Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship, for the Times Argus
BURLINGTON — Despite writing poems since his high school years, 83-year-old Geof Hewitt still doesn’t consider himself a poet.
Even so, Hewitt is well known across Vermont for his poetry and performances. He is Vermont’s reigning slam poetry champion and has published several books on poetry. He has taught the craft in schools and in prisons.
And Hewitt isn’t done with poetry yet. He still participates in weekly poetry slams in his hometown of Calais and last month hosted a slam event in Hardwick, which crowned its own local champion. He also has more poems in the works and is relishing his time of writing without a deadline.
“I do it,” he said, “because it brings me joy.”
Originally from New Jersey, Hewitt came to Vermont in 1970 to visit some family. During his visit, he saw a piece of land and bought it with the hopes of creating a hippie commune, he said. That plan didn’t come to fruition, but Hewitt kept writing.
He eventually got a job at the Vermont Department of Education, but poetry was his passion. Hewitt led poetry workshops for high school students and got a number of books published, both collections of his own work and guides for teaching students how to write.
After many years of practice, Hewitt is keen that poetry is individual.
“Understand that poetry is any damn thing you wanna call it,” Hewitt said.
Most importantly, he added, “you need to get pen moving on paper.”
In 2003, Hewitt won Vermont’s statewide poetry slam championship. There hasn’t been one since, so Hewitt still holds the title. Still, he says he’d welcome another event.
“They are a talent show on steroids,” he said.
Every Thursday, Hewitt reads at an open mic at the Whammy Bar in Calais. After seeing him perform one night, fellow poet Stella James began attending every week.
“I really admire Geof. The first time I watched him perform, I smiled from ear to ear. It made my week,” she said.
James said she writes poetry to express her innermost thoughts.
“Poetry allows me to convey emotion without needing to explain anything. I can paint a picture, and people see it,” she said. “As much as it makes me cringe, I just have to get it out there. Witnessing and being witnessed is what it’s all about.”
“For me, Geof lights the way to celebrating life through prose,” she continued. “He gives me so much hope. Maybe I, too, can survive all the days ahead with my eyes open.”
Samantha Kolber, owner of Rootstock Publishing in Montpelier, said Hewitt was a formative figure when she pursued a degree in creative writing as an adult student. She recalled how Hewitt would give students a prompt and have them write continuously for seven minutes.
When she began submitting her work to publishers, she looked back to a lesson Hewitt had taught her: “No one is going to discover you; you have to discover yourself.”
“He absolutely served as a mentor for me. Everything I know about poetry I learned from him,” Kolber said.
For aspiring slam poets, Hewitt has even more advice. He said it’s natural and important to be nervous for open mic events, as it shows you care.
“Don’t let the nervousness drive the presentation. Enjoy the adrenaline rush without acting on it,” Hewitt said, adding that poets don’t need to be themselves when they write.
“Adopt a persona, be absurd,” he said.
As for himself, Hewitt plans to continue writing and inspiring others to do the same.
“I’m glad to be alive, and I hope my being expresses that through everything I say and do,” he said.