Eugene Gloria is the author of three books of poems. His honors include a National Poetry Series selection, A Pushcart Prize, the 2013 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award and a Fulbright Research Grant. He teaches creative writing and English literature at DePauw University. On Sounds Good, Murray State University MFA Program Director Carrie Jerrell speaks with Gloria who will read at MSU Sunday evening at 7:30 as part of the Murray State MFA Program's residency week.
Born in Manila, Gloria’s family immigrated to San Francisco in 1966 when he was about 8 or 9 years old. He says much of his work is informed by memories of impactful moments like arriving in a new place or seeing his father suffer from dementia. He says memories are like ghosts, invisible but present. “It’s being acquainted with these ghosts that I think allows me to create the poems,” Gloria said.
Gloria says his poems usually emerge from thoughts and conversations around what he has been reading. He says he tries to impress on his students the importance of paying attention, being aware, and reading to the art of writing.
