Julie and Dave O'Connell, recent graduates of master's programs at Ohio State, drove to Brandeis from Providence, R.I. for one reason: to hear one of their favorite poets, the award-winning Tony Hoagland. The O'Connells felt it was worth the trip. "It was a great reading," Julie said.

Hoagland came to Brandeis on Sept. 28 for a poetry reading hosted by the Creative Writing program in the Rappaporte Treasure Hall of the Goldfarb Library. Hoagland's sharp honesty, freedom of expression and wide range of topics draws fans of poetry from near and far to hear his tales. For Hoagland, poetry seems to be the ultimate form of artistic written freedom.

Speaking on issues ranging from racism to the winter of New England, Hoagland used poetry to speak the way he felt-with no barriers.

Hoagland has written three books of poetry, teaches poetry classes and has a book of essays on poetry in progress. Director of the Creative Writing Program Olga Broumas (ENG) said during her introductory remarks that she never ceased to look at Hoagland's poetry with "an increasing sense of urgency, intimacy and wonder."

Before reading each poem, Hoagland spoke about his inspiration and how the poem related to his everyday life. Rather than giving esoteric explanations, Hoagland seemed to talk to each audience member as a friend.

The poems ranged from hysterical to serious. Particularly amusing was "Responsibility in Metaphor," a piece used to teach students about the use of metaphor and how the literary device can be taken too far.

On a more serious reflection of the seasons, Hoagland commented on the severity of New England weather in his piece titled "Reasons to Survive November," depicting a landscape with images of a bridge and a black river and seeing New Englanders running like a train to a land of enemies, the enemies being fast-approaching winter.

His most controversial poem, "The Change," was written around the time when Venus Williams first appeared in tennis matches.

"I knew something important had happened, though no one knew it yet," Hoagland said. He expressed contempt for what he described as the rugged and base way that an African-American came out on top of a white competitor. Hoagland said very few publishers had been willing to associate themselves with this politically incorrect work, but he feels that it is important to always be honest, and likes his poems to upset people.

"I was giving a voice to America's dirty secret," said Hoagland. "I like to shock some people."

-Michelle Minkoff