Samhi C.

Features Editor

skc5908@psu.edu

On Thursday, March 21 at 6 P.M., writer Al Maginnes gave a reading of poems from his 2023 collection “Fellow Survivors”.

George Looney, in his introduction for the event, said what he appreciates about Maginnes’s work is that it presents to us “not the world as it is but as it is experienced”.

Not only do I agree with Professor Looney’s assessment, I will add on by saying what I particularly appreciate about Maginnes’s work is that he has the courage to draw from his experience, to unapologetically translate his thoughts, his feelings, his realities onto the page. 

When asked what his advice is for those of us who draw from reality whether it’s for poetry or otherwise in our craft, sometimes noticeably so, he says: “You have to just tell the truth as you see it and risk the fall out.” 

I agree and applaud the sentiment. 

Maginnes’s openness about his process and the emotion in his work brings to light an important aspect of creativity that has the potential to be stifled but should not be: we all borrow from our realities. So why not just admit it? Provided that you are not trying to harm another by expressing your views, your version of the truth, why take the blame of doing something wrong? Maginnes’s attitude is one that all new writers and other artists should hear in the early stages of learning to harness their creativity. 

As a final note, I want to tell you that of all the poems he read last Thursday night, “The Light of Stories” is my favorite. It beautifully captures the dynamic between a storyteller and the consumer of the story, explaining how both are complicit in giving meaning to any story. 

Maginnes, originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, earned his Bachelor’s in English at East Carolina University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing at the University of Arkansas. He taught at Wake Technical Community College for thirty years before recently retiring.