UHV faculty members to share perspectives on William Blake’s poetry
Held in high regard for his creativity and imagination, William Blake is one of the most well-known visionary poets of the Romantic era, and now community members can learn more about him.
“Unlike most poets, William Blake was not formally educated but was self-taught,” said Charles Alexander, University of Houston-Victoria poet and designer in residence. “Blake was inspired by Shakespeare, Dante and other visionary poets, and created his own sense of personal mythology.”
Alexander is collaborating with Saba Razvi, a UHV assistant professor of English and creative writing, to host a reading and public forum of Blake’s poetry on March 30. “Meet the Poet: William Blake” will take place at 7 p.m. at the UHV Center for the Arts, 204 N. Main St. The event is free and open to the public. Alexander and Razvi are co-curators of the series.
“This series allows us to celebrate the imagination in all kinds of ways, and it is important to be reminded of the creative spirit that does not limit us,” Alexander said. “In this event, the speakers will bring their ideas about the poet’s work and its continuing relevance.”
The UHV School of Arts & Sciences graduate creative writing program’s series has featured presentations about other poets including Emily Dickinson, Rumi and the American poet Hilda Doolittle, known as “H.D.” The upcoming presentation will focus on Blake’s work and his literary appeal.
“Blake’s work is incandescent,” Razvi said. “His visionary approach allows us to embrace a depth of distinct emotional significance in a world so fractured by division.”
UHV faculty members and poets Alexander, Razvi and Anthony Madrid will join the poet Gregory Ford to discuss the work of Blake in presentations that include readings of Blake’s poems as well as comment about the work. The intention is both to educate and inspire the people who come to the event, Alexander said.
“The Meet the Poet series allows us to bring poetry into the community in a way that focuses on appreciation and exploration of poetry in a broad manner,” Razvi said. “It also gives us a chance to share our thoughts on the works of poets and why we think they are important to readers today. I look forward to sharing my thoughts on the visionary aspects of Blake’s poetry.”
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
