Collegian

Issue date: 2/13/07 Section: Arts

Media Credit: Lou Suarez Lou Suarez/Jantz

Lou Suarez, retired associate professor of philosophy, has received the Red Mountain award for his most recent poetry chapbook, "On U.S. 6 to Providence." Suarez has received an award for each of his four published poetry books. A few of which are poetry chapbooks, which are short books with poems written on a general theme.

In a press release, poet and Lorain County Community College professor Bruce Weigl remarked, "This is poetry that is restorative; poetry that brings us back to the grace and beauty of our ordinary lives together. For its wisdom, for the clarity of its vision, and for the depth of its compassion, this is a book of poetry that we must have among us because these are the kinds of stories that our lives depend upon."

Suarez returned to LCCC to teach philosophy this spring. This graduate of Kent State and Ohio State has taught English and philosophy courses for over 30 years. He has taught at LCCC, Kent State, Ohio State and Cleveland State.

Although advised by his grandmother to become an accountant because accounting seemed to pay well, Suarez chose to become a teacher.

"For some reason I wanted to be a teacher, probably because I liked school and summer vacations," Suarez said. "I started out as a Spanish major at Kent State, but became an English major because a fellow I met there got me interested in reading and writing poetry."

At first he wanted to be a high school English teacher, but Suarez changed his mind. During graduate school, Suarez decided to become a college teacher.

"In graduate school, I studied literature some, but my my focus was linguistics and philosophy of language," Suarez said.

Suarez grew up in Canton, Ohio, where most of his poetry is set. As a child, he enjoyed reading Otis Spofford and Henry Huggins, classics by Beverly Cleary. He also enjoyed reading the biography of Lou Gerhig. Suarez began writing poetry as a child. He said he began to write seriously at about age 12.

In his book, "Ask," Suarez penned a verse about deer crossing the road. He said he was inspired to write this poem based on an experience he had with a friend.

Suarez said, "That poem was based on a real-life incident. I was driving with a friend on a road in Alabama when he saw a deer preparing to cross, and he said, 'Slow down. Where there's one deer there's usually more right behind.' A few months later, I was sitting by a swimming pool in Phoenix, remembered the conversation, and wrote the poem. For me, the poem is about the tentative nature of our existence, and the need to cherish the small moments that seem so insignificant but that bind us as friends, lovers, and common inhabitants of this strange planet."

If he had to choose a favorite poem from his most recent book, Suarez said "I like 'Another Reason Why Nothing Surprises Me' because the stroy about overhearing three people discuss a menage a trois is absolutely true. I like 'Indian Orchard Cemetary' because I think it's kind of funny. But I'm especially fond of 'The Only Man on Earth.' I think it might be the best thing I've ever written. I should mention that most of the poems in On U.S. 6 were written while I was on sabbatical leave from LCCC. I'm grateful for the college's support."

Suarez said that the most challenging part about getting published is that "there's lot of competition. . . lots of good poetry by good poets." Suarez's advice for aspiriing writers is "keep writing. Try hard not to settle for the cliche. And let others read what you're writing. It's a great act of charity and love."

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