Sonya Subbayya Sutton reads “Love (III),” by George Herbert, during the last year’s Robert Pinsky Favorite Poem Project, programmed by the Friends of the Chautauqua Writers’ Center, on July 31, 2023, in the Hall of Philosophy.
In 2009, U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky came to Chautauqua to discuss An Invitation to Poetry, a Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle selection for that year. And with him, he brought the Robert Pinsky Favorite Poem Project — every year since, Chautauquans have been sharing their favorite poems, in their favorite place.
“His mantra for that year, when he was the poet laureate, was that poetry wasn’t just for academics,” said Norma Rees, Robert Pinsky Favorite Poem Project Chair and member of the Friends of the Chautauqua Writers’ Center. “It was for everybody, for the general public, trying to get people to think about poetry and how it relates to each of us individually.”
At 5 p.m. today in the Hall of Philosophy, the 16th annual Robert Pinsky Favorite Poem Project will give Chautauquans of all kinds a platform to read their favorite poem and share why it has touched their life in some way.
“Everything we read of poets is so important in this time of discontent and malcontent, and they can speak to us about ways of verbalizing how we feel and give us new ways to think about how we feel,” Rees said. “I think it’s really important for mental health, and I think it’s important for lots of aspects in our life.”
Rees has been chair of the project for many years and said it never gets old. She makes new memories every year, and fondly remembers the first time she read her favorite poem to the Chautauqua crowd.
“I’m from Australia, and I was able to read ‘My Country,’ by Dorothea Mackellar, early on, probably 10 or 15 years ago — it was a real thrill to stand up in the Hall of Philosophy,” she said.
With an audience and a group of readers that grows each year, the appreciation and diversity of the chosen poems has expanded, too — even the years the Institution had online-only, and hybrid, programming.
“We’ve done it both years through COVID on Zoom, and I think what stands out is that people are interested in it. People appreciate the fact that we make an effort to get this organized,” said Rees. “I believe that Robert Pinsky had the right idea when he urged us to expose unlikely recipients to good poetry.”
Participants are chosen by a committee of Friends of the Chautauqua Writers’ Center, who look over the applications of people explaining why they chose the poem and what it means to them, and create a dynamic program that jumps among styles of poetry and ages of readers.
“There’s people who have come and listened to poetry for many years, and then all of a sudden, maybe they’re a little older, and they find they can actually stand up in the Hall of Philosophy and read a poem, and share it with their family and friends,” said Rees. “And then young people, they often step up and read their poems, and it’s always interesting to hear their choice. They bring new choices of poetry to the Pinsky Project. They’re not just the old, familiar, comfortable poems.”
As part of the Institution’s sesquicentennial celebration this year, the Robert Pinsky Favorite Poem Project committee has decided to incorporate some older poems and literary arts figures into the event this afternoon.
“Some poems being read are about that time, mid- to late-1800s poetry,” Rees said. “And then also these new poets who keep coming up, the new poet laureates, and with such amazing poetry that needs to be heard needs to be shared, and it’s just one small, little venue where we can share and maybe start a spark.”
