Corey Arnold reads “Mosquito in Amber” and “Invocations”.

Falvey Memorial Library’s Speakers’ Corner provided the setting for Villanova University’s eighth annual Open Mic Poetry Reading. Master of Ceremonies Lisa Sewell, PhD, welcomed students, faculty, staff and guests to the event. Dr. Sewell, an associate professor in the Department of English and also the director of programming, Gender and Women’s Studies, began the event with her poem about an endangered species—the honey bee—titled, “Apis Mellifera.”

Timothy Freeman, PhD, professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, came to the microphone next to read “Universal Declaration of Life.” Christina Danner, a Senior Class Poet contestant, shared “Dumb Luck.” Each Senior Class Poet contestant had one of his/her poems published on posters and displayed throughout the library’s first floor. After Christina, Juan Castillo presented “Antonio.”

Library staff member Gerald Dierkes reads from his selection of poetry.

Next, Matt Enright offered “Self-Fashioning,” a Zachary Hayes poem featured in Arthology. Gerald Dierkes, a library staff member, read his own “That Wonderful Sense of …” and a Harry LeFever poem, “At the Nadir of my Night”: both from Call me Ishmael, Still. Then Senior Class Poet contestant Gregory Watry delivered “Love on the Spanish Steps.”

Catherine Staples, ’86 MA, adjunct professor of English, presented “Conversation” and “Fear of Heights,” both from her new book: The Rattling Window. Corey Arnold offered “Mosquito in Amber” and “Invocations.” And Mary O’Malley, PhD, Heimbold Chair and professor of Irish studies in Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for spring 2013, shared “Before Winter Comes.”

Dr. Sewell introduced senior class member Lauren Clem to talk about Arthology, one of the University’s student literary-art journals. Co-editor-in-chief of Arthology, Lauren presented the just-released 2013 issue of Arthology and made copies of the journal available at no charge to attendees.

Kamran Javadizadeh, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of English delivered “Blessings II Go.” Next, Senior Class Poet contestant Wesley Brown read “Gas Money.” And Alyssa Moudis, a Senior Class Poet contestant, offered “Child” and “Black Eye.”

Then the Director of Irish Studies, Joseph Lennon, PhD, presented “Circle,” “Ophthalmologists Reign” and “Spree.” Haley Potter, a Senior Class Poet contestant, shared “Children at Play” and “Quarantine.” Matt Riddle, the event’s final reader, delivered “night again” and “a subtle theology”; both poems appear in Arthology.

Gerald Dierkes is an information services specialist for the Information and Research Assistance team, senior copyeditor for the Communication and Publications team, and a liaison to the Department of Theater.