Assistant Professor of English Timothy Liu discusses recent Poetry Magazine publications

Timothy Liu, assistant professor in the Department of English at SUNY New Paltz, is widely regarded as a leading contemporary poet, with 13 published books, a display on the New York City subway, three new pieces reaching audiences via Poetry Magazine’s November 2023 issue.

“It’s a publication that is available for free online, so anyone around the world can read my work,” he said.

The new titles, “Tulsidas,” “Cavafy,” and “Hafez,” each center around the universal theme of love. 

“If you look back at Ancient Greek times, one of the biggest themes in literature and poetry was love,” he said. “People are either falling in love or out of love anywhere around the world, so it’s never a surprise that it fuels so much writing and music.”  

Liu has leveraged his expertise in the craft of poetry to mentor a younger generation of poets since joining the SUNY New Paltz community as a full-time faculty member in 2022. He says he was quickly welcomed into the local poetry and literary scene.

“You can find your tribe right here at New Paltz and also have easy access to Manhattan, which is vital for any poet,” he said. “There is quite the hive of local activity.”  

He often reminds his students that the true value of poetry is its ability to help people cope through the highs and lows of life, whether in song or in written form. 

“Poetry is a powerful form of entertainment, and it’s also a strong form of medicine,” he said. “It gives you what you need no matter how you’re feeling.”  

For aspiring writers looking to pursue poetry after graduation, Liu maintains that the key is to become immersed with the literary form. 

“A poet can sit in total isolation writing and revising what they wrote, but if they’re not reading actively, the poem is just a conversation waiting to happen,” he said. “I tell my students to sit down and familiarize themselves with all poetry available to them to perfect the craft.”  

Click here for a selection of Liu’s best work.

Click here to learn more about the Department of English at SUNY New Paltz.