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A one time performance during the 5th Annual Dead Poets Slam at Sarah Lawrence College on Thursday, November 9, 2006 at 8:00 pm in the Reisinger Concert Hall. From the SLC Event Calendar: Students will embody and present the work of dead poets in a lively, theatrical context. Performers include: Jade Foster, Jorge Monterrosa, Meg Plunkett, Sonnet Graham, Natalie Park, Shannon Houston, Davin Searls, Hadley Franklin, Molly Jo Gorevan, Emmalea Russo, Lindsey Bontempo, Gary Ploski, John Powell, David Clark, Arielle Narva, Judith Chiriqui, Josh Schneider, Melissa Bayer, Jennifer Hanks, Jake Schneider, and several faculty guests. Poems to be performed include work by Anne Sexton, John Donne, June Jordan, Yehuda Amichai, Marina Tsvetaeva, Miguel Pinero, John Berryman, Frank O'Hara, William Carlos Williams, and others. Organized by Jeffrey McDaniel and Sonnet Graham. -- Porphyria's Lover By Robert Browning The rain set early in tonight, The sullen wind was soon awake, It tore the elm-tops down for spite, and did its worst to vex the lake: I listened with heart fit to break. When glided in Porphyria; straight She shut the cold out and the storm, And kneeled and made the cheerless grate Blaze up, and all the cottage warm; Which done, she rose, and from her form Withdrew the dripping cloak and shawl, And laid her soiled gloves by, untied Her hat and let the damp hair fall, And, last, she sat down by my side And called me. When no voice replied, She put my arm about her waist, And made her smooth white shoulder bare, And all her yellow hair displaced, And, stooping, made my cheek lie there, And spread, o'er all, her yellow hair, Murmuring how she loved me--she Too weak, for all her heart's endeavor, To set its struggling passion free From pride, and vainer ties dissever, And give herself to me forever. But passion sometimes would prevail, Nor could tonight's gay feast restrain A sudden thought of one so pale For love of her, and all in vain: So, she was come through wind and rain. Be sure I looked up at her eyes Happy and proud; at last I knew Porphyria worshiped me: surprise Made my heart swell, and still it grew While I debated what to do. That moment she was mine, mine, fair, Perfectly pure and good: I found A thing to do, and all her hair In one long yellow string I wound Three times her little throat around, And strangled her. No pain felt she; I am quite sure she felt no pain. As a shut bud that holds a bee, I warily oped her lids: again Laughed the blue eyes without a stain. And I untightened next the tress About her neck; her cheek once more Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss: I propped her head up as before Only, this time my shoulder bore Her head, which droops upon it still: The smiling rosy little head, So glad it has its utmost will, That all it scorned at once is fled, And I, its love, am gained instead! Porphyria's love: she guessed not how Her darling one wish would be heard. And thus we sit together now, And all night long we have not stirred, And yet God has not said a word! --

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