Prof. Mairead Byrne wrote a poem for our recent Convocation ceremony just a few weeks back. Entitled “How to Write a Commissioned Poem” (commissioned by Provost Shefrin), Prof. Byrne’s lyrical voice was a great welcome to the new academic year. I recorded her voice last week in my office, and have posted it in unpackaged form here.

On the theme of poetry, I believe we are one of the few institutions out there with an Executive Vice-President of Finance and Administration, Arnie Yasinski, that is a published poet and scholar of poetry. Mr. Yasinksi recently pointed many of us to this elegant poem by Robert Hass entitled “Time and Materials” as a poet’s interpretation of the work of artist Gerhard Richter. The written word is such an incredibly sophisticated implement of expression. I urge everyone anywhere to awaken and read or write a poem today.