On Wednesday night in Pearlman Lounge, former Brandeis English professor Allen Grossman read from his new book, "Sweet Youth: Poems by a Young Man and an Old Man," as well as from two of his previous books, "How to do Things with Tears" and "The Ether Dome and Other Poems."Grossman called his poems a "conversation, loving almost erotic, between the old man and the young man." He began with his poetry from "How to do Things with Tears," reading the title poem and "Flora's ABC." The 30-some odd people present were then treated to a surprise. This apparently soft-spoken man completely transformed when he began reading. His quiet voice rose significantly and was filled with such passion that you could believe that he was truly 25 years younger than he really was.

Grossman then moved onto his new book, "Sweet Youth," and did his best to explain "what poetry is and what poetry aspires to be." All of his verses had a sad note to them that made me want to cry, but at the same time, I listened in awe as they filled me with new meaning. It was quite obvious, as I looked around the room that night, that most people did not focus on him as he read, but they listened intently on every word that came out of his mouth. The power in his voice as he read his work was enlightening to the point that it made me want to leave right then and there and try to produce a piece just as moving.

He then read two poems from the third book of the evening, "The Ether Dome," "Rose of Sharon" and "Grand Capri." He finished the reading with a few looseleaf poems not included in any of the books: "You Will Be Wrapped in Silk," "Late Summer Rain on a Still Pond" and "My Radiant Eye." These three poems, he commented with a smile, " … answer a question that I have been asked many times over by students, and I even mention in one of the poems, 'How do you merit to live so long?'"

Grossman's ideas about life, God, religion, love, sex, relationships, youth and old age are so profound in his poetry, that one can not help but understand how he won numerous awards, including the garrison Prize for Poetry.

Grossman's poetry will surely be remembered for a long time to come, and he will always be appreciated as one of the finest artists that the Brandeis English department has ever had.