Richard Lowell Blevins is a poet writing in the tradition of Ezra Pound , H.D. , and Robert Duncan , an editor of the Charles Olson-Robert Creeley correspondence , and an award-winning teacher . He was born in Wadsworth , Ohio , in 1950 . His undergraduate career was halved by the May 4 , 1970 , Kent State shootings . He was declared a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War . At Kent State , he studied poetry and the imagination with Duncan and literature of the American West with Edward Dorn . But he has often said that Cleveland book dealer James Lowell was his most formative early influence . He holds degrees from Kent State University ( General Studies , 1973 ) , the University of Oregon ( MA , English literature , 1976 ) , and the University of Pittsburgh ( Ph.D. , English literature , 1985 ; dissertation on the western novels of Will Henry . He has taught literature and poetry writing at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg since 1978 , also serving as Humanities Chair for nine years . He is a winner of a Chancellor ’s Award , in 1999 , the university ’s highest recognition for teaching . He previously taught at the University of Akron and Kent State
Kent State shootings
Kent State shootings
Richard Blevins