The Poet as Citizen
Does the poet feel an unspoken responsibility to act as the social conscience of humanity? When poets write, are they obligated to seek truths that resonate beyond the writing self? Or is poetic consciousness best rendered into words when all thought of moral or social responsibilities are forgotten? How does a poet balance moral and aesthetic sensibilities? When is a poet or poem said to be "political," and why? And, finally, what does the average citizen gain by reading or writing poetry; what does he lose by its absence? We don’t expect that such a provocative laundry list of questions can be adequately addressed in one session, but the hope is that this panel will spark interest in opening a dialogue about how poetry helps shape and change individual and social consciousness and why the reading and writing of poetry is an important function of a democracy.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
about the panelists
• Kathleen Aguero is the author of two volumes of poetry, The Real Weather and Thirsty Day, and co-editor of three collections of multi-cultural literature: A Gift of Tongues, An Ear to the Ground, and Daily Fare. Here new manuscript, Sister/Legend, has been a finalist for the TS Eliot Award, the May Swenson Poetry Award, the Salmon Run Press National Poetry Book Award, the New Issues Press Green Rose Series, and the William Blake Prize, among others. She is an associate professor of English at Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
• Stephen P. Barba began his lifelong career at the Balsams in 1959 when he attended the caddy camp at age 13. He continued summer season employment through graduate school and then in 1971 joined the year-round management team. Today, he is president and managing partner of the Balsams. His awards include New Hampshire Travel Person of the Year, New Hampshire Innkeeper of the Year, and National Resort Executive of the Year. The Balsams is designated four stars by the Mobil Travel Guide and is listed on the National Register for Historic Places.
• Shaun Griffin is the founding director of Community Chest, a non-profit agency serving children and families in northwestern Nevada, and the former founding director of the state's homeless education office. For the past 12 years he has volunteered at Northern Nevada Correctional Center to teach a poetry workshop. His last book of poems was Bathing in the River of Ashes, published by the University of Nevada Press in 1999. Death to Silence (translations from the Chilean poet, Emma Sepúlveda) was released by Arte Público Press in 1997.
• Philosopher, theologian, and author Lee Rouner was educated at the Choate School, the Uppinham School, Harvard College, Harvard Divinity School, Union Theological Seminary in New York and Columbia University. He taught philosophy and theology at the United Theological College in Bangalore, India for five years in the early 60’s. Since 1970 he has been professor of philosophy, religion and philosophical theology and later director of the Institute for Philosophy and Religion at Boston University. He has written or edited some twenty-three books, including a memoir about the death of his son, The Long Way Home.
• Richard W. Moore lives in Deerfield, NH. Currently the president of the Audubon Society of New Hampshire, his career has often focused on the intersection of art and policy, voice and vote. Since coming to New Hampshire in 1972 he has spent time in the pulpit, the organ loft, the university, and the woodlot. He has published a chapbook of poems, "Something Like Deerfield," and can't resist an open mike.
© 2003 Poetry & Politics. All Rights Reserved.
