Poetry Reading Highlights Work of AUB Authors

Professor Jayson Iwen

The Blue Note Café opened its doors early on the night of March 17 to play host to an eclectic recital of poetry and prose. The program began with a poem by avant-garde recording artist Ani DiFranco, who accompanied herself on drums. Then Henry Matthews from the Information and Public Relations Office read from his self-illustrated book of poetry, Diary of Love and Lust, followed by English Department graduate student Jehan Bseiso, who read a one-page short story along with three of her poems.

The event was the most recent in a series of "open mike" poetry readings, when anyone is welcome to take the stage. Begun by Professor Jayson Iwen and sponsored by the AUB English Department, the first of these readings was held in spring 2005.

The emcee for the evening, English Assistant Professor Mark Bayer, pointed out that reading in front of an audience can give confidence to those who might lack it, especially students. But there are other values to the poetry readings. As Senior Lecturer Christopher Nassar, another one of the readers, said, "They are important because they encourage creative writing and show people that others are interested."

The program was highlighted by selections from two newly published works by AUB authors. One was Jayson Iwen's Six Trips in Two Directions. The theme of the book is traveling back and forth between Lebanon and Wisconsin, begun when Iwen first moved to Beirut several years ago. The duality of moving between two locations is mirrored in the two styles of poetry Iwen used.

Later in the evening, the audience was treated to amusing selections from The Importance of Being Earnest Revisited, read by the author, Christopher Nassar, who rewrote the famous Oscar Wilde play of the same name. Nassar transformed the Wilde theatrical comedy into a novel. According to Nassar, "Ninety-five percent of it is Wilde, and five percent of it is me." Both books will be available soon in Lebanon through Levant Distributors. One of the hallmarks of these events is the eclectic nature of the program. But you can decide for yourself, and perhaps share your own work at the next "open mike" poetry reading, which is scheduled for May 26 at the Blue Note.