Suffolk Reporter

Last month, Rowan Ricardo Phillips, a Distinguished Professor at Stony Brook University, received recognition for his poetry volume "Silver," which was longlisted for both the National Book Award and the Laurel Prize. On November 14, Phillips participated in a poetry reading event hosted by the Department of English and the Humanities Institute. During this event, he read from "Silver" and other works while engaging in discussions about his life and creative process.

Carl Lejuez, Stony Brook’s Executive Vice President and Provost, opened the event with remarks praising Phillips' ability to inspire self-reflection. “I’m not the provost today, I’m a fan,” said Lejuez. He expressed how Phillips’ poetry makes him contemplate personal growth and challenges.

Lejuez highlighted Phillips' unique approach to blending different perspectives and emphasized the importance of humanities in understanding values and principles. “He’s a special person," he stated.

Phillips then addressed attendees at the Poetry Center by reading selections from his books "The Ground," "Heaven," and "Living Weapon." He offered insights into his poetic process: “I typically don’t say anything about my poems... What I’ll do tonight is try to lift up the hood.”

During his readings from "Silver," including poems like “Atahualpa Yupanqui” and “Key West,” Phillips discussed connections between music and poetry. He shared that “Atahualpa Yupanqui” was inspired by an Argentine folk singer who influenced young musicians.

In response to questions from attendees about honesty in writing, Phillips advised focusing on syllables rather than audience perceptions: “When you’re writing, you can’t think about other people.” He also addressed when a poem feels complete: “There’s an age-old saying that no poems are ever finished; they’re just abandoned.”

Phillips encouraged aspiring poets to be avid readers: “I have yet to meet a great writer who’s not a voracious reader.” He explained that understanding poetry requires extensive reading.

When asked about teaching's impact on him, Phillips expressed appreciation for student interactions: “I get everything from it; I love teaching.” He acknowledged that teaching enriches his own writing through engagement with students at Stony Brook University.

— Robert Emproto