By Mike Clemens '15
Former poet laureate of North Carolina Joseph Bathanti visited the Siena College campus this semester to read his work and connect with students as part of the English department’s annual Greyfriar Living Literature Series. Bathanti said his visit was all about encouraging young writers.
“I always tell my students who start to become discouraged not to quit, because writing is a long and difficult process and maturity in writing comes at different times,” Bathanti said. “If you quit on Tuesday, who knows, maybe it was all going to fall into place on Sunday. You never can tell when a writer is going to catch fire.”
Bathanti is a well-respected writer of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. In his prolific career he has been nominated for numerous awards and has published more than ten books, including the poetry collection “This Metal,” which was nominated for the National Book Award in 1996. He is currently a professor of creative writing and the writer-in-residence at Appalachian State University. The University of South Carolina Press will publish his newest novel, “The Life of the World to Come,” later this year.
“Bathanti is a very accomplished writer and teacher and we were looking for someone who would be able to connect with students in various classes,” said Karin Lin-Greenberg, assistant professor of English. “He’s a really interesting writer because he works in so many genres and I think that it’s useful for students, particularly in introductory writing courses, to have the opportunity to work with someone who has that type of experience.”
During his two-day visit to Siena, Bathanti spoke with students in four literature and writing classes, sharing stories and experiences that he hoped would help them in their development as writers and readers. The students in these classes prepared for Bathanti’s visit by reading his work, and then had the opportunity to ask him about craft and process during his class visits.
Bathanti also took time during his stay to teach a master class on narrative poetry. The class, comprised of ten students, included lecture and workshop components in which Bathanti led students in critiquing the poetry of their peers.
“I loved being a part of the master class,” said Rebecca Davis ’15. “In just two days he [Bathanti] really helped me broaden my understanding of narrative poetry. I was really honored by how he took the time to understand the poem I wrote and to appreciate my work.”
Many of the students in the master class felt empowered by Bathanti’s advice and guidance.
“Working with Bathanti was a great opportunity,” said Erin DeGregorio ’16. “You could hear the passion in his voice and tell that he really cared to hear our thoughts and perspectives on the different poems.”
Bathanti said that he was very pleased with the work the students presented and with the state of creative writing at Siena.
“I was just blown away by what I heard from these kids,” Bathanti said. “It isn’t easy to have a stranger come into the classroom and give you marching orders, but they stepped up and did great work. I hope that this experience leaves them with the confidence that they really have the chops to write.”
