Today I attended the 99th birthday party of Brainerd poet, Maxine Russell. What a celebration to honor Maxine and her many literary accomplishments that include several books of poetry, a biography, and a tenure as the League of Minnesota Poet Laureate. Maxine was an early influence on my poetry, an ongoing encourager and example of what it means to live the writing life.
One of the things Maxine taught me was the importance of a good title. She once said the best titles include the metaphor of the poem or prose piece. I mentioned this to Brett Anthony Johnston, Creative Writing Chair at Harvard, when I took his short-story class at the Iowa Summer Writing Festival a few years back. Brett thought a bit and then said that he agreed with Maxine although he had never put the thought into words. He mentioned THE ROAD, THE BELL JAR, THE GREEN MILE and other famous works doing just that, and said that he would be taking Maxine’s idea back to Harvard.
Fitting, that Maxine’s influence might be shared with future Harvard students. She loved giving poetry readings at colleges and schools across Minnesota. In her younger years she mentored many writers and poets learning the craft.
Join me in wishing Maxine Russell the happiest of birthdays.
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