James Wright Poetry Fest returns to Ferry Saturday

MARTINS FERRY -- The James Wright Poetry Festival is returning to Martins Ferry this Saturday in honor of a city native and his impact on the literary world.

Wright was born in 1927 and died in 1980. He was laid to rest in Bronx County, New York. He had lived in Europe and upstate New York. Anthony Orsini, director of the Belmont County District Library, said Wright had deep roots in the area.

"He grew up here in Martins Ferry, graduated from Martins Ferry High School, so one of our local celebrities at least in the literary world," he said. "A couple of his poems were about life here in the valley."

Orsini added the library staff is happy to host the festival's return.

"It was an annual festival and then it disbanded and we did a revival in 2018," he said.

Orsini said Wright made a name for himself with his innovative and experimental styles with verse.

"It was a newer style of writing when he was writing in the '60s and '70s, for poetry. It was more dark and realistic," he said. "I think that appealed to a lot of people, especially in that era, and it still resonates with a lot of people today. Actually that's one of the big topics they'll be discussing on Saturday, how it's still relevant and appeals to a modern audience."

Guests will include Wright biographer Jonathan Blunk, who will lead the day's discussions. Poet David Baker will also lead a discussion on poetry that afternoon. Orsini said excitement is high.

"We're expecting a really good turnout," he said. "I think we've got at least 40 people coming in from out of town, so it should be a really great day. It's open to everybody, so anyone who has an interest in poetry in general or James Wright specifically is more than welcome to attend."

No reservations are needed.

"We're going to have an open mic in the evening so that people can share their own poetry. That's always kind of cool," he said.

Events will begin at 8:30 a.m. and run through 8 p.m. Saturday.

In preparation for the event, library displays are featuring books by and about Wright.

Attendees will include Phil Terman, retired professor of literature and creative writing from Clarion University in Pennsylvania, now called West Penn University;

David Swerdlow, professor of English at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania; and David Newman, professor of creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, Pennsylvania. All are excited to visit Wright's birthplace.

Terman said he has always been moved by Wright's poetry.

"I did my dissertation on James Wright. Early on I was very attracted to his work," Terman said. "One of the things I was most impressed by was how much he represents American poetry and international poetry as well. He's extraordinarily admired among the best poets, and he has a wide, wide range of audience and enthusiasts."

Swerdlow said Wright has a unique voice.

"His work at once feels much like it could come from the common American man, but it offers that in an extraordinary way," he said.

Newman agreed, adding that Wright appeals to various tastes in literature.

"Whether it's writing about small town life in Ohio or working class life or family or love ... I think all of those things cut across most of the demographics of American literature," he said.

Terman said Wright's work is both deep and accessible.

"He refers very much to Martins Ferry and growing up in Martins Ferry and the hard life that he had there," he said. "A lot of people who have normal lives and work for a living and just have to make ends meet really respond to that and connect to that, but it's also very musical and he has an incredible literary history. ... I teach his poetry in classes all the time, and my students really connected to him."

Newman said the subjects of Wright's poems include such matters as the start of high school football season, nature, mill workers and other working class people, with many "entryways" for new readers.

"We're hoping to have young people turn out at the festival," Newman said. "That's one of the reasons we wanted to restart the festival, to see where his reach is and see if we can be more inclusive and get people more involved and appreciating Wright."

Newman recalled visiting Wright's birthplace.

"One of the gifts of Wright is he created this mythology around Martins Ferry," he said. "It's typical small town America suffering from the hangover of industrial job loss, but it feels like you're walking through Paris because of the way James Wright has described it and captured the community so well."

They look forward to activities such as writing poems in response to Wright's poems as prompts, and evening entertainment at the Martins Ferry Veterans Memorial Recreation Center.

They will tour sites mentioned in Wright's poems and enjoy local food from Belmont Brewerks and Tina's Sweet Celebrations.

They expect travelers from as far as Florida and San Francisco, with many from western Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Swerdlow thanked the Ohio Arts Council and the Belmont County Council Tourism for providing grant funding for the festival.

For people new to Wright, they recommended poems such as "Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio," about the Purple Riders football stadium, then called the Shreve High Football Stadium, "A Blessing," and "Lying in a Hammock at William Duffy's Farm in Pine Island, Minnesota."

The library is located at 20 Fifth St., and the recreation center is located at 401 S. Fourth St., Martins Ferry.