On Sept. 27, renowned writer and poet August Kleinzahler will join Saint Louis University as its Jean Drahmann writer-in-residence.

During his stay, which will continue through Oct. 8, Kleinzahler will be giving a live poetry reading, in addition to a talk on the craft of poetry.

“His poems often have a delightful, sardonic humor and crackling energy.  Reading him, one feels that anything might enter the poem; anything might happen,” associate English professor Devin Johnston said.

Kleinzahler comes to St. Louis after recently completing a series of readings in Australia.  He is traveling here from California, where he has lived for over 30 years. Despite his current residency, he was raised in Fort Lee, N.J., which he considers to be his home.

Kleinzahler has authored of a dozen books of poetry and prose.  He was most recently awarded the 2008 National Books Critics Circle Award in Poetry for his book Sleeping It Off in Rapid City.

Allen Ginsberg is famously quoted as saying that Kleinzahler’s “verse line is always precise, concrete, intelligent and rare – that quality of ‘chiseled’ verse memorable of Basil Bunting’s and Ezra Pound’s work.  A loner, a genius.”

In response to Ginsberg, Kleinzahler was very modest and self-effacing.

“He’s very kind… he was a very sweet man… quite a marvel… the young man he met was certainly not a genius…  [Ginsberg] probably knew that quote would follow me around in a nice way…  he did me a kindness,” Kleinzahler said.

The writer had the opportunity to study under Basil Bunting at the University of Victoria in British Columbia.

Kleinzahler said that “learning that a poem is a composition that is meant to be read aloud in oral medium as it sits on a page like a musical score waiting for the voice bring it to life…” is one of most important things he learned with Bunting.

Kleinzahler said that he is always working on something.

“When something is ready to pop, it makes itself known to me.  I don’t really control it.

My writing has a life of its own, and I think that’s one of the upsetting things about poetry for me, because I can’t control it,”  he said.

During his visit to SLU, Kleinzahler expects to spend time with students and faculty, sharing his work and his experiences.

He looks forward to getting the opportunity to sit down with students and discuss the craft of poetry and writing.

Kleinzahler’s poetry reading will be on Sept. 28 at 4 p.m. in Boileau Hall.

His lecture on the craft of poetry will be on Oct. 5 at the same time and place.

For more information, go to the Sheila Nolan Whalen Reading Series website, at http://www.slu.edu/x33351.xml.