The poet who will read to you this evening, Mr. Bert Meyers,
teaches at Claremont College in California.
He is the author of two books of poetry--
Early Rain, published in 1960, and Dark Birds,
published in 1968.
Mr. Meyer's work has appeared in numerous periodicals
in this country and abroad and in a great many anthologies.
He has been recognized by awards from the Ingram Merrill
Foundation and the National Foundation on the Arts
and Humanities.
Behind all this is a man who has worked
with his hands for over 16 years.
I suspect that everything he does shows fine craftsmanship.
And I get this impression from having read his poetry.
His poetry is enormously strong and yet very delicate.
It is vibrant, and very much alive, and yet,
in a strange, uncanny way, quiet.
About the nicest thing I think I could say about Mr. Meyers
is something which could not be said of a great many poets.
But I firmly believe it from a very brief acquaintance,
which I hope to extend later.
That is that there is no credibility gap
between this man and his work.
It gives me a great deal of genuine pleasure
to present Mr. Bert Meyers.
[APPLAUSE]