Dr. Benjamin Myers, OBU\u2019s Crouch-Mathis professor of literature, has long been respected as a poet. His gift for wielding words to paint portraits of emotion has taken his career to great heights.<\/p>\n
He is the author of two books of poetry, \u201cLapse Americana\u201d (New York Quarterly Books, 2013) and \u201cElegy for Trains\u201d (Village Books Press, 2010). His works have been set to music and his poems may be read in \u201cThe Yale Review,\u201d \u201cThe New York Quarterly,\u201d \u201cNimrod\u201d and other journals.<\/p>\n
Yet, he received his highest honor to date this year, being appointed to serve as the 2015-2016 Poet Laureate for the State of Oklahoma by Governor Mary Fallin.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough his poetry, Dr. Myers demonstrates a deep love and kinship to Oklahoma,\u201d Fallin said. \u201cHis poetry about our state offers a nuanced view of our people, our land and the values that we hold dear.”<\/p>\n
A native of central Oklahoma, Myers\u2019 poetry is deeply influenced by his life experiences growing up in Oklahoma and in his community in particular, as well as by his faith. He believes poetry is something to be experienced, something that is so much a part of everyday life it cannot be separated.<\/p>\n
\u201cOklahoma is more to me than just the place I live; it is my home, my homeland,\u201d he said. \u201cThe opportunity to combine my love for this land with my love for poetry is an opportunity I am very thankful for. I\u2019ve always belonged to Oklahoma, and now I am honored to be its poet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Myers assumed the post in January and will serve a two-year term through December 2016. Through the Poet Laureate program, he gives readings, makes appearances at schools, universities and community groups, talks about his poetry, and presents workshops in communities throughout Oklahoma. He is excited to promote poetry in the state and hopes to inspire more Oklahomans to read and write poetry.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve actually been a little surprised how open to poetry most Oklahomans are,\u201d he said. \u201cI think we have a God-given need for art, a desire for expression and beauty put there by our Creator. I\u2019ve been delightfully surprised at how many people are willing to feed this part of their soul, when they get a little help and encouragement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Myers spends a good portion of most days teaching creative writing and literature to OBU students. He believes students should be taught how to enjoy poetry and how to find pleasure in the language, sound, imagery and emotion of a poem.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of times people encounter a small amount of poetry in school and then decide they don\u2019t like it, which is a little like hearing one or two songs on the radio and dismissing all of music because you didn\u2019t like them,\u201d he said. \u201cThere is a great amount of variety in poetry, and, if you spend a little time looking around, it\u2019s not hard to find something you like.\u201d<\/p>\n
Myers believes poetry is art made from words and like other art forms has inherent value in its beauty, ingenuity and creativity. \u201cPoetry is good for the soul,\u201d he said. \u201cWithout poetry, and without art in general, the soul lacks an essential part of its necessary diet.\u201d<\/p>\n