The Ronald E. Moore Humanities Symposium, “Living by Poetry,” will take place March 31-April 2 across the TCU campus and will bring together nine nationally and regionally recognized poets who will participate in readings of their own work and discuss issues relevant to the theme “Living by Poetry.” All events are free and open to the public.
 
On Thursday, March 31, at 7 p.m., the keynote presentation and reading will be given by Billy Collins, former U.S. Poet Laureate and frequent guest on the popular radio show A Prairie Home Companion, at the BLUU ballroom. Ticket reservations are strongly encouraged.
 
According to Curt Rode (English), the featured guests are each unique in their subject matter and style and will discuss a wide range of ideas  regarding poetry in the 21st century.
 
“Billy Collins is great,” said Rode, “because he humanizes poetry, makes it accessible even to people who think they don’t like it.  The symposium is exciting too because the panelists will discuss so many different aspects of poetry, from inspiration, to revision, to the practical concerns of working with editors.  They’ll also talk about what it’s like to be steeped in poetry both personally and professionally.   All the poets on the panel really know how transformative poetry still is.”
 
In addition to Collins, the symposium will also host Christian Wiman, the editor of Poetry Magazine, the oldest and most prestigious journal dedicated to poetry in the U.S.  The other participants will be Kevin Prufer, Sandra Beasley, Ada Limon, Arthur Smith and three current or former Texas Poet Laureates, Karla Morton, Paul Ruffin, and Alan Birkelbach.
 
“Living by Poetry” is sponsored by the Ronald E. Moore Foundation and is supported by John V. Roach Honors College, AddRan College of Liberal Arts and the English Department as well as the TCU Press. Ronald E. Moore is a TCU alumnus, Fort Worth native and author of Alterity, a collection of his own poems. The symposium is in its fourth year, with previous events focusing on key figures in philosophy and history.  

To reserve tickets, review the schedule, learn more about the speakers, or get more information about “Living by Poetry,” the 2011 Ronald E. Moore Humanities Symposium, visit www.moore.tcu.edu.