The first anniversary party for Per Contra: The International Journal of the Arts, Science and Ideas (http://www.percontra.net) was held Tuesday, November 28 in the A.J. Drexel Picture Gallery of Drexel University’s Main Building, with about 60 guests in attendance.

Surrounded by elegant gilt-framed paintings, Miriam Kotzin, one of founding editors of Per Contra and the director of Drexel’s Certificate Program in Writing and Publishing in the department of English and Philosophy, opened the event by offering a generous thanks to everyone involved with the journal, and to all those who came to show their support and share their work.

Bill Turner, the journal’s other founding editor, spoke next about how Per Contra evolved from a "harebrained idea" to the respected journal it is today in only a single year. He then graciously introduced the first reader of the night.

Daniel Hoffman spoke first, and is the author of 11 books of poetry and a former Poet Laureate Consultant to the Library of Congress from 1973-1974. After reading his first poem, an ironic contemplation on Edgar Allen Poe and grief counseling, he then read a witty poem from his book of sonnets.

"Sonnets aren’t easy," Hoffman said. "It took me 50 years to write this book." Hoffman stated that students often ask where his poems originate, and he replies that inspiration can be drawn from anywhere. To demonstrate this he read a poem titled "The Devotion", which was inspired by the scrimshaws found in the Mariners’ Museum in Searsport, Maine. He read several more poems and ended with a moving poem about his wife, who died last year.

David Slavitt then took the podium. Slavitt has published 87 books of poetry and fiction, and has translated works in Latin and Greek. He said that people often remark there is "not enough joy" in his poetry (or poetry in general) and, to counter this notion, he read poems designed to make the audience laugh. He succeeded. In a histrionic voice, he read a poem about his relationship with the "mad" poet Delmore Schwartz, and followed it with a poem containing a single word – "motherless" – deconstructed by a long list of footnotes. The hilarious poem had the audience laughing out loud, even squealing. He followed with a sestina called "No, A Sestina," which also delighted the audience.

Paula Cohen, a Distinguished Professor of English at Drexel, co-editor of jml: the Journal of Modern Literature and the host of The Drexel InterView, read from her novel-in-progress, a historical thriller set in 1880s London and featuring the three James siblings: William, Henry and Alice. Her selection was a humorous chapter featuring Henry James recounting the events that lead to the discovery of a dead body.

Elaine Terranova read some very spiritual, thoughtful poems in her soft-spoken voice. Terranova is the author of three books of poetry, and is the recipient of two Pennsylvania Council of the Arts grants, the Walt Whitman award and a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Literature.

Lynn Levin, who has published two collections of poems and was named Bucks County Poet Laureate, read several odes, including one to hair, and one to an exit sign. Then, in an ode to 60s television, Levin read an amusing sestina featuring the show Leave it to Beaver.

Richard Burgin read an intense short story about a one-night-stand that went dangerously awry. Burgin is the founder and editor of the international journal Boulevard, author of 12 books and five-time recipient of the Pushcart Prize.

The evening – sponsored by The Drexel Collection, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Certificate Program in Writing and Publishing, the department of English and Philosophy, and Magnificent Minds – closed with a final thank you and a table full of fruit, cookies and drinks while poets, writers, staff and students mingled.