Former Westport poet and Fairfield University adjunct professor Janet Krauss to give poetry reading at Barnes & Noble

Former Westport poet and Fairfield University adjunct professor Janet Krauss to give poetry reading at Barnes & Noble

Image: Janet Krauss Poet Janet Krauss, an adjunct professor of English at Fairfield University and former Westport resident, will read poetry from her recently published book "Borrowed Scenery," which contains more than 80 poems, on Thursday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble at 1076 Post Road E. in Westport.

Janet Krauss is originally from Boston, Mass. and completed her undergraduate work at Brandeis University. She received her master's from Fairfield University in American Studies, with a focus on American Literature. In 1978 she began teaching at Fairfield University and she also currently teaches at St. Basil College in Stamford. A former Westport resident for the past 36 years, Krauss wrote book reviews, essays and other articles for the Westport News for several years and ran the "Poet's Corner" at the Westport News for four. She has also worked as a poetry editor for the Norwalk News. Krauss currently resides in Bridgeport.

Krauss has published poems in a variety of literary magazines including College English, Princeton Spectrum and The Dickinson Review, but "Borrowed Scenery" marks the first time Krauss was solicited by a press company (Yuganta Press) to put together an entire book of her works. "Borrowed Scenery" is a compilation of poems that Krauss has written over a 40-year time span.

Image: Borrowed Scenery The book took almost a year and a half to complete. Krauss was approached to begin the collection of poems in September of 2003 and finished at the end of the year in 2004.

The title of the book comes from a Japanese concept, the shakkei garden, which makes outside scenery part of the garden. As the Japanese would borrow landscapes to incorporate into their gardens, Krauss borrows her ideas from paintings, beaches, clouds and other objects that affect her.

"My work reflects my need through love of language to comprehend and record situations and family experiences," Krauss said.

"Nature is a steady metaphor to help me express my ideas. Through my poems I hope to gain a kinship with my readers," Krauss said.

Krauss's work has received praise from Fairfield faculty members and other fellow writers. "This sense of wonder is her signature," wrote Kim Bridgford, author of "Undone" and Fairfield University associate professor of English. "It is not surprising that she writes about paintings, for there is a painterly quality to her work, which she creates both through mood and language."

According to Tony Sanders, author of "Partial Eclipse," "Janet Krauss is a far more complex and compelling poet than one might first surmise," he wrote. "The way she weaves art, history, family, nature and politics into an accessible mosaic leaves one spellbound and grateful."

Krauss has given two poetry readings at Fairfield University, one at St. Basil College, Derby Neck Library, Darien High School and at her alma mater Boston Latin Academy. Her book will be available at Barnes & Noble at the reading as well as other locations. It retails for $11.95. The poetry reading is free and open to the public. For more information contact Janet Krauss at (203) 254-4000, ext. 2816 or the Office of Public Relations at (203) 254-4190 or e-mail jkrauss@stagweb.fairfield.edu.

"On Purple" by Janet Krauss

It is the haze settling over the sky and hills
after councils of a tribe leave the flat stones
where they sat to plan the days ahead -
a girl's initiation dance, a potlatch supper,
a powwow, who should hunt, who should fish.
The low sounds in the distance still echo
the unhurried voices of the elders who know
how to cure the hide of life, how to stretch it,
make it last. The stone seats attest to that,
worn smooth, brushed clean by the wind.

Posted On: 06-28-2005 10:06 AM

Volume: 37 Number: 289