There are those to whom place is unimportant, But this place, where sea and fresh water meet, Is important-
Portrait of Theodore Roethke
Theodore Roethke was one of America鈥檚 most accomplished poets when he joined the 91探花 faculty. In Seattle, Roethke wrote the North American Sequence, the brilliant conclusion to his life of poetry. Inspired by local friendships and by San Juan Island, he debuted 鈥淭he Rose鈥� to packed houses at Century 21, Seattle鈥檚 1962 world鈥檚 fair.
When we think of 鈥渋nnovation,鈥� we may not immediately think about poets. Yet there are common patterns of creativity. A line of software code and a line of poetry are products of hard thinking, much experimentation, and a determination to bring something fresh and new to life.
Through Roethke鈥檚 eyes, mind and art, readers can see a simple rose differently. Roethke鈥檚 Rose struggled at the edge of the sea, in the rocky cliffs of San Juan Island, growing a breathtaking, delicate beauty in that harsh place. His handwritten draft reveals the hard work of innovation – the trial and error of choosing the right word, the right rhythm, the risk of creativity.
At UW, Theodore Roethke made his mark as a gifted educator and brilliant thinker who a colleague once described as 鈥渙ne of the most valuable of our faculty members鈥� wherever he is known, we are known.鈥� Long after his death, his work continues to give readers new ways to understand the familiar.
Roethke鈥檚 hand-written draft of 鈥淭he Rose鈥� captures the experimentation, art, and hard work of creative innovation. (Roethke Collection, University Archives, Special Collections, 91探花Libraries)
Header image: Roethke teaching at UW
Further Reading
In this feature, take the opportunity to trace Roethke鈥檚 creative process聽from draft to final publication.
Roethke Collection, University Archives, Special Collections, 91探花Libraries
On page 13, the Daily reporter reports on the 91探花faculty whose offices聽were in Padelford Hall, including Theodore Roethke, 11/3/1967.
91探花 Daily
One of Roethke鈥檚 principal biographers, Allan Seager, quotes a review by the theater critic of Seattle鈥檚 Argus of Roethke鈥檚 reading at Century 21.
Allan Seager, The Glass House: The Life of Theodore Roethke. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, 1991
Local arts writer Margaret Callahan profiles 91探花Professor Roethke as 鈥渙ne of the outstanding younger figures in the world or poetry,鈥� 3/16/1952
Seattle Times
Local press excitement as Theodore Roethke brings home a coveted Pulitzer Prize, 5/4/1954.
Seattle Times
When Theodore Roethke agreed to a public reading at Century 21, his decision was big news, 10/3/1962
Seattle Times
