Cultural studies
On January 31 Robert Pinsky, the 1998-99 U.S. poet laureate, presented video clips from his Favorite Poem project to a group of students, faculty, and community members. The project is an archive of video recordings of diverse Americans reading their favorite poems aloud and discussing why the poems are important to them. "I'm not sure if it's a research project or an archive to present to the future," Pinsky said. In the spirit of the project the Magazine asked some undergrads to share their favorite poems.

Comedy by Dante
"Dante's Comedy is the greatest of all poems; nothing else approaches it in imaginative power and moral seriousness."

-Stephen Barbara, fourth-year

"in time of" by e. e. cummings
"I love it because it was my first favorite poem ever. When I was in sixth or seventh grade my choir was part of a Lehigh University concert at which a piece premiered, and the lyrics of the piece were that poem. I've loved it ever since."

-Stephanie Anderson, third-year

"The Stupid Jerk I'm Obsessed With" by Maggie Estep
"You can't help but read this poem aloud. You start reading it silently and then you find yourself muttering the words, which naturally escalates into yelling enthusiastically."

-Clara Brand, second-year

"Ode to Clothes" by Pablo Neruda
"I first read this poem five years ago thanks to a poetry reading group started by my favorite high school teacher. It reminds me that every aspect of my life is poetic and beautiful."

-Liz Tussey, fourth-year