SPLIT THIS ROCK - The Final Day!

Split This Rock was an amazing literary and activist experience. It was awesome and beautiful. From the readings, workshops and panels, to the in-between conversations at meals and in hallways, poets and poetry-lovers connected and shared hopes for a better future. Photo above is Poet Naomi Shihab Nye and me at George Washington University, just before the march to the White House began. We began with a D.C. Poets Against the War panel including above from left: Sarah Browning, J. Ross, Esther Iverem, and Melissa Tuckey. We spoke about the history and various projects of D.C. Poets Against the War. Then we had a beautiful reading at George Washington University by Naomi Ayala and Galway Kinnell. Finally, the poets all walked in silence to the White House where we each read a line of poetry, creating a huge, collective poem called a cento.

The poets march from GWU to the White House. Split This Rock coordinator, Sarah Browning in white t-shirt on left. On her sign is a line from Sam Hamill, "All War Is Extortion." Dennis Brutus, South African poet reading his line for the cento at the White House. Dennis was imprisoned with Nelson Mandela at Robben Island. He is retired now from the University of Pittsburgh. Janet Aalfs reading her line at the White House. Janet is the former poet laureate of Northampton, MA. J. Ross reading his cento line. (Photo by J. Aalfs) Naomi Shihab Nye adding her cento line. Coleman Barks reading at the White House. D.C. Poet Dan Vera reading his cento line. D.C. Poet Kim Roberts at the White House with JFK's beautiful sentiment. Yael Flusberg at the White House. Yael served as a marshal on the march. Performance Poet Mendy Knott, from Fayettville, Arkansas at the White House. Janet Aalfs, left, Naomi Shihab Nye with "Bring Back Kindness" sign, at the White House. After all the poets read their lines, Sarah Browning read her line, closing the cento. All burst into long applause. Sadly though, it was time to say goodbye. Amazingly, SPLIT THIS ROCK had come to an end.

For more information, Google SPLIT THIS ROCK because I am sure that in the coming days, many of the poets who were present will be adding photos to their websites and blogs. Visit splitthisrock.org to see the entire cento and to get more information about the future of this moving and powerful poetry festival.

Don't you hear this hammer ring
I'm gonna split this rock
And split it wide!
When I split this rock,
Stand by my side.
--- Langston Hughes