Father and son duo Marvin and Nathan Bell visit Center for Poetry

By Kelsey Block Poet Marvin Bell and songwriter Nathan Bell joined the RCAH Center for Poetry on November 11 as guests in our annual Fall Writing Series. Marvin Bell served two terms as the state of Iowa’s first poet laureate. His son, Nathan Bell is a singer and songwriter. Click here to listen to the

Poem of the Week: from “Ampersand Revisited,” by Simeon Berry

II. I’d like to walk again in her weather, in the dark through the fog, its gray damage laid down all over town. When she couldn’t bring herself to get up from the bed, Belinda would say it was like being the most stylish drowned person in the whole universe. It was the only likeness

2015 Richard Benvenuto High School Poetry Competition Winners

Each fall, the RCAH Center for Poetry holds the Richard Benvenuto High School Poetry Competition, cosponsored by the Mid-Michigan chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters. Richard Ercole Benvenuto taught in the English Department at Michigan State University for 20 years. From his office in Morrill Hall he conducted grad student seminars and

Folklorists visit Center for Poetry as part of Fall Writing Festival

My heart, my soul, my spirit flies, As I walk with granny one more time… Folklorists Michael and Carrie Nobel Kline joined the RCAH Center for Poetry as part of the annual Fall Writing Series. Throughout the week of October 27, the musicians visited classes, facilitated conversations and gave a performance in the RCAH Theater.

Center for Poetry Fall 2015 Events – Save the Date!

Welcome back, poetry people! The RCAH Center for Poetry is excited to be up and running again, led by our new assistant director, Laurie Hollinger. Laurie graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Arts and Humanities and Creative Writing. Also new to our team are interns Frances Master and Grace Carras. Frances is a

2014 Fall Writing Series wraps up with nonfiction writer

By Kelsey Block On Wednesday, Nov. 19, the Center for Poetry welcomed nonfiction writer Jim Minick as the last guest in the Fall Writing Series. Throughout the week, Minick visited two RCAH classes in addition to reading from his memoir, The Blueberry Years: A Memoir a Farm and Family and an essay in which he explores the

Writing pair visits Center for Poetry

By Kelsey Block The Center for Poetry welcomed writers and teachers Rick Mulkey and Susan Tekulve for round two of the Fall Writing Series. Mulkey is the author of five collections of poetry and Tekulve is a short story writer and the author of the novel, In the Garden of Stone. Currently, Mulkey and Tekulve