Visiting Writers Series kicks off with Sara Henning (The Brevard College CLARION): September 14, 2022

By Sarah Hajkowski Copy Editor

Brevard College was thrilled to welcome poet Dr. Sara Henning on Tuesday, Sept. 6 to kick off the English Program’s Visiting Writers Series. For those less familiar, every semester BC’s English Program invites published writers— often also educators—to visit our campus and give a public reading of their work followed by a Q&A for anyone to attend. Last week, Brevard students, faculty and staff were all fortunate to take in the first in a series of these Visits with writer-of-the-hour Dr. Sara Henning.

The event began with a greeting to all, and an introduction of the poet by Dr. Alyse Bensel who has been Dr. Henning’s colleague for over eight years. Her introduction included personal anecdotes, technical acclaim, and an excerpt from the poet’s most recent published work, “Terra Incognita.”

A personable and experienced speaker, Dr. Henning prefaced her reading by breaking down the title “Terra Incognita,” which refers to “unknown or unexplored territory.” She then contextualized the work’s occasion, namely the loss of her mother in 2016, and shared that attempts to avoid writing about the subject ultimately materialized as her latest book.

The work is divided into three sections, “Terra Inferna” (Hell on Earth) “Terra Nova” (new ground or territory), and “Terra Firma” (feet or boots on the ground), which reinforces the framing of daughter’s grief poured out on its pages. Delightfully, Dr. Henning’s speaker finds in mourning a spectrum of emotions: joy and nostalgia in addition to anguish and turmoil. We are invited into her poetry, as Dr. Henning stated, she feels that poetry generates community.

Last week’s Sept. 6 audience are grateful for the vulnerability Dr. Henning demonstrated during her visit and invite others to come hear the next Visiting Writer in the Series, memoirist Lucy Bryan. Bryan will give her reading on Oct. 4, from 5-6 p.m. in Jones Library. Clarion hopes to see you there!

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