Palmer Shares Poetry from New Chapbook
William Palmer will share poetry from his award-winning chapbook, A String of Blue Lights, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25 in the Alma College Library. Admission is free and open to the public.
A String of Blue Lights consists of 25 poems inspired by moments and memories from Palmer’s own life.
“The poems are personal,” says Palmer, a member of the Alma College
English faculty since 1977. “They’re about moments of awe or
beauty or moments of emotional friction.”
Although the poems were influenced by his experiences, the poems’
themes—including grief, forgiveness, spirituality, love and finding
one’s true self—expressed through vivid sensory details and powerful,
evocative language, will speak to all listeners.
“The poet’s job is to tell the truth,” says Palmer. “If my poems
work, they will resonate with the people listening, and hopefully
others will feel more deeply the mystery and the beauty of life.”
Palmer entered the collection of poems in a national chapbook contest
sponsored by Pudding House Publications of Columbus, Ohio.
Winning fourth place, Palmer’s chapbook was published as part of the
Pudding House Chapbook Series.
Pudding House is a traditional, royalty-paying publishing house that
specializes in poetry. Since 1980, Pudding House has been publishing an
affiliated magazine as well as chapbooks, books and anthologies by
poets from all over the United States and other countries.
Palmer has had many of his poems, essays and articles published in a variety of journals and magazines. Palmer’s book, Discovering Arguments: An Introduction to Critical Thinking and Writing, with Readings was published in 2002, and the second edition in 2005.
Palmer says that his friend, colleague and fellow-writer Robert Vivian,
who wanted to celebrate the chapbook being published, encouraged and
motivated him to give the reading. This will be Palmer’s first solo
reading.
“It’s a good time for poetry at Alma College,” Palmer says.
In addition to Palmer’s reading on Sept. 25th, Poet Laureate and
Pulitzer Prize winner Ted Kooser visits the Alma College campus for a
reading on Oct. 15. The College also welcomes poet John Rybicki to the
campus to teach poetry and creative writing courses.
Copies of A String of Blue Lights will be available to purchase at Palmer's readiner.
-mjs-
Posted: Mon, September 17th, 2007 at 10:58AM
