Why Do You Love Your Library?

The Dark side of Valentine's Day

Often with Valentine's Day we chose to celebrate the holiday by focusing on the prettier side of Love. But what about Love's ugly stepsisters: lust, scorn and loathing? Here are some poems to celebrate the dark underbelly of Love: The Breakup

Hymn to a Broken Marriage

Dear Nessa - Now that our marriage is over
I would like you to know that, if I could put back the clock Fifteen years to the cold March day of our wedding, I would wed you again and, if that marriage also broke, I would wed you yet again and, if it a third time broke, Wed you again, and again, and again, and again, and again: If you would have me which, of course, you would not. For, even you - in spite of your patience and yuor innocence (Strange characteristics in an age such as our own) - Even you require to shake off the addiction of romantic love And seek, instead, the herbal remedy of a sane affection In which are mixed in profuse and fair proportion Loverliness, brotherliness, fatherliness: A sane man could not espouse a more faithful friend than you.

--Paul Durcan

SAY YOU LOVE ME

What happened earlier I'm not sure of. Of course he was drunk, but often he was. His face looked like a ham on a hook above

me -I was pinned to the chair because
he'd hunkered over me with arms like jaws
pried open by the chair arms. "Do you love

me?" he began to sob. "Say you love me!"
I held out. I was probably fifteen.
What had happened? Had my mother- had she

said or done something? Or had he just been
drinking too long after work? "He'll get mean,"
my sister hissed, "just tell him." I brought my knee

up to kick him, but was too scared. Nothing
could have got the words out of me then. Rage
shut me up, yet "DO YOU?" was beginning

to peel, as of live layers of skin, age
from age from age from him until he gazed
through hysteria as a wet baby thing

repeating, "Do you love me? Say you do,"
in baby chokes, only loud, for they came
from a man. There wouldn't be a rescue

from my mother, still at work. The same
choking sobs said, "Love me, love me," and my game
was breaking down because I couldn't do

anything, not escape into my own
refusal, I won't, I won't, not fantasize
a kind, rich father, not fill the narrowed zone,

empty except for confusion until the size
of my fear ballooned as I saw his eyes,
blurred, taurean- my sister screamed- unknown,

unknown to me, a voice rose and levelled
off, "I love you," I said. "Say 'I love you,
Dad!'" "I love you, Dad," I whispered, levelled

by defeat into a cardboard image, untrue,
unbending. I was surprised I could move
as I did to get up, but he stayed, burled

onto the chair- my monstrous fear- she screamed,
my sister, "Dad, the phone! Go answer it!"
The phone wasn't ringing, yet he seemed

to move toward it, and I ran. He had a fit-
"It's not ringing!"- but I was at the edge of it
as he collapsed into the chair and blamed

both of us at a distance. No, the phone
was not ringing. There was no world out there,
so there we remained, completely alone.

--Molly Peacock

Hatred

I shall hate you
Like a dart of singing steel
Shot through still air
At even-tide,
Or solemnly
As pines are sober
When they stand etched
Against the sky.
Hating you shall be a game
Played with cool hands
And slim fingers.
Your heart will yearn
For the lonely splendor
Of the pine tree
While rekindled fires
In my eyes
Shall wound you like swift arrows.
Memory will lay its hands
Upon your breast
And you will understand
My hatred.

--Gwendolyn Bennett

Summer Internship/Program Opportunities around the area

As we move into February, the time to apply to summer programs is beginning to dwindle.

For students who are interested in doing something a little different this summer, the following list of summer programs may inspire you. This is only a partial list, so if you don't see anything that interests you, feel free to stop by the CDC to check out other programs.

Summer Scholars Program at St. Peter's College:

Each summer Saint Peter's College offers outstanding high school students entering their senior or junior years the opportunity to participate in their Summer Scholars Program. High school students who successfully complete the program will earn three college credits (a $2,200 value), learn from full time Saint Peter's College professors and experience the richness of college life. The fee for participating in the Summer Scholars Program is $300.

The 2007 program classes will meet from July 9 to August 9, on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from am until 12 noon.

The classes will be conducted on a colloquium model: a one-day (Monday) general Scholars meeting, and two days (Wednesday and Thursday) of individual class meetings. General Scholars meetings will include performances and presentations by scholars and professionals representing the various fields of studies represented in the Summer Scholars Program: the sciences, the arts, and the social sciences. Selected students will be able to choose from one of the following four courses:

Human Cytogenetics - A lecture and lab in human genetics, with a focus on human cytogenetics--the study of chromosomes. During the semester you will discuss various ethical biomedical issues that arise because of advances in medical genetics. (12 student limit).

Civilization and Disease - An interdisciplinary survey of the impact of disease on human history, during the course of which you will consider the following questions, and more: the Black Death versus nuclear war - is recovery the same? What is the evolutionary correlation between malaria and sickle cell anemia? What are the similarities and differences between the 1918 Spanish Flu and present day avian flu?

The Psychology of Drama - What makes people act the way they do? In this interdisciplinary course you will consider the question of human motivation from both the analytical viewpoint of psychology and the descriptive viewpoint of dramatic literature, on the page and in performance. In the process you will match up modern psychological theories with plays from ancient times to today -- from Freud and Oedipus, Erickson and Shakespeare, to Liberation Psychology and Post-Colonial Drama.

Seminar: The Epic, Ancient and Modern - War, the relationship between the divine and the human, heroism, friendship, love, anger: these are some of the themes of the ancient Greek poet Homer's epic poem, the Iliad. They are also themes familiar in many contemporary works of literature and in films. In this course, you will read epic poetry by ancient Greeks and Romans and also modern writers; you will also watch some "epic" films as you seek to answer the question "what is an epic?".

Applications are due for this program by Friday, April 20, however programs can fill up quickly if you hesitate. There is no application fee. For more information, please visit: http://www.spc.edu/pages/418.asp

ACAP - Accounting Careers Awareness Program

ACAP is a summer residency program consisting of seminars, workshops, lectures, field trips and fun. The residency week will be held at Rutgers University Newark Campus from Sunday, July 1, 2007 through Friday, July 6, 2007. Those chosen for the program will receive a free scholarship to cover all program expenses for the week.

ACAP is designed to help you in three ways:

1. To provide information on careers in accounting and business.

2. To provide information for your personal development.

3. To encourage you to prepare for college.

After completing the residency week you are considered an ACAP Alumnus. As an alumnus, you will be part of a network that offers opportunities to participate in a mentoring program and to apply for college scholarships, internships and part-time employment. All ACAP graduates are encouraged to participate in our alumni program and to use the network in furthering their education and career goals.

Here is what you must do to apply:

1. Have a C (2.0) grade point average or better.

2. Be in the 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade.

3. Complete an application.

4. Obtain approval from your parents and school counselor.

5. Obtain an official copy of your high school transcript.

6. Mail all your information to the address above by April 1, 2007.

NJ Trooper Youth Week

The New Jersey State Police has hosted the Trooper Youth Week Program at their academy in Sea Girt, NJ for the past 40 years. The mission of the program is to educate, encourage, and motivate youth to pursue a career in law enforcement with the New Jersey State Police, other law enforcement agencies or in other aspects of public safety. The program is designed to build self confidence and leadership skills while learning to work together as a team toward a common goal.

The New Jersey State Police is seeking highly motivated students who will be entering their senior year and under 18 years of age to participate in this highly interactive residential program. Program activities include: police scenarios, hands-on practical exercises designed to stimulate a recruits training experience, physical training, and sporting activities. Program availability is limited, therefore candidate selection will be on a first come first serve basis.

Additional information is available here: http://www.njsp.org/about/tyw.html

Coalition Films

About the Internship:

Every semester, Coalition takes in two-three bright, creative, and hard working students and/or recent graduates with a strong interest in pursuing film production and careers in the entertainment industry. They look to train interns and allow them to obtain hands-on experience, as they quickly become an integral part of what Coalition does.

The internships are most often completed on a semester-basis and are designed to give students an insider's perspective on the operations of a production company.

Internships will take place either at our office headquarters in Hoboken, NJ or in various locations depending on the stage of production.

If you're interested in the Coalition internship, please stop by the CDC for more info.

http://www.coalition-films.com/