Award-winning poet, honored professor to present poetry

Harding University

March 20, 2008

Award-winning poet, honored professor to present poetry

SEARCY, Ark. — Native Arkansan Miller Williams, acclaimed poet and accomplished professor, will read excerpts from his internationally recognized poetry on Thursday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m. in Harding University's American Heritage Center Cone Chapel.

The program, sponsored by the English Department, will incorporate a question-and-answer session from the audience, followed by refreshment service and a book signing.

Miller is the father of singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, with whom he frequently performs a tandem poetry/song show. Along with a host of other achievements, he served as inaugural poet for fellow Arkansan Bill Clinton's second presidential inauguration ceremony in 1997.

Born in Hoxie, Ark., in 1930, Williams did not study poetry and literature in college but instead majored in biology. However, his love for writing won over the sciences when, after 12 years of teaching college biology, he became an English teacher. He retired from his position of professor of English and foreign languages at University of Arkansas in 2003.

Throughout his career, he has achieved worldwide recognition as both an educator and a poet. He has represented the U.S. State Department on reading and lecturing tours in Latin America, Europe and the Middle and Far East. In a different type of diplomacy, he served as visiting professor of U.S. literature at University of Chile, a Fulbright professor of American studies at National University of Mexico, and a fellow of American Academy in Rome.

His repertoire of more than 30 books includes collections of his stories and poems and other genres such as historical non-fiction and literary criticism. His most recent works of poetry collections include "Points of Departure," "The Ways We Touch," and "Some Jazz A While: Collected Poems." His work has been recognized with the Henry Bellman Poetry Prize, the Poet's Prize for best book of verse in America, and the John William Corrington Award for Literary Excellence, among many other awards.

Miller's poems and stories have been translated into several languages to international praise. The multinational Voice International editorial board named him one of the 20 best current English-writing poets in the world. His poetry was also included on the CD "Poetry of Our Time," which celebrates the 500 most important poets of the 20th century, as determined by a host of writer-peers.

His presentation is free of charge and open to the public. For more information, contact the English Department at (501) 279-4421.