Kalliope showcases local poetry

By CORYNN ROYER
Collegian Arts Writer

Ellen Sue Spicer sat at a tall, maple table with a steaming cup of hot chocolate and chatted nervously, with chair turned toward the small, softly lit stage. She tried to peer through heads to get a better view as the tables behind her quickly filled up.

Her red and silver chili pepper necklace shook as she fidgeted with her poems. After the end of an original guitar composition, she got up and did her stuff, reading poems about loving a married man and lusting for another.

She sat down to a clapping audience with a sigh of relief and a look that said it was not so bad after all. Her poetry reading was one of many others in an evening sponsored by the student-run literary magazine, Kalliope, and a group called Expressions Experience at Café Gourmet, 123 W. Beaver Ave. The turn-out for the event was huge as people crowded in the shop to hear original guitar tunes and spontaneous a capella songs about ex-girlfriends.

But the meat of the program was poetry and although many people think of poetry as limited to rhyme and meter, it was not so. The poetry ranged in theme from the American Gladiators, the ocean, lucky leaky packets of ketchup, sex and a guided tour of Disney's new College Theme Park, narrated by George Paterno.

And Svoboda's Books, 227 W. Beaver Ave., cannot seem to keep Kalliope on its shelves. This could be because it is free, or because of an increased interest and participation in the local poetry community.

Lisa Kaminsky, editor of Kalliope and a peer tutor at the Writing Center, 219 Boucke, said Kalliope received 50 submissions last week, right before the March 24 deadline. Submissions are always high in the last few weeks, but submissions have steadily increased in previous years, said Kaminsky (junior-English and French).

"Submissions have gradually increased. This could be due to more advertising, or because students are writing more and we're just tapping into it," said Ron Maxwell, Kalliope faculty adviser. "You can see a community growing in State College with the growth of coffee houses and poetry readings."

Kalliope, named after a Greek muse of epic poetry, represents the undergraduate student contribution to the increase in literary activity.

"Kalliope is one of the few tangible products of literary, intellectual, and aesthetic value, produced by and given to students for free," said Gabriel Welsch, a senior member of the magazine and a recent graduate.

Amy Anderson, Svboda's Books employee, said there is a strong interest in the literary magazine in this community -- mostly by students.

Besides the readings at the Café Gourmet, Kalliope also has a workshop group that meets at 5:45 p.m. every Tuesday in 219 Classroom/Office Building. Writers are encouraged to bring copies of poetry, fiction or non-fiction to be critiqued. Anyone is welcome.

The 1995 issue of Kalliope will be out sometime in early April. It can be found in many local restaurants, book stores, the mail room of the English Department and the HUB desk.

The next poetry reading will be held at the Cafe Gourmet after the magazine comes out.