The last time Ross Gay visited Smith College was in the fall of 2016 when he was drafting “The Book of Delights” which was published in 2019. Since then, the United States has plunged into a new political landscape and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forever altered the world.
Gay’s return as the inaugural poet of the fall 2023 season marks the release of his latest collection, “The Book of (More) Delights” published this year. The book continues his tradition of handwritten “essayettes” composed over the course of a year, reflecting on aging and the beauty of the world through the lens of race.
The timely collection lets readers sit with their thoughts and consider how the world continues to change, as well as what can be done to find joy, truth and care in a country that does not always reciprocate those things.
The reading on Sept. 26 was a great cause for delight, celebration and joy. In his opening remarks, professor of English Matt Donovan stated that President Willie-LeBreton was eager to participate in this reading. Willie-LeBreton wrote to Donovan that she is “giddy in the presence of poetry,” setting the night off to a pleasant start.
Isabel Cruz ’24J, the Core Baptista-Boutelle Day Poetry Center intern, noted that there were 520 people in attendance at John M. Greene Hall, which is nearly 1.5 times the capacity of Weinstein Auditorium where the poetry readings normally take place.
Yona Harvey, the first Tammis Day Professor of Poetry, facilitated the discussion portion of the event with Gay.
“The reading really highlighted how much people are invested in poetry and literature. I loved seeing all those seats filled in the auditorium and witnessing the long line of folks waiting to get their books signed,” said Harvey.
Gay read pieces from his new collection and poetry from his books, “Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude” (2015) and “Be Holding” (2020). The latter is a long-form poem on Basketball Hall-of-Famer Julius (Dr. J) Erving’s ‘baseline scoop’ in the 1980 NBA finals. The audience appeared in awe of the themes on achieving the impossible with the sense that a singular fleeting moment could ignite monumental joy.
The theme of changing the world in an instant with a momentary joy was resonant throughout the night. Harvey said she felt excited to interview Gay, describing him as her “literary twin” and “a friend [she] admires so much and rarely gets to spend time with.”
Harvey said she was nervous to interview Gay, especially given that it was her first event as a Smith professor. “He has a way of energizing people while putting them at ease. I loved hearing the people sitting behind me laughing and taking those deep breaths of affirmation as Ross read,” she said.
As far as facilitating the interview, Harvey said she felt comfortable “once Ross moved his mic closer to mine and we had a good laugh of solidarity about that — it was smooth sailing.”
Harvey is well-versed in Gay’s texts, noting that she has read and taught all of his books. She was delighted by the number of texts he was able to read in one session. Harvey said, “Ross is a phenomenal writer and reader. He moved seamlessly from ‘Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude’, ‘Be Holding’, and ‘The Book of (More) Delights.’”
The audience seemed joyful — sounds of laughter, clapping and snapping fingers filled the room during passages about the movement of time and truth in trying times. Harvey said that she felt inspired by the eagerness of the audience. This was a timely reading in the face of continued uncertainty across the nation.
The Boutelle-Day Poetry Center has a busy lineup for the rest of the fall with readings from Tuhin Das on Oct. 24; Yona Harvey on Nov. 7; Matthew Olzmann and Vievee Francis on Nov. 28 and Mark Wunderlich closing out the season on Dec. 12.
