Poet Billy Collins to Offer Special Reading of 9/11 Tribute Poem 'The Names' at Roger Williams University

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BRISTOL, RI (07/08/2011)(readMedia)-- Award-winning poet and best-selling author Billy Collins will visit Roger Williams University on Tuesday, September 6, to discuss his critically acclaimed poetry collection "Sailing Alone Around the Room."

As part of his presentation, Collins will offer a rare reading of his poem "The Names," which he wrote as a tribute to victims and survivors of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. U.S. Poet Laureate at the time, Collins originally read the poem in 2002 as part of the U.S. Congress' one-year remembrance ceremony.

"Sailing Alone Around the Room" is this year's Common Reading selection at Roger Williams and is read by all first-year students. Founded by Adam Braver, a novelist and associate professor of creative writing, the Common Reading program aims to cultivate a spirit of community on campus while building awareness of a global issue through a shared reading experience. Each incoming student receives a copy of the selection at Orientation in June and returns in the fall to engage in discussion about the book in and out of the classroom.

A renowned writer who served as U.S. Poet Laureate from 2001 to 2003, Billy Collins is the recipient of many prestigious literary awards including the Mark Twain Award for Humor in Poetry in 2005 and Poetry Magazine's Poet of the Year in 1994. In addition to "Sailing Alone Around the Room" and other poetic treasures, Collins is the author of "The Art of Drowning," "Taking Off Emily Dickinson's Clothes" and his most recent "Horoscopes for the Dead." He is a distinguished professor of English at Lehman College in the Bronx, where he has taught for more than 30 years.

The presentation will take place at 7 p.m. at the University's Recreation Center Gymnasium on the Bristol Campus at One Old Ferry Road. Limited tickets to this free event will be made available to the public; to reserve a ticket, call (401) 254-3210.

About RWU: Roger Williams University is a leading independent, coeducational liberal arts university at which students live and learn to be global citizens. With 41 academic programs and an array of co-curricular activities on its Bristol, R.I., campus, RWU is committed to its mantra of learning to bridge the world. In the last decade, the University has achieved unprecedented academic and financial successes and continues to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top ten educational institutions in its class.