TerryWooten

As a poet~bard Terry Wooten has taken his performance poetry and writing
workshop program to many thousands at K-12 schools, colleges, libraries, festivals
and conferences from coast to coast for the past 24 years. Performing from a
nine-hour oral repertoire, he weaves classic literature, ancient, contemporary and
children's poetry, as well as his own work rich in humor and lore into an
entertaining and educational program. He is a two-time recipient of Michigan
Creative Artist Awards, and toured with Michigan's Great Outdoors Culture Tour
for five years. He has recently conducted workshops for Michigan's Poetry Out
Loud program, and was Master of Ceremonies for the 2006 & 2007 statewide
competition. With a bioregional focus on people and place, Terry has written poems
on diverse topics that range from Ernie Harwell radio broadcasts of the Detroit
Tigers baseball games to shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. He has published ten
chapbooks and his work has appeared in numerous publications. His book,
Lifelines: A WWII Story of Survival and Love, has been turned into a play
production, forensic piece, used as a book of the month selection and as the
foundation for school humanities projects. Terry's first full length children's book
When the Bear Came Back: The Whole Story is now available.

Terry is also the builder and host poet of Stone Circle, a triple ring of large
boulders designed to capture the atmosphere of ancient cultures that gathered in
family and community groups to educate, entertain and exchange stories of
everyday life and lore. Each summer he is host to other poets, storytellers,
musicians and an audience of young and old who come to stir their tales in the
communal brew that this unique recipe for communication offers.

"Terry Wooten's talent to entertain, motivate and excite our students with poetry
inspires them to use their own artistic abilities in new and creative ways. His
manner of presentation allows him to connect with his audience in ways that are
truly magical."
Greg Crowe ~ Language Arts, Rockford Middle School

"…an everyday Homer writing as a modern bard for ordinary heroes."
Jane Karoline Vieth, PhD ~ Professor of History, MSU

"Terry Wooten is a fine poet in the tradition of Whitman and Williams. His work
celebrates our history and our encounters with civilization. His poems show a
humane and understanding heart, and a humor and wit that helps illuminate our
daily lives."
Herb Scott ~ Poet and Professor of English, WMU

"We are both human and a furious beast, but poetry is words on a piece of paper.
You taught me the meaning of poetry. You taught me that your brain has ideas and
all you have to do is think to get them out! You changed something in me that
nobody's changed before. I'm one of your biggest fans!"
Kari Charleston ~ 4th grade, Bridgeman Elementary