The Ferris Department of English, Literature and World Languages recently hosted the 25th annual Literature in Person event.
Each year, for April’s National Poetry Month, Ferris celebrates poetry by inviting a poet to campus.
This year, Ferris hosted Phillip Sterling, the founding coordinator of the Literature in Person series and a Ferris State Emeritus Professor.
Sterling has published several books, one of which he read poems from at the recent Literature in Person event.
Sterling has received many awards, one being the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Poetry.
In celebration of April’s National Poetry Month, Sterling led an introduction to creative writing class at Ferris and read poems from his newest book, “Lessons in Geography: The Education of a Michigan Poet,” later in the evening.
Sterling reflected on what it meant to return to Ferris. He uses these opportunities as a chance to present to various crowds.
“It’s an opportunity to share my writing with people who might not pick up a book, or who would rather listen to it,” Sterling said.
Literature in Person gives students and community members a chance to make connections with literature that they may not otherwise read.
Poetry readings make poetry accessible to those who can’t access the art form by reading it themselves, as well as those who prefer to listen to writers read their work aloud.
Sterling shared the sentiment he tries to leave behind for those in attendance.
“I hope they’re entertained and maybe inspired to do some writing of their own or maybe look at things a different way,” Sterling said.
The audience was silent as they listened to Sterling read and recall stories from his childhood, describing how he acquired so many of his scars.
Jane Wheeler, Sterling’s wife of 12 years, often accompanies him when traveling and reading his work.
Wheeler discussed how she enjoys being able to travel together and see the reactions of those listening to his work.
“I love listening to him read because I think he’s an exceptional reader, but I also love the people’s reactions,” Wheeler said.
Community members and students from Ferris were present at the evening reading.
Pine River High School’s creative writing club attended the event, participating in the class session taught by Sterling and the evening reading event.
Retired Ferris professor of 25 years Olive Mullet was among those who listened to Sterling read his work.
Mullet noted that she enjoyed seeing Sterling and was satisfied with the event.
“I enjoyed catching up on what he’s been writing,” Mullet said.
Following Sterling’s reading of his newest book, there was a book sale and signing in which several students, Ferris alum and Big Rapids community members had the chance to meet Sterling and talk to him about his work.
Literature in Person events are held throughout the year, bringing in and out-of-state authors to campus to share their work.
Among those helping put on Literature in Person were the Assistant Department Chair, Creative Writing and Literature in Person Coordinator and professor Deirdre Fagan.
Fagan described the importance of introducing people to poetry, especially to impressionable students.
“Poetry is a heightened form of expression. It is the way we would speak, if only we could,” Fagan said. “Celebrating poetry is therefore celebrating language and the gift of communication. It is a celebration of what it means to be human.”
April is a month that is important to many who enjoy poetry, and it provides the opportunity for poets to share their work with the world.
To learn more about the Literature in Person series and upcoming events, see the English department’s Literature in Person website.