Central Lakes College held their final “Verse Like Water” poetry series of the year today with Pulitzer Prize award-winning poet Peter Balakian.

Balakian gave a reading of his poetry works to students, faculty, and members of the community. He is the author of seven books of poems and his poetry has appeared widely in American journals and magazines. Balakian was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 2016 for his book of poetry, “Ozone Journal.”

“Nothing would be better if students left my reading, or any reading by a poet, feeling like that, ‘Hey, I better pay more attention to what’s going on in the art of the poem and what are poets saying to me and about our time and about our culture today,’” said visiting poet Peter Balakian. “’And what are they saying about life and human experience.’”

Balakian’s visit marked the last of five poetry readings by visiting poets in the 7th annual “Verse Like Water” series at Central Lakes College.

By — Rachel Johnson

Lakeland News Lead Reporter