Story By: Sophia Cooper 

MONTEVALLO, Ala. — Dr. Jim Murphy and his students hosted a scary poetry reading on October 29 in Humanities Hall for Halloween.  

The poetry readings began at 2 p.m. and ended at around 2:40 p.m. in Palmer Commons.  

Dr. Jim Murphy, a professor of English, organized the event, but this isn’t his first time having his students share their work publicly.

“We’ve held various kinds of Spooky/Scary Poems and Stories events at Montevallo off and on for many years,” Dr. Murphy said, “Sometimes they’ve been very informal, just a few of us in a classroom. Sometimes they’ve been really theatrical. This version hits a sweet spot, I think.” 

Some of the poems read at the event varied in source material; claustrophobia, betrayal, corpses and darkness were all subject matter of the poems read. In true Halloween spirit, candy was passed around for attendees.  

UM hosts a variety of poetry readings, but not all of them feature the works of students. For this event, Dr. Murphy collaborated with the students in his Intermediate Poetry Workshop class to write poetry that will scare, disturb and unnerve readers.

The poems may themselves be scary in a literary sense, but it’s also scary to put yourself out there, to show up and to participate.  And that’s where the reward is, too.

Dr. Jim Murphy

While students had the option to read their own work, they also had the opportunity to read pre-existing works, including “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll and “The Tyger” by William Blake.

The poem reading was concluded by Dr. Murphy, who read an excerpt of “Dante’s Inferno” by Dante Alighieri.

“I’m always most excited for the people who have never been to a poetry reading, and for those who are reading before a group for the first time.” Dr. Murphy said, “The poems may themselves be scary in a literary sense, but it’s also scary to put yourself out there, to show up and to participate. And that’s where the reward is, too.” 

“What’s most important to me at least is creating a space where something unexpectedly exciting and positive can happen,” Dr. Murphy continued, “Where you learn new things that take you out of your comfort zone, but in an entertaining way.  There aren’t many outlets like that left in the world.  That’s what poetry does anywhere you encounter it, not just at this reading.”