By Mary Malloy
"For me, poetry is saying what you have to, in the least amount of words, to evoke thought or emotion in the reader," Dugan said. "It doesn't have to rhyme, but it does have to make you think."
Dugan believes that schools which teach poetry are many years behind. "They are still trying to get youths interested in the classical and romantic poetry," he said. Although he did say that Shakepeare is a form or poetic writing. He attended Farmingdale college, thinking he was going to write the "great American novel." The year was 1991. "Our assignment was to write 20 pages - but it could be split up to be 10 pages of fiction, and 10 of poetry." There met me Charles Fishman, who was the creator of the Visiting Writers Program at the university, serving as its director until 1997. Fishman is a published poet and the author of The Death Mazurka which was nominated for the 1990 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry. "He was probably my inspriration in that he exposed me to poetry or rather he opened the door to the world of poetry for me, said Dugan. "Through him I was exposed to modern and contemporary, or post-modern, poetry and away from the old romantic and classical in his creative writing classes. I guess his classes did influence me into continuing my education in poetry and literature. But, he also kindled the spark to explore my own creativity.
Dugan helps mentor poetry students at SUNY Old Westbury. He serves as a guest host at The Village Bookstore in Rockville Centre for poetry readings, where featured readers can recite poetry, and others can read their own works during the "Open Mic" segment. He has published a book, "Medusa's Overbite," which is currently out of print.
"I want to bring poetry to a local level," he said. "Anyone can be a poet -- teachers, students, doctors, lawyers." Dugan, who usually makes his politics known to those around him, says that it is more the human condition that he writes about. "It more about growing up, how we treat each other, how we see the world."
Dugan has hosted "Poets In Nassau" at the Village Bookshoppe in Rockville Centre. The group is searching for a new venue on the South Shore of Long Island.
Comments about this story? MMalloy@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202.
