T he French word ·' ouvenir" means "remember." This was a fitting name for the club on campus where tudents gathered to read poetry together. The Som·enirs Poetry Club, which began about 13 years ago, was started by a couple of students ,rho liked to tay after class and recite poetry to each other. \\'hen more students began to express interest, the original pair d cided to begin a club. Assistant professor of English :Michael Claxton had just started teaching at Harding when he was asked to become a ou,· nirs sponsor- a title which he ha held every ear since. "The format of' our meetings is very simple," Claxton said. "\Ve pick a poet for each we k, or a theme like children' poetry, or cary poetry for Halloween , or lo\·e poetry for Valentine' Day. \\'e just sit around and ha\'e a stack of books and read poem out loud.'' The club met n Tue day at 7:30 p.m. at the ear Honors Center, where they recited poetry om loud and occasionally had discus ion over the week's theme or poet. While the group a,·eraged about six or se,·en people. Claxton said there were some we k where he and the club president, seniorJ onathon Lance, were the only two to arrive, but they read any,rny. ':Just this semester we've read William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, \\'alt \\'hitman, Dr. ~uess and Shel Sil\'erstein," Lance said. "The interests of e\'eryone shape what we read, but some poet we read e\'ery year, like Shake peare and Dickinson.'' Lance aid since he began college as an undeclared freshman, the ouvenir club helped him to d ,·elop an interest in poetry and guided him to a major in English. "The club benefits tudents by prO\·iding a space \\ here students can unite around a common interest," Lance said. "' Ve ha\'e a di\'erse range of majors and backgrounds. Pretty much the only thing in common between us is that we're all intere ted in poetry and reading literature." SeniorJennifer Wright attended Souvenirs meetings for a couple years, describing it overall as "Dead Poet's Society-like." "\\'e laugh together, and we comfort.each other after enjoying Sylvia Plath's haunting words," Wright said. "\Ve learn different per pectives - how people see the world." laxton said the club even replaced social clubs for ome members, and said fello,,·ship wa a big rea on as to why tudcnts came back to attend ou,·enirs meetings even after graduation. "Poems teach us about life," laxton aid. "Poet often arc \'Cry ob en ·ant people. They pay attention to small details, and that reminds us as readers to pay attention to mall detail . Poets are great at describing things other people might take for granted, as well as moral and spiritual Jes ons." Wright emphasized how the poetry club e ·plorcd different ways of thinking and how the power of language transported reader to different time and places. "Poetry is a gift," \\'right said. "It is encouraging to enjoy that gift with others." LI l'F.ll.\Tl IH. \\ll .\C.\IW\IIC\ <Iii( )JI
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