Loss inspires professor's book of poems

Having poetry published is not glamorous, but any advancement inbeing able to communicate something makes it all worthwhile,according to a University of Memphis associate professor.

Shara McCallum's second book of poetry, "Song ofThieves," is being published by the University of PittsburghPress this month.

McCallum said her collection deals with themes of loss,specifically the loss of her father due to schizophrenia.

McCallum explores the loss of a sense of space, an issue she hasfelt since her immigration from Jamaica to the United States a9-year-old, she said.

I feel a sense of accomplishment being able to communicate thosethemes to someone else, McCallum said.

"If you aren't striving to communicate, then writing isessentially an act of vanity," McCallum said.

McCallum had been writing and publishing individual poems inacademic journals before compiling a collection titled "TheWater Between Us."

McCallum wrote more than 200 poems in a three-year period. Only50 of which ended up in the book.

"I wrote the first book the way most people write theirfirst book of poetry-- one poem at a time. Then I noticed a similarsubject matter with thematic and even narrative themes, and I feltI had a book," McCallum said.

McCallum said her collection represents her strongest work, aconcept she shares with her creative writing students.

"Not everything you write is good," McCallum said."You learn things along the way, but it is not all meant to bepublished."

McCallum sent her manuscript to more than 20 publishers. It wasselected out of over 1,000 entries, and won her the Agnes LynchStarrett Poetry Prize.

"It was somewhat like winning a lottery," McCallumsaid, due to the lack of publishers.

According to McCallum, there are not many publishers for firstbooks because there is not a large market for books of poetry.

"When was the last time you bought a book of poetry versusa CD?" McCallum said she asks her students.

She receives less than $1 for every book sold, of which 2,000books have been printed.

"You're not going to get rich being a poet," McCallumsaid.

"However, I wouldn't get to teach here without publishing.It's a secondary reason, but a benefit because there are not manyjobs offered for a poet," McCallum said.