UH alumnus Ryler Dustin, who read from his book “Heavy Lead Birdsong,” was just one of the poets featured at a Public Poetry reading Saturday at Park Place Regional.
The event also featured Hayan Charara, Marcell Murphy and Susan Wood.
A finalist in the Individual World Poetry Slam, Dustin graduated from the University’s Master’s of Fine Arts program.
He has received Inprint’s Paul Verlain Poetry Prize and was a finalist for the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize.
Dustin read three selections from the book, which was published in 2008 — “Baptism,” “Damaged Transcript” and “Blackbirds.”
“I haven’t read this one for a long time,” Dustin said before reading the last.
“I used to read this a lot more when I was doing Slam Poetry and touring and stuff like that,” he said. “I used to have it memorized, but I’m not sure I trust myself.”
During his second round of readings, he introduced new poems, “White Water,” “For My Little Sister,” “Thin Smoke” and “Vicuñas.”
“Vicuñas are a small animal, kind of like an Alpaca, that lives up in the Andes,” he said on his inspiration behind the poem.
“I was reading an article about them and I thought they were cool.”
Dustin currently teaches poetry to Houston middle school students through the Writers in the Schools program and for Inprint at Project Row Houses.
In the spring, he will offer an adult workshop for Inprint.
Fran Sanders, founder of Public Poetry, has showcased various poets at Park Place for the last three months. This reading was the organization’s last for the Winter 2012 Series.
On April 7, the Spring Series begins and will move to different Houston libraries and will also feature a new group of poets to keep the program fresh.
“Our purpose, simply put, is to expose as much of the public to as much good poetry as possible,” Sanders said.
With a partnership between Public Poetry and Houston Public Library, these events feature an array of both local and visiting poets.
Each program features at least one student reader and begins with a local guest celebrity or public figure.
A book signing follows at the end of each event.
For more information on Public Poetry, visit www.publicpoetry.net.
For more information on Dustin or to hear some of his poetry, visit www.myspace.com/rylerpoetry.