Poets Headline CSM Connections Series
The College of Southern Maryland’s spring 2016 Connections series will feature Naomi Shihab Nye, Michael Glaser, and Demetria Martinez, three award-winning poets and authors.
They will explore “how poetry can help us address the complex issues of our times, prod us to more fully embrace our own humanity and shine light on the ways that the long arc of history may bend toward the arc of justice and peace,” noted Neal Dwyer, Connections coordinator and CSM professor.
A prolific poet, Ms. Nye has been a Lannan Fellow, a Guggenheim Fellow and a Witter Bynner Fellow in addition to having been awarded numerous honors including awards from the International Poetry Forum and the Texas Institute of Letters.
Ms. Nye will read from and discuss her work in the framework of an informal conversation with Mr. Glaser, who served as poet laureate of Maryland from 2004 to 2009. He is professor emeritus at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and serves on the board for the Maryland Humanities Council. A co-leader of retreats which embrace poetry, both through writing and reading, as a means of self-reflection and personal growth, Mr. Glaser has published seven collections of poetry, edited three anthologies and co-edited a collection of the poems of Lucille Clifton.
Ms. Martinez is an author, poet, activist, and journalist based in New Mexico. Her work is particularly relevant, Mr. Dwyer noted, at a time when issues of immigration have generated national debate. She considers her writing and activism as ways to explore and bridge borders between people.
Connections readings will be held with Ms. Nye and Mr. Glaser at 7:30 pm March 3 at the La Plata campus Fine Arts Center, and with Ms. Martinez at 7:30 pm April 1 at the Leonardtown campus Building A auditorium. Rounding out the series will be the Connections literary magazine publication reading at 7:30 pm May 6 at the La Plata campus Center for Business and Industry.
Deadline is March 17 to submit poetry, short stories or black-and-white photography for consideration in the Connections magazine.
Tickets for the March and April Connections readings are $3 in advance or with a CSM student ID, or $5 at the event. The Connections magazine reading May 6 is free.
For advance tickets, contact [email protected] or 301-934-7828.
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