UIndy alumna reads poetry
The University of Indianapolis hosted Teresa Middleton as part of the Kellogg Writers Series in Good Recital Hall on Nov. 10.
Middleton, a UIndy graduate, returned to the university to read poems from her book “Junk DNA: A Collection of Sonnets.” She received the 2010 Kenneth and Geraldine Gell Poetry Prize for her work.
The book contains 100 sonnets separated into ten strands. Each strand focuses on a different part of life. Each strand contains ten poems, and every poem begins with the word or phrase that ended the previous poem.
The idea for “Junk DNA” came from an interview Middleton heard about scientists only knowing about what two percent of human DNA is for. The rest of the DNA is jokingly referred to as junk. Middleton feels adamantly that it is not junk.
“Nothing in nature is that wasteful,” she said.
In 2000, Middleton published a collection of poems entitled “Core and Seed.” While she did enjoy writing the poetry, she feels “Junk DNA” is more experienced.
“It feels like it [“Junk DNA”] is coming from a more authentic place. I wasn’t given the prompts. I just discovered them on my own,” Middleton said. “I kind of like writing better by myself.”
In addition to writing, Middleton teaches English at Ben Davis High School. During the school year, she struggles to find time to write, so she dedicates time once a week to read poetry, journal and plan out her next poem.
“If it’s just work, work, work all the time, and I don’t do something to nourish myself, that’s never a good thing,” Middleton said. “Sometimes I have to be really disciplined about making time for me.”
Associate Professor of English Elizabeth Weber directs the Kellogg Writers Series and is the person responsible for bringing Middleton to campus. Weber said some of the reasons she chose Middleton were that she is a UIndy alumna, published author, award winner and an inspiration to students.
Weber began the Kellogg Writers Series in 1994. She wanted it to be a connection to the community and invite its members to come and listen to prestigious writers. She also saw it as an opportunity for students to see that success is possible.
“I think it helps to broaden students,” Weber said. “When I bring in a writer, I see the students’ writing go way up. They really benefit from it.”
Senior English education major Amy Westberry attended the reading and was pleased by what she heard.
“I liked the fact that even though it [the work] was written in a sonnet, which is very conformed and very specific with its structure, it didn’t seem like a sonnet,” Westberry said. “It didn’t seem like the rhymes were stressed or odd. It just flowed.”
Weber thought “Junk DNA” was an incredible achievement. She said the five years it took Middleton to write the book did not seem like such a long time, considering its quality.
“These poems are absolutely exquisite. They are so crafted that they are like cut glass. There are no words wasted. It’s very imagistic,” Weber said. “Each word counts. Each poem becomes like a miniature portrait of part of the world. And I think that that’s why they were chosen to win this award.”
The poems in “Junk DNA” did not focus on Middleton’s personal life. They describe the world around her. She turns the poetic lens outward.
“The more that I read it [the book], the more I am amazed at how she put it together, how she came up with this idea,” Weber said.
Middleton enjoyed returning to UIndy to read her poems and talk with classes.
“The students were so warm and friendly,” she said. “The faculty members were very gracious and warm. I wasn’t nearly as nervous as I thought I’d be.”
Middleton has begun a new project, which will be written in free verse and is about tenants in an apartment building.
