BY EMMA COOPER ’20

“For those of you who have not yet experienced the power and impact of her words — prepare yourselves,” said the announcer on the makeshift stage in the Hampshire College Robert Crown Center. “Mary Lambert makes you feel a lot of emotions.” On March 2, Lambert performed from her recently released book of poetry, “Shame Is an Ocean I Swim Across,” at Hampshire College’s 10th annual Five College Queer, Gender and Sexuality Conference. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, musician and spoken word artist showcased her wide array of talents throughout the night by setting her poems to music.