate Kaiser
Recited at Sure Things, a Jersey City vintage store that sponsors WAYE (We Appreciate Your Enthusiasm) the last Wednesday of the month. Glen Rock writer, mom and Pushcart Prize nominee Kate Kaiser says this poem, years in the making, "finally tumbled out one afternoon in a mall.” Shared laughter is the best medicine, she says. Note: Kate's essay "Dessert & Sudden Death" won Fiction Fix's Editor's Choice Award.
Four "Hikoos" by Peter Marcalus
Recited by Peter Marcalus Peter, father of Arts Council member and GR Library Art Curator Amanda Marcalus, is an artist and avid outdoorsman who hikes daily in Oakland, Mahwah and Ringwood parks. His outings inspired these haiku poems.
Curious Reader's Chris Lutz reads two excerpts from "Hard-Boiled Bugs For Breakfast" by Jack Prelutsky, the first-ever U.S. Children's Poet Laureate. "It felt like we needed a laugh at the end of a long week," said Chris, "and Jack Prelutsky is just the poet for that."
Make a Pancake (a nursery rhyme)
Recited by Gavin Yeung Gavin, a Central School 1st grader, is a "return reciter," again taking part in our Poetry Month videos! Gavin has grown up quite a bit over the past year. He said he enjoyed how the rhyming words sounded in this poem, not to be confused with Christina Rosetti's "Mix A Pancake."
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The Big Apple by Jason Hong
Recited by Jason Hong Jason, a Byrd School 5th grader, dedicated this poem to his grandfather. “My Grandpa owns a shop in New York City and I go there a lot,” he said.
Majolie, a Byrd School 5th grader, says, "I saw the color black as a time of night and depressing to so many people, so I tried to shine the color black in a different and positive way."
Night Snow by Alice Wilkins
Recited by Paige Hawkins Paige, a Central School 1st grader, said she liked the way the words sounded together, and what the poem made her imagine.
Julie and Declan are Byrd 5th graders. Julie says learning about poetry and writing her poem were important, "because this is who I am and where I am from." Declan says he wrote his poem, based on a book by Robin Herrera, to show that "you will always have hope — but then you won't. It changes."
We finish Poetry Month with another "return reciter," one of our favorites, the inimitable Mrs. Regina Scotti of Glen Rock Middle School, who selected what's becoming a Poetry Month tradition here at the Arts Council -- "Sick" by the inimitable Shel Silverstein, filmed by GRMS student Jason Simon. Enjoy.
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The Trees by Philip Larkin
Introduced by Mona Milbrodt • Recited by Philip Larkin
Introduced by Mona Milbrodt • Recited by Philip Larkin
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Arts Council's Mona Milbrodt says she chose The Trees, by Philip Larkin, "because it really struck me at the end of the movie, Empire of Light.” The poem uses metaphors of nature to evoke themes of new beginnings and starting afresh. Hilary (played by Olivia Colman) lets go of her friend and lover Stephen (played by Micheal Ward) as he heads off to school, with a new firm grasp on who she is, trusting herself to be okay.
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