Philip Levine, who was born in Detroit and educated at Wayne State University, is known unofficially as Michigan's poet laureate. He now teaches at NYU. He is the author of 16 books of poetry, including "The Simple Truth" (1994) which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1995. Levine has received many awards for his poetry, including the National Book Award in 1980 for "Ashes" and again in 1991 for "What Work Is." Much of his poetry focuses on working class men who toil for years at difficult and thankless jobs. He draws from his own experience.
C.K. Williams is the 2005 recipient of the $100,000 Ruth Lily Poetry Prize from the Modern Poetry Association. His book "Repair" (1999) won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry. He was a finalist in 1997 with "The Vigil." His many awards include a Pushcart Prize and an American Academy of Arts and Letters Award. Williams teaches in the Writing Program at Princeton University. His tone and poems vary widely, from gritty urbanization to tender poems about his grandson.
Both poets will read from their work. A booksigning and afterglow reception follows. For more information call (616) 331-2180 or visit www.gvsu.edu/fallarts. MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
Event Coordinator Patricia Clark, GVSU Poet-in-residence and Grand Rapids poet laureate, is available for interviews. Contact her at [email protected] or (616) 331-3199.
C.K. Williams will arrive in Grand Rapids the evening of October 11 and may be available for morning interviews on October 12 or via phone October 8-11 while at Princeton University (609) 430-1349.
Philip Levine will arrive the morning of October 12 and may be available for early afternoon interviews, or prior to his visit via his Brooklyn phone number, (718) 852-5173.
