Written by Samantha M Holscbach
Acclaimed Arkansas poet Andrea Hollander Budy recited her works Feb. 25 for her third time at Harding and will answer poetry questions Feb. 26. Budy’s work has earned national awards and honors, including the Nicholas Roerich Poetry Prize, which recognizes excellence in a poet’s first poetry collection.
“She is one of Arkansas’ most well-known, successful poets of the last decade,” said Dr. John Williams, chair of Harding’s English Department. “She writes about domestic family life, and her poems don’t always feature obvious, overt emotional topics. They’re quieter, revealing their meaning in the little things in life.”
Hailing from Batesville, Budy has composed three full-length poetry volumes: “House Without a Dreamer,” “The Other Life” and “Woman in the Painting.” She has most recently edited “When She Named Fire: An Anthology of Contemporary Poetry by American Women.”
Williams said Budy’s poetry style embraces unrhymed short lines and echoes the domestic subject matter of Miller Williams, another nationally recognized Arkansas poet.
In addition to earning the Nicholas Roerich Poetry Prize, Budy has garnered the D.H. Lawrence Fellowship, a Pushcart Prize for memoir, The Runes Poetry Award and fellowships from both the National Endowment for the Arts and Arkansas Arts Council. Budy showcases her poetry at writers’ conferences and festivals nationally and internationally.
According to Williams, Harding’s English Department attempts to host one visiting writer annually so that all students are exposed to professional writing in a first-hand manner.
“It [hosting professional writers] serves our students by providing a role model for aspiring writers and just giving students who may not have a chance otherwise to hear poetry read,” Williams said. “Poetry is something of a lost art among the general public.”
Williams said the community also benefits when a professional writer visits Harding.
“We know there are people out there who enjoy the arts, so at least once a year they don’t have to drive to Little Rock or Memphis or maybe some other large university to hear a poet — they can come over here,” Williams said. “So we hope it will benefit them by bringing them the pleasures of listening to poetry.”
Following Budy’s poetry reading, she will field questions related to her work in American Studies 314 at 11:30 a.m. More information about Budy’s life, work and upcoming events can be found at www.AndreaHollanderBudy.com.
