Dr. Elizabeth Schmermund of the English Department wrote her first poetry book, "Alexander the Great," recently published by Finishing Line Press. Culminating seven years of writing, the book features poems that highlight the rise and ancient conquest of Alexander the Great, while tracing the journey of grief felt by a mother for a son that did not live to have his "names and deeds celebrated."
"Coping with loss, and the progress of grief as a mother is not linear, and I wanted the narratives of the poet to reflect that throughout the book," said Dr. Schmermund. "Poetry, and by extension organizing and compiling the pieces in 'Alexander the Great,' became a lifeline for me in the aftermath of great loss."
Dr. Schmermund, who teaches literature, creative writing and Greek mythology at the University, shared the book with fellow faculty and students during a reading event to celebrate the release date in March. Of the experience, Dr. Nicholas Powers of the English Department said: "one of the traditional jobs of poets is to use words as a stitch to close wounds, and that is what Elizabeth has done. She took a mother's loss of a child, and through the alchemy of poetry, turned it into wisdom and beauty that eventually becomes art that gets you through the highs and lows of life."
In addition to her recent work of poetry, Dr. Schmermund is the author of more than twenty educational books, and is currently working on a second book of poems titled “A Hypochondriac Writes Letters.” She is also faculty advisor for the student publications Harmonia and Discordia at SUNY Old Westbury.