On Wednesday March 7, poet Joseph Lease read his works and answered questions at an event presented by the Harker Chapter of the Cum Laude Society during long lunch.

He read seven poems ranging from the topics of politics to prayers before answering questions from the audience.

Two of his poems included a love poem written for his wife Donna, titled “Try”, and a political poem titled “America”, written from 2004 to 2008 about the second term of the president George W. Bush.

His poems varied in length; some are as short as five lines and others as long as twenty-six sections.

After reading four of his poems, Lease paused to take questions from the audience. He answered questions on the inspiration for his poems, his writing process, and how he became interested in writing.

“I fell in love with the sound of words and the sound of rhythms and cadences.. and the way that the music of words elicits emotion,” he said.

He described how his process varies from poem to poem but he typically reads it aloud and lets other people read it as well. The process is “ear-driven”, so “when the music is right, [he] know[s] it’s done.”

“Writing a poem is really going on a journey even if its 14 days instead of 14 months,” Lease said.

He commented on how poets like Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson influence his writing as well as reading many different works.

Lease ended his presentation with two pieces of advice for young and hopeful writers: “do not wait till you’re inspired…do not be afraid of your creativity and originality.”