By Staff
MERIDIAN POET Ed Lynch, owner of the Art Connection and vice president of the Meridian School Board, recites a poem he wrote called "Imagination." Lynch leaves today for the University of Maryland at College Park, where he will read his poems for faculty and students. In the background are illustrations of Lynch's poetry drawn by Alabama artist Ronald McDowell. Photo by Kyle Carter/The Meridian Star
By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
Oct. 27, 2003
Ed Lynch is well-known throughout Meridian for his work as vice president of the city school board and for owning the Art Connection on Eighth Street.
But many people may be unaware that Lynch also is an accomplished poet. And when he recites his works, his voice captivates and echoes passion and pain.
Lynch said he wants to reach people through his art as much as through school board policies.
Today, Lynch will take 15 of his poems to the University of Maryland at College Park where he will participate in a program called Identity Through Poetry: The Latino and African American Experience.
The theme is Diversity, Democracy and Higher Education. The University of Maryland Department of Diversity and Equity will sponsor the event.
Lynch was invited to attend the program after a Meridian woman, Marie Davidson, asked him to recite one of his poems.
Davidson had recently returned to Meridian after teaching at the University of Maryland at College Park. She put Lynch in touch with university officials, who then invited him to visit and read his poems.
Lynch has been writing poetry for 15 years and is in the process of having a compilation of his poetry published. He said he also is in the midst of writing a novel called, "30's Style," which is set in the 1930s.
Lynch said different things inspire him to write poems.
He said he was inspired to write "Who Will Speak for Me," a poem about black youth, after serving on the school board for three years and talking with a teacher who thought more should be done for school athletes.
But, Lynch said, his greatest hope is that everyone will someday understand and embrace cultural diversity.