WMU to be represented in 'Town vs. Gown' poetry reading

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—A Western Michigan University professor and two instructors are slated to take part in a "Town vs. Gown" competitive poetry reading in September.

The event is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the Kalamazoo Public Library. Members of the gown contingent include Dr. Daneen Wardrop, WMU professor of English, Hedy Habra, a WMU Spanish instructor and Melanie Crow, who teaches writing and literature at both WMU and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. They will be joined on the gown team by Isaac Turner, who is on the KVCC faculty.

The poets

Wardrop, an internationally known poet-scholar, is the author of several books and the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship. She was named a WMU Distinguished Faculty Scholar in 2013. A book of poems, "Cyclorama," written in voices from the Civil War era, is due in early 2015.

Habra is the author of "Tea in Heliopolis," a finalist for the 2014 International Poetry Book Award, and "Flying Carpets," winner of the 2013 Arab American Book Award's Honorable Mention and a finalist for the 2014 Eric Hoffer Book Award.

Crow  served as poetry editor of Third Coast and North Country, and her work has appeared in Agni Online, Jellybucket, Mid-American Review, Nimrod and other journals and publications.

WMU also will be represented on the town team by Dr. Arnie Johnston, professor and chair emeritus of the Department of English. His books include the poetry collections "What the Earth Taught Us" and "Sonnets: Signs and Portents" and "The Witching Voice: A Novel from the Life of Robert Burns." He had his wife, Deborah Ann Percy, have collaborated on more than 50 plays, many of which have garnered production, awards and publication across the United States. He will be joined by fellow town members Margaret DeRitter, Buddy Hannah and Elizabeth Kerlikowske.

The Kalamazoo Public Library is located at 315 Rose St. in downtown Kalamazoo. The event, sponsored by Friends of Poetry, is free and open to the public.

For more information

For more information, contact Kerlikowske at mme642@aol.com or Janet Heller at janetheller@charter.net.