On Wednesday night, acclaimed poet Elyse Fenton joined N.C . State Professor of English Dorianne Laux for an intimate evening of poetry. The event, held in the Craft Center in Thompson Hall, saw a crowd of about 100 people, made up of students, colleagues, and friends of the poets.
Fenton, a native of Massachusetts, has been featured in the New York Times, National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered”, and the poetry publication, “Best New Poets”. She recently published her first collection of poetry, Clamor, in 2010. The collection was selected as the winner of the 2009 Cleveland State University Poetry Center First Book Award, as well as winning the 2010 University of Wales Dylan Thomas Prize.
While studying for a masters of fine arts at the University of Oregon, she was taught by Professor Laux . Fenton credits the maturity and development of her poetry to her former teacher.
“More than any other teacher, [Professor Laux ] helped me find that nerve [in my poetry],” Fenton said. “It was exactly what I needed to be told.”
Professor Laux , who has authored five books of poetry, has received numerous fellowships and two Best American Poetry Prizes. In 2001, the Poet Laureate, Stanley Kuntz , selected her to read at the Library of Congress. Laux’s poems have appeared in numerous publications, including The American Poetry Review, The Seattle Review, and the Cimarron Review. Her work has also been translated into many different languages.
Laux has taught in the MFA (Master of Fine Arts) program at N.C . State since 2008.
Following a brief introduction from the Director of Creative Writing, John Balaban , Laux read six of her poems from her latest collection, The Book of Men. She began her reading with an explanation of the title of the work.
“[The] book is about men,” Laux said. “Men that I know, men that I have seen on the street, men from my past.”
Upon this, Laux dove into a poem about apples, and their historical importance in the past centuries. She followed with several poems more relevant to the theme of her collection: men. Subjects and themes included Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger , lamentation and loneliness, and what it means to be a man. She finished with a poetic ode to her mentor, current Poet Laureate Philip Levine.
Laux then introduced Fenton, while expressing the deep gratification she received from reading with her former pupil. Fenton began with several poems from Clamor, almost all of which had a dark tone. The poems were Fenton’s expressions of the phone calls she would have with her husband, a medic in the United States’ Military in Iraq.
At times, the readings were violent and graphic, while the presentation was steady and somber. The readings were a contrast to the bright personality of Fenton, who had the crowd laughing with her stories and quick wit.
She then veered from Clamor and read some of her newer poems, which featured contrasting subjects, such as her daughter and the capture of Osama Bin Laden.
Fenton finished to a warm reception and patiently answered many questions from the crowd. She cherishes the time she gets to interact with others interested in her poetry, joking, “Writing is lonely.”
“[Touring] allows me to meet [and read] to an attentive audience,” she added. “[All with] the hope that a non-poet will be converted.”
Emily Scotton , a junior in English, viewed the event as very important to NC State’s young Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing Program, which is only in its eighth year.
“[These readings] emphasize the validity and strength of the program,” Scotton said. “I’m now really interested in taking a creative writing course.”
Scotton’s new-found interest in poetry represents just the type of possible convert Elyse Fenton hopes for.
