A prolific writer, Mary Ann Meussling ’15 represents North Central College at poetry festival

An English writing major, Mary Ann Meussling ’15 read at the 16th annual Columbia College Chicago Citywide Undergraduate Poetry Festival on April 2. She was among 12 poets to read, who represented 11 Chicago-area colleges and universities, including Loyola, DePaul, Chicago State, Northwestern and Roosevelt universities, School of the Art Institute, University of Chicago and University of Illinois-Chicago.

North Central College faculty nominate a student to read for this event every year. About Meussling, Associate Professor of English Zachary Jack said, “I have worked with Mary Ann since her First-Year Experience four years ago, and she has blossomed into a very fine poet with a wonderful ear for language, for poetic lineation and for poetry as an art of subtlety, suggestion and implication.”

Meussling read a few pieces from a short collection she wrote for Jack’s poetry class, for which she completed a 20-page poetry chapbook titled “Real Horrorshow.”

“I felt almost like I was performing my work instead of just reading it, said Meussling, of Naperville. “Each poem was influenced by a different villain from film or literature, so I sort of embraced each character’s personality traits as I read their inspired piece.”

Meussling says she takes as many writing classes as possible and always writes in her free time. “Writing has been such a passion of mine, and this is the first time I’ve ever really gotten a chance to share my work in a setting outside the classroom.” Meussling plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in publishing or advertising.