Local poets to ready work Wednesday at library
By From staff reports
Published in News on March 18, 2012 1:50 AM
Four aspiring poets, three from Wayne County, will read their original poetry at the Wayne County Public Library Wednesday as part of the Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poetry Series.
The annual series, which accepts entries from middle school, high school, college and adult poetry students in eastern North Carolina, gives the four winners the opportunity to work with a nationally renowned poet -- this year, Dr. Michael White, professor of creative writing at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
The selected students this year, out of 18 eastern North Carolina counties, are college level poets, Lauren Glisson and Rachel Almen of Wayne Community College; adult level poet Nancy Seate, a retired Wayne County Public Schools elementary art teacher with 30 years of experience; and, from Wilson County, the student level poet, Elizabeth Dogbe from Toisnot Middle School.
White's honors for poetry and prose include an NEA Fellowship, several NCAC Fellowships, the Colorado Prize, the Vassar Miller Prize and the William Matthews Prize. His work has been published in magazines and anthologies, including The Paris Review, The New Republic, The Kenyon Review, The New England Review, The Missouri Review and The Best American Poetry annual. His three books of poetry are, "The Island," "Palma Cathedral," and "Re-Entry." He also will read his own work Wednesday.
The program, which is sponsored by the North Carolina Arts Council and the North Carolina Center for the Book, is open to the public and will begin at 7 p.m.