Larkin Powell may not be an English professor, but he has a soft spot for the subject taught by his colleagues over in Andrews Hall.
"I took creative writing classes in college, and I've always enjoyed writing as stress relief or a way to escape reality for a bit," said Powell, professor of conservation biology and animal ecology in UNL's School of Natural Resources.
Most recently, Powell published "Cursed with Wings," a collection of original poetry and prose that captures quiet moments of life and death within and among nature.
"There is a quote in the beginning of the book by Mordecai Richler that I've known I would use for a long time: 'Fundamentally, all writing is about the same thing; it's about dying, about the brief flicker of time we have here, and the frustration that it creates,'" Powell said. "'Cursed with Wings' is divided in three parts – about life's flickering moments, about frustration and about loss and grief."
Although Powell's interest in writing is deep-seated, a year abroad as a Fulbright Scholar helped him tap into poetry as a means of self-expression.
"I really found a passion for poetry during our family's year in Namibia in 2009," Powell said. "There, I had more time because of the professional development leave, and there was plenty of inspiration and new experiences to write about."
Powell's work as a conservationist and professor greatly inspired the content of "Cursed with Wings."
"The biggest advantage is that my job puts me out on landscapes and with people who continue to knock my socks off," he said.
The collection's titular poem, for example, is about a moment when Powell was walking between dunes in the Sandhills and watching a flock of geese fly in single-file over the crests of dunes into a head wind.
"They literally seemed to be cursed with wings that day," he said. "Life would have been easier if they could have walked, instead of flying into that north wind."
Namibia remains an essential part of Powell's life, as it's the site of his education abroad program offered in the summer.
"There are several pieces in 'Cursed with Wings' about experiences in that African country," he said. "When a student drinks ants out of her water bottle, you can just laugh with her about it, or you can write a piece about it. I choose to do both. I've got the best job in the world, and it feeds my writing almost every day."
The next Namibia trip is slated for May 2015, and an informational session will take place from 5-6 p.m., Oct. 6 in Hardin Hall (room 163). Any interested students are welcome to attend.
Additionally, all proceeds from the sale of "Cursed with Wings" support children at Future Professor Preschool, where Powell's wife Kelly volunteered during their time in Namibia. The school teaches English to children from rural areas so they may attend elementary school in the city.
"Cursed with Wings" can be purchased online at http://go.unl.edu/n2o3.
"I hope readers find at least one piece that resonates with an experience that they've had," Powell said. "In some ways, having someone read your piece is like having an odd conversation (and) waiting to see if they respond. And, when they do, it’s usually because they've felt or thought the same thing – in some way – before."
— Mekita Rivas, Natural Resources