Mr. Gerald Stern, the first Poet-Laureate of New Jersey and the
author of twelve books of poetry will be conducting a poetry reading February 19, at 7:00
p.m. in the Panola College Ballroom.
Mr. Stern has been the recipient of many awards including a
Guggenheim Fellowship, three National Endowment of the Arts Fellowships, the Lamont Poetry
Prize, the Ruth Lily Prize and the National Book Award.
Mr. Stern will conduct a Master Poets Workshop for local poets in the
afternoon and a reading for the public at 7 pm in the Ballroom.
Bernie Bruster, Instructor and the Panola College Letters Department,
helped to arrange for Mr. Stern’s visit to the College. “Mr. Stern’s visit
to East Texas is being sponsored by Jean and Bill Emerson of Jacaranda Press in San Jose,
Ca. His visit is in association with the Rusk County Poetry Society (RCPS) in honor of
Jean Emerson’s brother, Jack Kennedy, member of RCPS,” said Bruster.
Phi Rho Pi, the Speech and Debate Club, will be selling copies of Mr.
Stern’s books, for the book signing following the poetry reading. They will also create a coffee house atmosphere
and sell cappuccino and cheesecake during the public reading.
“Everyone is
invited to the public reading,” exclaimed Bruster.
“It is indeed a privilege to have Mr. Stern visit East Texas. I hope
our community will give him a fine welcome, come out and sip a little cappuccino, eat some
cheesecake and add one of Gerald Stern’s fine books of poetry to their
collection”.
For additional information about this event, call 903-693-1130.