Rei Berroa

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - As part of Lock Haven University’s UpWrite reading series, Dominican poet will present a Spanish musical soirée with his poetry and guitar on Thursday, March 18 at 7:00 in the multipurpose room of the Parsons Union Building. The performance is free and open to the public.

Marjorie Maddox Hafer, director of creative writing and professor of English, described Berroa as “warm and charismatic.” She added, “He is sure to capture the audience’s attention with his poetry and music.”

Maddox Hafer said that Introduction to Literature students studying this year’s common text by Vietnam veteran Tim O’Brien will appreciate heating Rei’s poetry for DC Poets Against the War as well as his involvement with that organization. She also noted that “Rei’s unusual ability to write in two languages and translate in both directions” will be “of particular interest.” “In short,” she said, “we’re all excited about this visit.”

Professor of Modern and Classical Languages at George Mason University, Berroa is the author of “Book of Frangments” (Calcutta, India, 1992), “Libro de los fragmentos” (Buenos Aires, 1989), “Los otros,” (Santo Domingo, 1983), “En la reino de la ausencia” and “Retazos para un traje de tierra” (Madrid, 1979), “Ideologia y retórica” (Mexico, 1988), co-author of “Literature of the Americas” (Dubuque, l986), and a contributor to the anthology “DC Poets Against the War.” In addition, he helps lead the Poetry Marathon at Theatro de la Luna and the DC Poets Against the War annual readings.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.

The English department reading series committee, in collaboration with the Introduction to Literature committee, the Foreign Languages faculty, and the Institute for International Studies, is hosting this event.

In addition to the evening event, Berroa will be visiting classes and meeting with student groups.