Three Professors Mark The Return of The Jenny 2 Readings

George Washington began its Jenny 2 readings with fantastic start on Wednesday, having three professors read their poetry for a crowd of students. The Jenny 2 readings are a program by the English department intent on sponsoring local writers, including GW part time and full time faculty. It's part of the Jenny McKean Moore Endowment which underwrites a variety of creative writing programing including the upcoming reading by Howard Norman next Thursday.

Daniel Saalfeld,Fulbright Scholar recipient and professor of English 081 Creative Writing, began the readings with poems from his manuscript "Sweet Tooth". His poems switched between modern views of the East Coast and Mid West, one poem describing going to see the local cherry blossoms, and another describing shooting cans behind a barn. One of the most distinctive poems he read was "Snake Meat," which involved the systematic gutting and cooking of pig, using gore and rich imagery to capture the scene. Much of his poetry was highly sexual and personal which contrasted with his solemn reading voice, which in some cases created an ironic tone. Quickly, Saalfeld's twenty minutes drew to close, and he left the podium backed by the polite applause of the audience.

Following Daniel was another professor of English 081, Lara Payne, who came equipped with not just poetry but her baby girl, who started the reading in the room but soon had to leave. Lara read poetry from her own manuscript (the title of which will either be "Honey Crisp" or "Seasoned Lite") including the recently published poem "Six Months of the Museum". Payne's poetry emphasized heartbreak, especially in "Summers Leavings", but her poetry also branched into Greek Mythology with "The One With Violets In Her Lap", discussing Persephone and the coming of spring. Though she was worried that her recent hearing issues (from being sick) may have muted her speaking voice, she delivered all of her poems with steady tone. She ended her reading with "Sweet Bitter Creature", a possible nod at her baby juxtaposing with the cold of winter to the warmth of a home and the cooking inside.

The final reader was Fred Pollack, the writer of two book length poems and professor George Washington's English 104 Poetry Writing class. He began his reading with poems relating to both the recent Glenn Beck Rally, a Russian factory, and college applications. However, how he truly made himself memorable was with his six part poem "These Conditions" which discussed everything from the suicide of a bullied teen to comparing the humanities department to the rust belt. His surprisingly strong and energetic voice captured the audience and held the rooms attention, until he read the final line and marked the close of the night.