Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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USC Graf! Writes Poems Of Carolina IX.. lAUWVAIlfUAM TflVUIl/lll Asst. Entertainment Editor "There is a very strong sense of place that runs throughou Southern literature," said Eugene Piatt, a USC graduate an Charleston native son, explaining why he has produced volume of poetry entitled South Carolina State Line. "Maybe this sense has something to do with the fact tha this has been an agrarian society as opposed to an industris society," the 42-year-old author continued. "The land gave u our sustenance, our ancestors loved it, and we inherit that." Piatt was in Columbia last week with his two childrer planning to spend a few days in his home state. He also sper some time discussing South Carolina State Line, a volume c new and selected poems focusing on the "sense of place" h talks about. THE TITLE was taken from the text of the book's fins poem, and is a title, Piatt writes in a brief foreword, "whic several friends, concerned by its parochial sound, advise against using." TnHfpH mnnv rtf fho nnomo whinh ponrocant oKnut 11 v* bi>v TT IUVII & vpi VO^IK auuui 10 jCal writing, are not concerned with the Palmetto State. Bu . 'I of f tirni f AT in Uio ^/\M/\?ar/VM/l T I-.?. 1! A. A. I? a iovi miiu in hid luicwuiu, i^ciiuiany, i nupe mat ui universality of the emotions, encounters, and experience represented by these poems will transcend all state lines but I, personally, have no aualms about being identifie with the region where I was reared." Piatt graduated from USC in 1964 with a degree in politics science. He has worked for the U.S. government for yean and makes his home outside of Washington D.C. Un nnirl ? * KT ?? - -? 1 " * ?ic actiu ui ma jwcuy, i gui a iaie siari... wnen 1 was a undergraduate here, writing poetry never occurred to me. His first book, Coffee and Solace, was published in 1970. "I'VE BEEN writing in earnest for about 13 years at thi point. I think my Southern heritage is reflected in my wor going back to the earliest poems," Piatt said. "It jus seemed, at this point. to be a good time to brine together a lc of the poems into South Carolina State Line." In the volume, he noted, he has arranged the poems in thematic rather than chronological order. The poems are diverse in both content and form. The use c refrains is popular with Piatt, and he said he hopes thes havpa lvrirnl mmlitv J - nMMaaV "One poem, 'Carolina Sands,' has been choreographed couple of times, in Washington and at the Spoleto Festival i Charleston last year," he recalled. Several others have als been used in a similar way, but Piatt feels that '"Carolin Sflnrfs' Qppm? tn ho p?rv>pi u 11 \7 oivnn Jn /ihnriinrtrmVi v? v?pv,v.?.V 6"?-? V.IVIVU6.UJ/U possibilities." ; THE WRITER is a quiet, somewhat modest man ? nc only in his poetry, but in candid conversation. He mentione James Dickey, USC's poet-in-residence, as a poet "whos style I am very much impressed with. I think (Dickey) i unsurpassed in 20th-century poetry. I have emulated his styl a little bit, I hope ? though he may be embarrassed to hea mesavthat " Looking ahead, Piatt said he hopes to produce anothe volume or two, and admitted, "I'd really like to write a novt someday." But for now, he'll speak of South Carolina State Lin mentioning that the book is in the University Bookstore. C his home state, he hopes his poetry will do the speaking, as ii \ "Sometimes You Can": After years of self -seeking exile and a long day's drive down I 95, I see up ahead the sign : SOUTH CAROLINA STATE LINE 1 make another sign I as I drive across, t ai </>ii ' n rr #'i ?i r t /> r o te\ /? n/l listsirt tuUVMKIfl JH lfi?T? o IW JV" tMtuu UI.U .??=?. I. For me it is still a religious experience, the teachings of Wolfe notwithstanding 1 i m ^ s Belhue. i e { V I 7 d ; mi ^ " I Hi MvBw a flSGf IBRr n vK wm I WW ^ I Here's a sure cure for the blahs A new ? I shirt Not any shirt, but a shirt in the right S I colors, withthe right imprint, at the right e I price We'velilled our racks with the r I newest styles in |erseys. T-shirts, sport h shirts and jackets. | r 1 I * UNI V BOOK I ...(^ Ilussel !; in I<^ U:>-- ** MM JJOK'alORE iill iMIlVIMiilii I1 J1 |i,ri| diiifi 1 V'lMi"IHTgWWfTnru ?1 ipijj. ????? 8 ? ?III iffl I ill ($nR)n nrw MM IV J> J J Your young brothers and sisters back home would love to wear a shirt just like h -1a A?? ? ''1 yuuis. /Aiioi <111, yuu are meir iaoi, even it ; it be so secretly. Flatter them with a gift from our new collection of T-shirts, football jerseys and other great imprinted wearables in sizes for youngsters. You could be starting a tradition! [ PDCTTV JL JL LSTORE II House OHB GfflgZKEBB Partner lucation" I