Irish Spring
Faculty Evaluation
21June2001
It is said that many people live their lives and
leave this place without having once let the music in themselves out for the world
to hear. Patrick Hill is one of those encouraging souls, who aids and abets those
whom he comes into contact with to let that music out to soar and enlighten the
world with its tune. His work in both of the Irish studies programs, which I have
had the good fortune to be part of, has been far more rewarding and illuminating
because of his presence.
One of the most important contributions that Patrick has provided to my learning
experience at Evergreen is the parable of 'The King and the Elephant' which relates
directly to Evergreen's focus on multidisciplinary studies. I cannot do his lecture
on it justice here, but suffice to say his use of it in seminar is a most powerful
instructive tool in breaking down our barriers to the concept of individual and
collective truths. It suggests more than anything else that understanding is a
collaborative affair and no singular interpretation should take precedence over
other observations; through the combination of our thoughts and reflections we
come to a fuller and richer awareness of the subject at hand.
Likewise one of the most important contributions to my personal life that has
come out of my undergraduate experience at Evergreen is due to my work with Patrick.
Three years ago when he read Baudeliare's 'Be Always Drunken' I was so struck
by it that I had tears streaming down my face. Similarly, his reading of Mary
Oliver's 'Tecumseh' moved me to tears as well. His concentration on poetry in
the programs has been as much part of the heart and soul of our studies as Seán's
singing or Charlie's oral tradition lectures. The video on Rumi we were encouraged
to watch was a life changing event. So many things discussed therein struck a
chord, and not just with me. "There is little difference between a poem and a
song, a song and a story, a story and a prayer." I was encouraged not only to
return to my own poetic efforts, but as well to read to my companion and especially
my daughter; "feeding the old soul in the child to know they have come to the
right world." Patrick has also been ready to share his own poetry with us, courageously
including ones about his father and his marriage which like the interpretations
in 'The King and the Elephant' are multivalent and at their heart address the
human condition in an honest and open manner.
Although I did not specifically use his suggestion of 'passion cards', as i already
incorporate the concept in the layout of my essay writing, it was probably one
of the most powerful tools many of my peers would learn regarding the writing
process. We were called to incorporate this same idea of 'passion cards' in our
lives by Michael D. Higgins, a socialist parliamentarian in Ireland. Patrick was
instrumental in arranging our discussion with him, of which the primary topic
was vision, and utopia; words to his mind that have been denigrated and derided
much to our mutual distress. The way that these ideas of passion, vision and utopia
dovetail suggests just how important working with Patrick has been for all of
us, challenging us to question the singularity of truth and encouraging us to
shout our own truths into the vortex of illusions. He encourages us to fight the
'banality of evil' with our every breath and our every word, by singing, praying,
or with poetry, as we will.
Patrick's discussions with me after the death of my father were a comforting solace.
He remarked early on during our stay in the Glen about the difficulties of Father
and Son relationships, as the local theater group put on the play Country Boy,
which reminded him of Brian Friel's Philadelphia, Here I Come. Little did
he know that this would be a point of intercession for us personally. His sharing
of stories about his own troubled relationship with his father helped me immeasurably.
I was struggling with my attempt to find memories and experiences with my father
that were positive for a poem boiling in my brain. He shared a story about his
own father's attempt to make the gesture of acceptance by asking another boy in
the neighborhood to take him to a baseball game; one of his passions. Unfortunately
for Patrick the boy was a Yankee fan and he had to sit through a game of his own
favorite team's rival. I found he was struggling in much the same way with his
own memories concerning his father's need to have the heat always on in his New
York home and the chill of his Donegal cabin during our stay in the Glen. His
presence during this time was a boon beyond recognition, I will always be grateful
for his guiding hand in recognizing those moments when a father attempted to bridge
the wide gulf of silence between himself and his son. After my return to Olympia
I was rewarded with an image for the poem concerning my father; while he turned
the hand crank of an ice-cream maker, i sat on the bar holding down the bucket
of soon to be delicious home made vanilla ice cream that we made together.
I feel honored to have basked in the warmth and light of Patrick Hill. He has
always encouraged my work and suggested to others that my observations were worthy
of further discussion. I am grateful to have stood in the long line of his students,
and my passionate wish is that my own students will be as rewarded by my presence
as I have been by his. I would encourage any and every student at Evergreen to
learn from this wise philosopher and give condolences to those who will not have
that opportunity in years to come.