Eastern Professor to Present Poetry Reading

Written by Sarah Swann

Willimantic, CT --Daniel Donaghy, assistant professor of English at Eastern Connecticut State University, will read from his latest book of poems, "Start With the Trouble," at 3 p.m. on Feb. 17, in Room 301 of Eastern's Science Building. The public is invited.  Admission is free. 

The book title references people who do the hardest part of a task in the beginning.  Donaghy's theory is that after you finish the hard part, you are home free.

When he writes, Donaghy explains, "I try to speak to the reader in language that is clear, precise, conversational and inviting, and driven by a strong rhythm."  The theme for most of his poems focuses on his adolescence.

Donaghy also is the author of "Streetfighting," a Paterson Poetry Prize Finalist,   an award offered for a book of poems that is 48 pages or more and has a print of 500 copies or more. 

Donaghy earned a bachelor of arts from Kutztown University; a master of arts from Hollins University; master of fine arts in creative writing from Cornell University; and a doctorate in English from the University of Rochester.  His poems have been published in News Letters, The Southern Review, Poet Lore, Cimarron Review, Texas Review, Commonweal, Image and West Branch.