Perhaps one good reason that David LaMotte left the Eastern Shore a few decades ago was to escape the daily confusion of sharing his name with his cousin, David LaMotte, president of LaMotte Chemical, when both Davids worked at the small manufacturer of scientific equipment in Kent County. The more plausible cause however was David’s lifelong love of literature and poetry.
David left Chestertown to return to his alma mater, Phillips Exeter Academy, to start a new life as a English teacher in 1993 and ended his career last spring as the head of the English Department at the Princeton Day School. During that time, he freely admits he was a proud member of the “old school,” insisting his students memorize poetry as a requirement for passing his classes.
That love of poetry has led David to discover the remarkable effects it can have with those in hospice care, starting with his father. Seeking a new way to communicate with his dad as his father prepared for the end of life, David would recite from memory the loves that both he and his father had enjoyed in earlier years. The results had a dramatic effect on both father and son, but also other family members and particularly the hospice staff.
In his Spy interview, David talks about the constructive role poetry can play in the lives of people, particularly those who seek its power during this important part of life’s journey. He also recites stanzas that have had a powerful impact on the lives of those in hospice, their families, and the devoted volunteers and staff involved in their care.
This video is approximately four minutes in length. For those interested in poetry and hospice care, David has established a website on the subject here or contact him at [email protected]
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