Mixing Poetry and Friendship

As an English major at the UW, Murray Ferguson (‘52) studied poetry with legendary poet Theodore Roethke. Fifty years later, poetry remains an important part of his life. He shares his passion for poetry with a group of friends that calls itself the West Highland Poetry Society, named for the street on which several members reside.

	The West Highland Poetry Society includes (from left) Kevin Keefe, Art Lane, Terry Gleason, and Murray Ferguson.

It was neighbor Terry Gleason who came to Ferguson with the idea of creating a poetry group. The two men, along with friends Kevin Keefe and Art Lane (’57, Law), began meeting regularly more than a decade ago.

“Terry set two rules when this began,” recalls Ferguson, a retired Boeing facilities planning manager. “First, that we start every meeting with a drink. That, of course, got me interested. Second, that whoever is host sets all the other rules. That’s worked perfectly all these years.”

Although they adopt a lighthearted approach to their gatherings, the men take their study of poetry quite seriously. Meetings rotate between the members’ homes, with the host selecting the topic—a period of poetry or group of poets—and assigning tasks for the others. “You are expected to come prepared to enlighten the others,” says Ferguson.

Sometimes guests attend for a specific discussion. When the topic was Chaucer, a friend of Ferguson’s spoke to the group about middle English. Dick Dunn, chair of the UW Department of English, has attended several gatherings as well.

“These men really take poetry seriously, using very well annotated editions of the poetry as well as secondary critical and biographical material,” says Dunn. “They frequently interrupt themselves and one another to liken a poet under discussion with others they have read, often reciting long passages from past readings. They represent the lifelong value of a fine liberal arts education, and it is so reassuring to see that thriving as it does with the club.”

Ferguson is grateful to Gleason for starting the group that has provided an ongoing connection to poetry. “There is camaraderie,” he says. “Rarely does anybody miss a meeting. It’s been a very successful affair.”

[Winter-Spring 2006 - Table of Contents]