SUNY Canton Honors National Poetry Month With Guest Erica Dawson

CANTON, NY (04/14/2016)(readMedia)-- SUNY Canton will celebrate the 20th anniversary of National Poetry Month in April by hosting a rising poetry star as part of the Living Writers Series.

Erica Dawson will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, in the Richard W. Miller Campus Center's Kingston Theater. The event is free and open to the public.

Her most recent book, "The Small Blades Hurt," has earned critical praise, and fellow poet Richie Hofmann described it as "Rhythmic, musical, unforgettable ... a wild and exhilarating testament of self-love against the backdrop of America - its history, its literature, its popular culture and its bizarre dramatis personae."

According to the publisher, "The Small Blades Hurt" picks up where her debut poetry collection, "Big-Eyed Afraid," leaves off. She explores themes such as lust and love, past and present, accidents, and self-reflection.

"Big-Eyed Afraid" won the 2006 Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize and her poems have appeared in Virginia Quarterly Review, Unsplendid, Blackbird, Barrow Street and others. Dawson is currently an assistant professor at The University of Tampa, where she teaches for the undergraduate English and Writing program and the Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing.

"With a sharp wit and flashes of humor, Erica Dawson explores the complexities of contemporary American life," said SUNY Canton Assistant Professor of English and Living Writers Series creator Phil K. LaMarche. "We invite the community to help us celebrate National Poetry Month with a performance from a talented literary voice."

Founded in 1996, National Poetry Month was created to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry in the United States. It is organized by the Academy of American Poets and has become the largest literary celebration in the world.

Dawson is the final guest of the spring installment of the Living Writers Series. For more information about her work or past speakers, visit www.canton.edu/writers.

About SUNY Canton

SUNY Canton is Northern New York's premier college for career-driven bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and professional certificate programs. The college delivers quality hands-on programs in engineering technology, health, management and public service and recently received number one rankings in library resources, library services and tutoring services in the SUNY Student Opinion Survey. The college's faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to outstanding academic credentials. SUNY Canton OnLine offers hundreds of flexible and convenient courses as well as ten exclusively online bachelor's degrees. The college's 14 athletic teams compete as members of the NCAA Division III.

-www.canton.edu-