In celebration of National Poetry Month, members of the English, Foreign Languages and English as a Second Language Department have shared the work of well-known poets throughout April in the Campus Chronicle and Student Announcements. Today’s, final posting deviates to present the work of two, HVCC poets.
In memoriam, we honor Noah Kucij, assistant professor of English and a gifted poet, who died unexpectedly on April 5. He left us far too early, but his work will always remind us of his incredible talent. He is sorely missed. Noah earned the SUNY Albany Poetry Prize in 2016 for the following poem.
“The Belt”
by Noah Kucij
Eleventh hour on some clocks, though
in Walmart the celestial fixtures
never blink. At home the dog,
a virus slashing through her gut,
might die. I’m in the beauty aisle,
and then the tools, the drugs, to find
a dropper good for force-feeding,
towels to absorb the awful
torrents, find some potion of
electrolytes and faith. The other
quiet millers mill around
with carts of diapers, milk, and Softsoap,
shirts untucked and shoulders loaded
down with care. We merge into
a single lane, we slap our stories
on the belt, and it might be
exhaustion, but I want to kiss
the haggard cashier older than
my mother, want to buy the waitress
still in uniform her cans
of soup, to say for the adult son
with Depends, Ensure, and Lysol
any prayer he wants. I watch us
in our last, most honest minutes
putting bread on credit, double-
bagging bleach and ketchup, trying
to keep what we love alive.
Originally published in “32 Poems” (Issue 10.2, October 2012).
Also in memoriam, we present the poetry of Fatima Shah Hussain, a 2012 graduate who was editor of The Hudsonian while at HVCC. She went on to earn advanced degrees and work as both an engineer and teacher, while always pursuing her interest in creative writing. One of two poems by Fatima that were published in 2013 edition of “Threads,” the college’s annual literary and arts magazine, is featured below. Fatima died unexpectedly in November 2022 from complications of long COVID.
“Things I Do”
by Fatima Hussain
I look at you. Tomorrow ends
all the universe, so I do
feed my soul upon the vision
that is, you. Hungry irises,
angelic face devoured through.
I smile at you. Expresses naught
the voice in words, so I do
glow the light of flaming suns to
beam at you. Contagion of joy,
man of halo granted his due.
I think of you. Intellect hums
its chaos in tunes, so I do
calm the mind by harmonies of
life in you. Beatific thoughts,
bird of glorious wingspan flew.
I dream of you. Extinguish eyes
with thoughts adoring, so I do
let my slumber be possessed by
sights of you. Paradise in sleep,
white-robed being floating in view.
I love for you. Existing wants
for channeled worship, so I do
breathe immortal devotion in,
out to you. Reverential soul,
mighty seraph without a clue.
Editor’s note: In addition to Jennifer Austin, Joshua Kohan provided the content for the articles published during National Poetry Month. Both are assistant professors in the Department of English, Foreign Languages and English as a Second Language.