Broadway Stars and Regular Joes Accept The Millay Poetry Challenge
Submitted videos of people reading the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay offer solace and connection.
Photos courtesy of The Millay Society
“Time does not bring relief,” wrote American poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, but ironically, poetry does.
More specifically, Millay’s own poetry does. Watching the brief videos of the actors, poets, writers, musicians, and others recite her poetry as part of the Millay Poetry Challenge is balm for the soul.
When we last wrote about Steepletop, Edna St. Vincent Millay’s home in Austerlitz, New York, it was at risk of closing its house, gardens and gift shop to the public. The National Historic Landmark was looking to raise money to put itself on solid financial footing. That was two years ago, and eventually a decision was made to look for additional models of support. While Steepletop remains closed to visitors for now, it's not moribund; a full-time caretaker maintains the grounds, and a volunteer carpenter has restored the poet’s writing cabin. Holly Peppe, Millay’s literary executor, has continued to grant permissions for the use of Millay's writing to artists, writers and musicians, and to Yale University Press, which is publishing Millay’s never-before-published diaries and a new book of letters next year.
Like so many cultural organizations, the board of directors at Steepletop were looking for a way to remain relevant throughout the pandemic period.
“We were having a conversation about engagement,” said Meg Ainsworth (who, incidentally, renders a heartful recitation of the “Time does not bring relief” poem). “The board liked the idea of getting people to connect by seeing videos of people reciting their favorite Millay poems.”
Ainsworth created the first one, and a letter went out to friends and families at the beginning of April — which happens to be National Poetry Month — inviting them to accept the poetry challenge. Actor Paul Hecht, a long-time supporter of the Millay Society, did so, and reached out to a few of his friends. Through mostly word of mouth, the list of readers grew to include other actors, a Library of Congress curator, a poet laureate of New York State, translators of Italian and Spanish (reading in those languages), and regular folks, too.
Remember Barbara Feldon, Agent 99 from Get Smart? She’s reading. So are Blythe Danner, Dan Lauria, and Joanna Gleason. Broadway diva Betty Buckley, her voice in top shape, sings an arrangement of the poem “Souvenir.” Other musicians contribute their own versions of verses. Millay’s poetry itself is rhythmic and lyrical, a natural for setting to music.
“Artists have looked for outlets to stay connected and engaged. When suddenly devoid of their art, they’ve found creative ways to keep us inspired,” said Peppe. “This is our contribution to that. It’s meant to lift the spirits of friends or anyone who may or may not be a poetry lover.”
Surprised and delighted by the response, the board has decided to extend the Poetry Challenge indefinitely. Which means you can select a Millay poem and submit a video yourself. It doesn’t matter if your chosen poem has already been recorded; each person will interpret it differently.
“We not just in a pandemic of disease, we’re in a pandemic of anxiety,” said Peppe, repeating a phrase she heard somewhere. “But Millay’s work is conducive to peace of mind. Poetry itself is equalizing and healing.”
To accept the Poetry Challenge and submit your own video, check out the website for details. The collection of videos resides on YouTube.
