Art Association Writer in Residence reads poems Sept. 27

From staff reports

Dorothy Brooks of East Lansing plans to use her Glen Arbor Art Association two-week residency to “write a series of poems (10-15) with Lake Michigan as theme: seen from my own unique perspective.” Brooks has spent many summers in northern Michigan on its lakes, rivers and woods and now wants to “breathe the lake” and absorb and record what she finds.

Brook’s creativity spans a wide variety of the arts. She has BA and MA degrees from Michigan State University in writing, music and fine arts. She has taught writing at Olivet College and ESL at Lansing Community College and for seven years on a Navajo Reservation in Shiprock, New Mexico. Active in writing workshops in many locations, Brooks has a wide range of writing experience. She has published poetry in publications such as the Sidewalk Press, Washington Square Review, Driftwood, among others. In addition, she was the fine arts specialist for the state of Michigan Department of Education.

In her presentation, this truly “renaissance artist” will read from her works and discuss her life as a creative writer. The program on Thursday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. takes place at the Glen Arbor Art Association across from Cherry Republic at 6031 S. Lake Street (follow the sign up the unpaved driveway) is free and light refreshments are served.

Sandhill Crane Honking
Poem by Dorothy Brooks

Suddenly cruising
the burnished fields

you reverse earth and sky,
carve wide glides

like a sculptor’s butter knife
as I forget

my wonton woes crunching.

Great bird:
pterodactyl carrier,

stick-legged rapper
aching to mate,

as I watch you tool over marsh and lagoon-
you flutter my heart.