Award-winning poet gives reading for students
By Kim Puckett
Staff Writer
Award-winning writer and poet Mark Doty read selections from his work as the latest artist in the Kellogg Writers Series on Thursday in the Ruth Lilly Performance Hall.
Doty, author of seven books of poetry and three memoirs, read poems from his previous books and prose from his latest memoir, “Dog Years.”
The author began the reading with a poem entitled “Broadway,” which emphasizes what Doty called “the jewel of love.” He also read poems “Brian Age Seven,” about the self-portrait of a young boy and “Stairs,” which revolves around his faithful, sixteen-year-old dog.
“Lost in the Stars” recounts a specific event that Doty attended in 1992 to benefit people with AIDS. In the poem, he expresses the feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness that he and his friends felt during that time of crisis.
According to Dr. Jennifer Drake, associate professor of English, Doty’s memoirs and poetry are image rich and transcendent.
“His work is very grounded in the physical, daily world,” Drake said. “Then he’ll all of a sudden move into a meditation of something more abstract like death or time or beauty.”
The selection Doty read from “Dog Years” recounted the first time he and his partner Paul had to take their beloved dog to a kennel. The story then moves to 15 years later, as he compares his aging dog to King Lear.
The poet closed the reading with his poem “Heaven for Paul,” about a near plane crash that he experienced. The poem examines the different ways people cope with near-death experiences.
After the reading, the floor was opened for a question-and-answer forum, and Doty held a book signing.
Doty also led a creative writing class for University of Indianapolis students and 11 other people from the community from 12-2 p.m. on Thursday. According to Drake, the class was completely turned over to the accomplished writer, who prompted attendees to write poems of their own.
Drake, along with two other English professors, Elizabeth Weber and Kyoko Amano, serves as a co-director for the Kellogg Writers Series and chose Doty to appear at the University of Indianapolis because of his work and prestige.
“We have all taught Doty’s work because it shows up in anthologies a lot,” Drake said. “We also wanted to invite a high profile writer to come as part of the Kellogg Writers Series and the Spirit and Place Festival.”
Doty’s visit is part of the Spirit and Place Festival as well as the writers’ series. According to the festival’s Web site, the festival is a seventeen-day, non-profit program that serves to bring religion, arts and humanities to the Central Indiana community.
The University of Indianapolis serves as one of the event’s theme partners for 2007.
Two more writers will appear in the Kellogg Writers Series next semsester. Jane Ann Phillips will be at 7:30 p.m. on March 6 in Good Recital Hall. Lee Upton will be the final writer at 8 p.m. on March 27 in the studio theatre in Esch Hall.
