Poets and Writers’ Premiere “Night at a Poetic Cabaret”

I stood in front of the HUB around 6:30pm and immediately greeted a rusted, PSC van that took me to the Common Man Inn in Plymouth. When I got there, people were slowly trickling in and taking seats. Dan and Rob were doing mic check and I was watching as steadier stream of people entered the cozy lobby with each new appearance of that same rusted van. A few minutes later servers in white shirts brought trays of fancy looking hors d’orves, such as concoctions of Melba Toast, roast beef, and horseradish and scrumptious scallops wrapped in bacon. I settled into my seat near the front where a band was playing a smooth jazz rhythm and nibbled at my collection of appetizers while sipping a Midori Sour. Around 7:30, the main event began and what commenced was a night of food and poetry in a nice setting entitled “A Poetic Cabaret.”

“A Poetic Cabaret” was sponsored by PSC Poets and Writers and featured the works of four of PSC’s finest poets. Professor Liz Ahl kicked off the night with a series of poems ranging in subject from the experience of taking a gun class to the happiness of smoking. The poems conjured many laughs and flowed majestically in a nice rhythm. Student Jason Mackenzie went next with his poems that used words in masterful and deep ways. After this showcase of poetry, Professor Paul Rogalus came up and announced with sarcastic grandness that he would be reading prose. His prose was a series of humorous and well-read accounts of quirky anecdotes from his experiences watching a freak show and taking part in a research experiment.

Poets and Writers president Dan Singer read his poetry on subjects ranging from 9/11 to a beautiful Flamenco dancer. His delivery was passionate and his words were like music to the excited crowd. PSC alumni and Biederman’s favorite Jon Link returned from UMass to the wilds of New Hampshire to share his casual, yet lyrical works with the eager audience. When he was done, the evening ended with loud applause and the memory of a fantastic literary experience.

“A Poetic Cabaret” was a unique experience and a night of excellent poetry, excellent food and drink, and the excellent company of PSC faculty, alumni, students, and other members of the community. PSC Poets and Writers even arranged a shuttle service from the HUB to the Common Man for those who still wanted to take part, yet did not have a convenient way to get there (such as your friendly author). The atmosphere was calm and relaxed and the location for this event was perfect. The experience costed $5.00 paid at the door or in advance and was a fundraiser for PSC Poets and Writers, an organization that aims to spread awareness of creative student writing around the community. The club’s next events include the open mic at Biederman’s and the release of the literary magazine Centripetal, for which the club is still taking submissions of poetry and short prose. “A Poetic Cabaret” was a fun evening that brought student writing to the attention of all who attended and left them with both a full mind and a full stomach.