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May 4 Poetry collection

Special Collections and Archives

May 4 Poetry collection

Special Collections and Archives

May 4 Poetry collection

Finding Aid for the May 4 Poetry collection

May 4 Collection - Box 83

Finding Aid

Prepared by Nancy Birk, 6 May 1994; Updated April 2015; Last Updated: August 2022


Inclusive Dates: 1970-2020; undated
Extent: .33 cubic foot (1 document case)
Physical Location: 12th floor


Scope and Content: The May 4 Poetry collection contains poetry related to the Kent State shootings of May 4, 1970. A significant number of folders include correspondence and other supporting documents related to the authors and their poetry.

Arrangement: Poems are arranged alphabetically by author's last name.


Sponsor: Digitization of a portion of this collection was funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.


Box 83
Folder -- Contents

  1. Arcangelini, M. J.: "Remember This," May 4, 1994
    Scope and Content: Originally published in the 1994 combined edition of SplitCrimes and ArtCrimes, titled, "Four Play With Heads," and published again in 2002 in Michael J. Arcangelini's book, "With Fingers at the Tips of my Words." This copy was reproduced as an insert in the 2001 poetry magazine titled, EVERYMAN.
  2. Arthrell, Bill: "Guilt Trip," undated
  3. Arthrell, Bill: "Springtime," July 10, 2006
  4. Barnett, Robert R.: "The Other Side of Blanket Hill," May 9, 2000; May 4, 2006
  5. Birmingham, Thomas Harlan: "Up the Constitution," 1996
  6. Bresky, James J.: Student Poetry, 1980-1989
  7. Brockwell Simcox, Judy: "May Fourth Nineteen Seventy," 1970
  8. Card, Hermon R.: "Memorials, May 4, 1994," 1994
  9. Carson, Beverly: "Untitled," 1977
  10. Collected Poems: From the Center for Peaceful Change and the May 4 Task Force, 1974-1978
  11. Collected Poems: Songs for May 4th, poems by Alan Paton, George H. Kotok, Alex Gildzen, Donald M. Hassler, Denise Levertov, and Marilyn Heck Headley; music by Daniel Jahn, 1974
  12. Cormany, Stephen: "I Came to Poetry Late: Collected Poems," 1993-2004
  13. Culp, Wayne A.: "Kent," 1970
  14. Davidson, Richard: "Elegy for Four," undated
  15. Davis, Marilyn: "May 4th - The Poem," 1984
  16. Eisenhauer, Michael: "Outrage: A Four Hour Walk - A Forty Year Journey," July 6, 2009
  17. Fithian Guruswamy, Rosemary: Three Poems, undated
    Scope and Content: Includes three poems: "Spring Comes to the Hill," "Falling at Kent," and "Faces."
  18. Gallagher, Diane: "Town of Ohio," 1990; October 15, 2000
  19. Gildzen, Alex: "Allison," undated
  20. Gorden, William I.: "May 4 Before and After," 1970
  21. Greenberg, Gail: "Lesson," 2000
  22. Haines, John: "Kent State, May 1970," 1995
  23. Hassler, Donald M.: "May 4, 1970," 1970
  24. Collected Poems: The Poems, 1970-1973
    Scope and Content: Handbound booklet of poems by various authors, with an introduction by Donald M. Hassler. Also includes Hassler's poem, "May 4, 1970."
  25. Headley, Marilyn Heck: "Kent State - May 4, 1970," 1973
  26. Helwig, David: "After the Deaths at Kent State," 1971
  27. Hickson, Jed: "On the Fourth of May," 2009-2010
  28. Johnson, Wendy L.: "Spectator Sport, May 4th, 1970," May 5, 1970; April 18, 2000
  29. Kauhl, Beverly Gorsica: "Early Writings," 1971
  30. Keith, Marsha J.: "The Block, The Evening, The May Spring, The Town," May 4, 2001
  31. Kotok, George H.: "State of the Union," undated
  32. Kyle, Howard: Poems About May 4, undated
  33. Lawless, Jim: "They Didn't Cry," May 1971
  34. Levertov, Denise: "The Day the Audience Walked Out on Me and Why," 1971
  35. Levine, Barry: "Bullet," undated
  36. Levine, Barry: "Who Killed Allison? Why? What has she done?," 2000
  37. Lifshin, Lyn: "They," undated
  38. Lingner, Vicki (Instructor): "Nine Reflections: A Collection by Creative Connections Institute, Kent State University, Creativities Class," July 20, 1994
  39. Lourie, Dick: "Triumphal," undated
  40. Lund-Goldstein, Bailey: "May 4th," undated
  41. Lunine, M. J.: "Untitled," November 12, 1971
  42. Madden, Ned: "School Out - Kent May 4," March 1995; 2001
  43. Mahoney, Anne Rankin: "Do We Have Enough Springs Left?," May 1970
  44. Marker, Karen: "The Final Yearbook Fifty Years Later: A Eulogy to Kent State University High School 1914-1972," 2022
  45. McDonald, Marian: "Lessons," June 2, 1976
  46. McGrath, Tom: "Anniversary - May 1970," 1970s
  47. Miller, Jeffrey Glenn: "The War Without End," undated
  48. Mills, Lloyd: "5 4 1970," 1970
  49. Mothersbaugh, Mark: "May 4th," May 4, 1975
    Note: This poem has been removed from the collection at the request of the author.
  50. No Author: "Untitled," undated
  51. Olds, Glenn A.: "Never Again!," May 1972
  52. Paton, Alan: "Flowers for the Departed," with music by Daniel Jahn, 1971
  53. Pittser, Darlene: "The Cemetery on the Hill," 2005
  54. Prosen, Rose Mary: "Rites of Spring," undated
  55. Provost, Terrence: "Bullet Proof," undated
    Scope and Content: Includes one copy of the poem from the poetry publication, Jawbone, published in 2022. The second copy of the poem was reimagined by poet, Christopher Franke, whom refers to it as the "reading version" of Terry Provost's original poem.
  56. Sadler, Norma J.: "Montage," 1978
  57. Sanders, Ed: "1970," 2001-2002
    Note: Poems are from America, a History in Verse, Volume 3, 1962-1970, Black Sparrow 2004. Used by permission of author.
  58. Sarton, May: "We'll to the Woods No More, the Laurels Are Cut Down," 1978
  59. Schorb, E. M.: "Dirge for the Dead Students," 1970
  60. Schreiber, Ron: "Death of an American Bum," undated
  61. Sedacca, Sandra: "50th Reunion (Kent State)," 2020
  62. Thompson, Daniel: "My Alma Mater," May 4, 1980
  63. Yevtushenko, Yevgeny: "Flowers and Bullets," 1970
  64. Zempter, Michael: "The Wind at Kent State," November 5, 2001
  65. Ziavras, Charles E.: "Kent State*," May 5, 1970; 1995