Service to Poetry
Michael S. Glaser loved poetry. And he loved bringing poets together to support their creative process, to listen to each other’s poems, and to find insight and joy in each other’s company. Many of the most cherished moments and achievements in his career were in service to poetry, and with poets whom he nourished. Michael started the Festival for Poets and Poetry at St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 1979, which later turned into the Literary Festival when it expanded to include fiction writing. He was dedicated to creating a space to nurture all writers, from the most highly regarded poets to emerging student writers.
Michael treasured his friendship with poet Lucille Clifton who began teaching at St. Mary’s in 1989. Together they nurtured new voices as well as bringing renowned poets and writers to St. Mary’s College through the VOICES reading series. Glaser was known for his thoughtful introductions of the writers he brought to campus as well as his facilitation of thought-provoking dialogues between them.
Additionally, Michael championed students’ voices of all ages. Beyond his lively classes and workshops at St. Mary’s College, he brought poetry to public schools across Maryland as a poet-in-the-schools. From leading poetry workshops in Oxford and England’s Lake District to facilitating retreats at the Kirkridge Retreat Center in Pennsylvania, and bringing poetry into his activism, Michael shared his love for poetry far and wide. He was a lifelong learner and continued to mentor students and writers of all ages, engage in regular exchanges with his writing partners, and build community around poetry right up until his final days.
Michael S. Glaser loved poetry. And he loved bringing poets together to support their creative process, to listen to each other’s poems, and to find insight and joy in each other’s company. Many of the most cherished moments and achievements in his career were in service to poetry, and with poets whom he nourished. Michael started the Festival for Poets and Poetry at St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 1979, which later turned into the Literary Festival when it expanded to include fiction writing. He was dedicated to creating a space to nurture all writers, from the most highly regarded poets to emerging student writers.
Michael treasured his friendship with poet Lucille Clifton who began teaching at St. Mary’s in 1989. Together they nurtured new voices as well as bringing renowned poets and writers to St. Mary’s College through the VOICES reading series. Glaser was known for his thoughtful introductions of the writers he brought to campus as well as his facilitation of thought-provoking dialogues between them.
Additionally, Michael championed students’ voices of all ages. Beyond his lively classes and workshops at St. Mary’s College, he brought poetry to public schools across Maryland as a poet-in-the-schools. From leading poetry workshops in Oxford and England’s Lake District to facilitating retreats at the Kirkridge Retreat Center in Pennsylvania, and bringing poetry into his activism, Michael shared his love for poetry far and wide. He was a lifelong learner and continued to mentor students and writers of all ages, engage in regular exchanges with his writing partners, and build community around poetry right up until his final days.
Michael S. Glaser loved poetry. And he loved bringing poets together to support their creative process, to listen to each other’s poems, and to find insight and joy in each other’s company. Many of the most cherished moments and achievements in his career were in service to poetry, and with poets whom he nourished. Michael started the Festival for Poets and Poetry at St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 1979, which later turned into the Literary Festival when it expanded to include fiction writing. He was dedicated to creating a space to nurture all writers, from the most highly regarded poets to emerging student writers.
Michael treasured his friendship with poet Lucille Clifton who began teaching at St. Mary’s in 1989. Together they nurtured new voices as well as bringing renowned poets and writers to St. Mary’s College through the VOICES reading series. Glaser was known for his thoughtful introductions of the writers he brought to campus as well as his facilitation of thought-provoking dialogues between them.
Additionally, Michael championed students’ voices of all ages. Beyond his lively classes and workshops at St. Mary’s College, he brought poetry to public schools across Maryland as a poet-in-the-schools. From leading poetry workshops in Oxford and England’s Lake District to facilitating retreats at the Kirkridge Retreat Center in Pennsylvania, and bringing poetry into his activism, Michael shared his love for poetry far and wide. He was a lifelong learner and continued to mentor students and writers of all ages, engage in regular exchanges with his writing partners, and build community around poetry right up until his final days.
Singer of Everyday Miracles
By Wayne Karlin
For Michael Glaser
“More war poems?” you said to me, before you were gone.
“More kids and grandkids and food and love-making and love and honey and almonds and everyday miracles poems? The political can be personal too,” I said to you, before you were gone.
“Every time I met with Michael he either taught me something or told me something I needed to know,” Matt said, after you were gone.
You called me two nights before
a little later than usual.
A little later than we knew it was.
A little later than we thought it could be.
Your voice was urgent
with questions
what we needed to know
what we needed to say
what we needed to do
in these days of reluctant mercy
and malevolent faith.
You had no answers
nothing to teach or tell.
You had not called for answers
only for connection
an echo to shatter
isolate silence
before sleep
before that long sleep
before that tender embrace into the
arms of grace
you called to and merged with
as gently as you foretold
as gently as you wished,
leaving me void
of what you could teach me
of what I needed to know
you poet
you singer of
everyday miracles.
Originally published in the Friends Journal, February 2026.
© Wayne Karlin, 2026. Please do not use without permission.
© 2026