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M. Bartley Seigel, an associate professor of creative writing and literature at Michigan Tech University, is among five finalists for the position of U.P. Poet Laureate for 2021-23.
HOUGHTON Ask the average writing student which form of writing they despise most, poetry would likely be on the list. However, ask Michigan Tech associate professor M. Bartley Seigel, and you get a very different answer. For Seigel, poetry has been something he has been working on for longer than even he seems to realize.
“I’ve been a publishing poet for the last, I don’t know, 15 years of my life,” he said. “I had a book of poetry come out back in 2013. I kind of made my bread and butter as a literary magazine editor, and as a teacher of creative writing, but I’ve always been pretty low-key.”
Dec 31, 2020
MARQUETTE After organizers received over 500 votes, the five finalists for U.P. Poet Laureate for 2021-22 represent writing from Marquette, Alger, Houghton and Chippewa counties.
They are April Lindala of Marquette, Beverly Matherne of Ishpeming-Marquette, M. Bartley Seigel of Houghton, Rosalie Sanara Petrouske of Marquette-Munising and Tyler Dettloff of Marquette-Bay Mills-Sault Ste. Marie.
“Something that really excites me is that all five of the finalists are strong performers on stage, so that any upcoming readings featuring these poets, whether in person or online, will be sure to be a powerful experience for the audience,” U.P. Poet Laureate organizer Ron Riekki said in an email. “I hope whoever is selected for the U.P. Poet Laureate position links up with these other finalists for future events.