Gerald Stern Video

Gerald Stern read several of his poems at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival in September 2006. Stern was an imposing figure as he spoke clearly with confidence in front of a packed audience, who appeared to thoroughly enjoy the last two poems that he read that day. Stern connected with the audience as he made eye contact and laughed along with them to his poem “Lilies” which expressed his surprise of the scene that transpired when he was stuck in traffic one day in the Poconos. Stern’s poem which was written in free verse and as a narrative tells the tale of a former student recognizing his professor and praising his teaching while stuck in a traffic jam. Stern the speaker in this poem shares with his audience his lack of words, unusual for such a gifted writer, with which to respond to this character that jumps out of the car to thank him for a wonderful life lesson. Stern simply responds, “I love you, read something else,” which was a response that both audience and poet laughed at when spoken.

Stern’s reading of “She Was A Dove”, immediately after “Lilies” showed the depth of his writing. The tone and the mood of these poems were so different. Stern was more serious and reflective while sharing the story of his special connection to fellow poet Ann Marie Macari. He reads this poem with so much emotion and his vivid images reflect the work that he did while a teacher at the Iowa Writer’s Workshop, which if known for deep imagist poets. Stern’s careful choice of words in this poem draw the audience into this intimate and very private part of his life, and his slight smile near the end enables you to see the joy that the memories bring him.

Those who were present at this reading were privileged to hear such a wonderful and talented poet share his poems with them.