Poet laureate notes themes in Midwest writing and art…

Chautauqua Series Summary

Emmeline Elliott

Ever hear a poem about yourself? Several people were treated to a special poetry reading by South Dakota Poet Laureate David Allan Evans.

Evans was featured at the Madison Area Arts Council Chautauqua Series event Monday evening. The program was sponsored by the South Dakota Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

As part of his presentation at the Madison Public Library, called “Midwestern Themes in Art and Literature,” Evans read a number of poems about the Midwest’s people, landscape and weather. He included Midwest poets like Ted Kooser, James Hearst, William Stafford, Mark Vinz and George Chambers. Evans also mentioned Midwestern paintings and artists, such as Grant Wood and Thomas Hart Benton.

Evans told the audience of 24 that for every writer, there is something indigenous about the landscape where they grew up that is a little different for them than any other place. Evans discussed at length the themes he has noted in the writings of Midwest authors. Some of these themes are an emphasis on the land, especially rural and small town living; a sense of independence; a strong work ethic; attention between self-reliance and genuine empathy; and attention to the weather and the elements.

Although writers from any area can bring something to their work that is unique to their place, poetry has universal ideas – like wisdom coming with age – that can translate worldwide, he said.

“Artists and writers are first of all human beings and wherever they are in the world, they tend to say the same things about being human,” Evans said.