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The collected poetry of Dr. Robert Lima ’57, professor emeritus of Spanish and comparative literature at the Pennsylvania State University, is on exhibition at Penn State’s library. “The Poetic World of Robert Lima” includes over 400 of his poems that have been published in national and international books, newspapers and anthologies as well as the works of other poets whom he has found inspiration in.

“Many of his poems are written directly in response to art, architecture and other cultural artifacts that he has come in contact with,” said Betsy Johnson, Penn State library exhibit coordinator. She added, “Other topics that have caught and held his interest are surrealism, occultism/mysticism and the theater.” Most of Lima’s poetry is accompanied with aesthetic visuals from artists Antonio Frasconi and Dierdre McCullough Grunwald and photographers Samuel Sabean and Margaret Duda.

“Villanova was where I found the appeal of others’ poetry and, ultimately, my own poetic voice,” Lima said. His first poem “Everglades” was published in the spring 1955 issue of Lynx, the University’s literary journal. He continued to publish additional poems in the journal and also in The Villanovan, the student newspaper. “If ‘Everglades’ hadn’t been published in Lynx, I doubt I would have continued to create poetry.”

Originally enrolled in the Engineering College, Lima transferred to Liberal Arts and Sciences, where he studied English, philosophy and history. In his English courses, Lima explained, he studied many poets who “enhanced the love of poetry first felt in high school.”

After Lima received a bachelor of arts, he enrolled in the University’s master of arts theater and drama program, where he participated in many poetic performances. He also received his first national publication at this time: his poem “Chant” was published in Statements, edited by renowned poet Marvin Bell.

In addition to being a poet and professor, Lima is also a playwright, translator, critic and author. He wrote Tracking the Minotaur (1stBooks Library 2003) and Sardinia / Sardegna (Bordighera, Inc.; 1st edition 2000). Lima’s rendition of José Martin Recuerda’s The Inmates of the Convent of Saint Mary Egyptian was performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland.

The exhibit is in the Diversity Studies Room, 109 Pattee Library and will be showcased until Aug. 20.

“Everglades”

The everglades lined with water-borne plants
That sun’s ray never reaches
Impresses the majesty of darkness,
The kingship of deadly silence.
Bent woods, by their effort to peer out,
Have so been thwarted:
And now their lot made sadder
By their burden of Spanish moss.
Herds of fowls patrol the clouds,
Oft alighting to repast,
Then to fight,
And now to reproduce their kind.
Darkness comes upon the sky
But the blackness of the everglades
Is only intensified;
And still the Spanish moss clings to the wood.
One day more of existence is past.
What will the new tomorrow unveil?
Passion, struggle and the end to some
Until the peace of the everglades returns with night.

Robert F. Lima, Jr.