Simic the poet, and you know it
Sean Ryan
Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: News
Baruch College's Newman Library was packed on Tuesday, March 18, for U.S. Poet Laureate Charles Simic. Simic, a guest professor for the Sidney Harman Writer-in-Residence program took to the podium to read and discuss his work; all while his dry wit and slight Slavic accent shined through.
The author of 60 books and winner of many awards, including a Pulitzer Prize, Simic was introduced by Professor Grace Schulman. Schulman described how through Simic's works, "simple objectives can be formed into nightmares; nightmares into hope."
Many of the poems Simic read were from his book, 60 Poems. He draws inspiration from real life experiences. In "Shelly," he recalls sitting in a used bookstore in 1958, the year he came to New York.
The poem itself was written in the 1980s, and focuses on how he felt when he first came to The Big Apple, all alone, except for books to read.
Simic admits to not being conventional in his approach to writing. His style was the most intriguing part of his personality, according to the students and professors attending the event. Baruch President Kathleen Waldron commented that Simic "makes it seem so effortless to be a poet […]. He's very comfortable; nothing artificial about his sense of his self."
"He has that thoughtful irreverent mode that is fresh and can never be scripted," commented Professor Roslyn Bernstein. The word "irreverent" is also how Simic describes himself. On the topic of being a good poet, Simic states that it is "important to be irreverent," and to not conform to poetry written in the past. He admits, "Every poem that moves you, influences you," but the point is to take that influence and apply to your own style.
The semester that Simic is teaching represents the tenth anniversary of the Harman Writing Program. The workshop, which has been taught in previous semesters by authors such as Mark Kurlansky and Sigrid Nunez, has been an outlet for young writers to learn from published professionals. "It's a great addition to Baruch as far as supplementing what we offer," said Waldron. She "sees students very motivated when we bring such great poets and authors to the college." Simic is thrilled to be teaching here at Baruch. He admits that he "loves the students" and that his workshop is "a great class; smart kids that are a lot of fun to be with." He added that he "thinks [the students] have learned a lot, and are an absolute joy to be around."
His students share similar sentiments. Viktoriya Syrov, who was at the reading, said that he "is not a generic type of poet. He's very insightful, and has a lot of suggestions. It's a really great workshop."
On the topic of his success, Simic said, "it's a combination of things, some talent, hard work, luck. Luck is important actually."
The author of 60 books and winner of many awards, including a Pulitzer Prize, Simic was introduced by Professor Grace Schulman. Schulman described how through Simic's works, "simple objectives can be formed into nightmares; nightmares into hope."
Many of the poems Simic read were from his book, 60 Poems. He draws inspiration from real life experiences. In "Shelly," he recalls sitting in a used bookstore in 1958, the year he came to New York.
The poem itself was written in the 1980s, and focuses on how he felt when he first came to The Big Apple, all alone, except for books to read.
Simic admits to not being conventional in his approach to writing. His style was the most intriguing part of his personality, according to the students and professors attending the event. Baruch President Kathleen Waldron commented that Simic "makes it seem so effortless to be a poet […]. He's very comfortable; nothing artificial about his sense of his self."
"He has that thoughtful irreverent mode that is fresh and can never be scripted," commented Professor Roslyn Bernstein. The word "irreverent" is also how Simic describes himself. On the topic of being a good poet, Simic states that it is "important to be irreverent," and to not conform to poetry written in the past. He admits, "Every poem that moves you, influences you," but the point is to take that influence and apply to your own style.
The semester that Simic is teaching represents the tenth anniversary of the Harman Writing Program. The workshop, which has been taught in previous semesters by authors such as Mark Kurlansky and Sigrid Nunez, has been an outlet for young writers to learn from published professionals. "It's a great addition to Baruch as far as supplementing what we offer," said Waldron. She "sees students very motivated when we bring such great poets and authors to the college." Simic is thrilled to be teaching here at Baruch. He admits that he "loves the students" and that his workshop is "a great class; smart kids that are a lot of fun to be with." He added that he "thinks [the students] have learned a lot, and are an absolute joy to be around."
His students share similar sentiments. Viktoriya Syrov, who was at the reading, said that he "is not a generic type of poet. He's very insightful, and has a lot of suggestions. It's a really great workshop."
On the topic of his success, Simic said, "it's a combination of things, some talent, hard work, luck. Luck is important actually."
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