Mary Stone Dockery, a 2009 graduate of Missouri Western State University, will read from her recently published book of poetry, “Mythology of Touch” at 4 p.m. Friday, April 13 in the Blum Union first floor lounge. The poetry reading is free and open to the public.
“My first creative writing class happened at Missouri Western, and the only reason I am where I am today is because of Dr. William Church, the creative writing instructor who has been my mentor and friend for nearly seven years now,” Dockery said. “I’m glad to be able to help celebrate National Poetry Month at such a special place.”
Dockery graduated from Missouri Western with a bachelor of arts in English literature, and will graduate from the University of Kansas this spring with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. In addition to “Mythology of Touch,” published this month by Woodley Press, she is the author of two forthcoming chapbooks. Her poetry and prose have been published in many journals, including Gargoyle, South Dakota Review, Weave Magazine, Thrush, Lingerpost and others. She currently lives in Lawrence, Kan., with her husband Dustin and their dog Rufio. You can find out more about Mary at www.marystonedockery.wordpress.com.
“Mythology of Touch” has been described as “a sensual joy ride through the language of love, longing, and loss” by Richard Peabody, editor of Gargoyle Magazine; as “compelling work” by Denise Low, former Kansas Poet Laureate; and as “warm-blooded poems, full of passion not only for the stories they contain, but for the essence of poetry itself; a shared union of emotion” by Matthew Porubsky, author of “Fire Mobile (the pregnancy sonnets).”
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.