THE POETRY CLUB at the University of Technology (UTech) is now a formal part of the extra-curricular programme offered at the institution.
Although it was launched on February 27, the club has been in operation since last year with more than 20 members.
Speaking at the launch, founder/co-ordinator and UTech lecturer, Carmenita Jones, explained that members have been meeting regularly, appreciating the outlet the club provided for their creative expressions. It falls under the porfolio of the Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies.
Club President, Dwight Edwards, told The Sunday Gleaner that a "variety of poetry is produced and performed, criticised and improved, when we meet among ourselves."
That variety was on display at the launch, where club members performed, alongside other visiting poets from the Jamaican poetry fraternity. The event took place in the cool shade of the spreading mango tree at Warner's Corner in the Sculpture Park on the campus.
Words by Nesta Andrews, vice-president, was well-received.
"I gather words like pieces of diamonds,
From books I borrow,
From random conversations,
From pieces of newspapers
floating in the wind from Negril
to Kingston,
And landing finally at my feet,
gather these words,
Words to form expressions as fresh as newly-sprouted rosebuds,
Waving from a summer garden."
Guest performer, Andrew Miller, has been etching his name into the world of Jamaican poetry. He has won two Observer literary prizes and the Red Bones literary prize, and shared the stage at last year's Calabash literary festival with some of the Caribbean's literary giants. He is also a member of the Poetry Society of Jamaica.
Miller came armed with works from his series of poems on Church Women, and also read about a "John Crow who dipped to eat a dead dog" who "dipped too low", and was eaten by another John Crow.
It was a poem that gripped the audience, making them laugh or shudder based on its honest down-to-earth lyrics.
Likewise, Church Women painted a very vivid picture of the different women who gather in churches. From this series he read Church Woman Waiting, Church Woman Hats, and Church Woman Bosom.
The literary "feast of the fruit of the mind, and rhythm of the soul" continued with selections from Pamela Kelly, Sage, Sylvia Hall, Karl Whyte, Calmore Nix and Rupert Harper.
Following this, certificates of merit were presented to several founding members of the club to honour their "committment and dedication."
Greetings were brought by Dr. Geraldine Hodelin, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies; Jennifer Hall, head of the Liberal Studies Department; and Sybil Hamil, head of the School of Technical and Vocational Education. Guest speaker was Norma Rochester, lecturer, trainer/consultant and
communications specialist.
The UTech Poetry Club meets every Wednesday at the Faculty of Education, starting at 5:00 p.m., and welcomes participation from non-UTech students in its open reading sessions.
G. H.
