Document text
http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 7, 2006 Renowned poet to read at Ashland High By Alan Panebaker Ashland Daily Tidings Jane Hirshfield is radiant. The sound of her voice uttering the words of her poetry brings to life the letters on the page. After 10 years, Hirshfield is returning to Ashland to share her subtle, passionate poetry with local students and the community. "Poetry is a tool for transforming who you are at any moment," Hirshfield said. "Everybody needs some vocabulary of existence." Through the Ashland Schools Foundation, the City of Ashland and the Oregon Writing Project at Southern Oregon University, the Chautauqua Poets and Writers are bringing Hirshfield to speak at the theater at 7 p.m. Monday. Hirshfield will meet with students at Ashland High and at Southern Oregon University before a poetry reading. She has been a visiting professor at UC Berkeley and a member of the Bennington College MFA faculty. Hirshfield's poems focus on themes of nature and the metaphysical aspects of life. She said working with high school students aspiring to become poets is refreshing. "High school writers don't know yet what's possible and what isn't," Hirshfield said. Two 16-year-old Ashland High School students are taking charge of bringing Hirshfield to Ashland Monday evening. For her senior project, Elizabeth Wesche is coordinating the event to bring the award-winning Bay Area poet to Ashland. Wesche started last spring with her teacher, Kathi Bowen-Jones, coordinating tickets and sponsors to put on the event. For Wesche, Hirshfield's poetry has a way of getting through to people to address the deeper issues in life. "She kind of breaks down the sociological barriers," Wesche said. Ashland High junior Bobby Alter pitched in his creative energy to design a poster advertising the event. Alter, who has been doing graphic design since middle school, hopes the nature theme of his design will bring in the essence of Hirshfield's work. "I really feel as if I can bring in the feeling of her work," Alter said. "I've seen enough of her now to know that people will be enriched by her presence." Tickets to Hirshfield's reading can be bought at Bloomsbury Books, Tree House Books, The Bookwagon and A Rug for all Reasons in Medford. Patron tickets are $25 and general and student tickets are $10. Staff writer Alan Panebaker can be reached at 482-3456 x 227 or [email protected] . Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.