Poetic professor reads works

By Carrie Porche Jones, On-line Forty-Niner

April 21,1998

 

The whole world and all the interesting things that he sees in it are the inspiration for his poetry, Dr. Charles H. Webb said at a poetry reading Thursday night.

 

The reading was held in the Special Collections Room on the fifth floor of the University Library.

 

A clear view of Catalina Island and the glow of the setting sun on the windows created a perfect setting for a poetry reading.

 

More than 100 people listened, chuckled and enjoyed the humor and mischief of everyday things transformed from mundane to entertaining by Webb as he read from his new book "Reading The Water," and from an unpublished manuscript.

 

Winner of the 1997 Samuel French Morse Poetry Prize for

"Reading the Water," as well as the 1998 Kate Tufts Discovery Award, Webb is currently a professor of English at Cal State Long Beach, and a professional rock singer and guitarist.

 

"Poetry uses common language, like a kid's imagination, one thought into another," Webb said. "It's fun to write about childhood. I also like to write surreal things, and about our least favorite things such as spiders."

 

In the poem about spiders, Webb's humor and play on words transforms the loathsome creatures into cute, furry things whose webs become nets that catch the breeze.

 

He explains the poem is like "turning a tape backwards from something bad to something good."

 

A licensed psychotherapist, Webb also writes poems that are therapeutic. He admits not all poems are meant for all audiences, and some poems are meant for a one-person audience.

 

The mugging of his father inspired him to write a therapeutic poem to release his anger.

 

"I was beside myself with rage. I obsessed at night. When that happens, I write it out, put it away," he said.

The poem expresses all the vengeful things a victim might want to wreak on the perpetrator of the crime, yet manages to do so without sending a message of hate.

 

Webb said some of his poetry is inspired by magazine articles, famous people and news items, and some is sacrilegious. Before Mother Teresa died, Webb said he read a piece in the newspaper about a man who saw Mother Teresa's face in a cinnamon bun.

 

Webb turned the item into a poem that pokes fun at the man and the mass merchandisers who capitalize on tragedies.

 

Webb's publications include a novel, "The Wilderness Effect," a book of psychological poetry and four collections of poetry. During his 14 years at CSULB, he has been awarded the Distinguished Faculty Scholarly and Creative Achievement Award and the Distinguished Teaching Award.

 

"The best thing about writing poetry is I can amuse myself with the poems," Webb said.

 

A reception and book signing followed the readings.