Wall of Fame Project:

Bennie Lee Sinclair

Susan and AmandaSusan and Amanda

BiographyBiography

Bennie Lee Sinclair was born in 1939 in Greenville, South Carolina. She was a poet who normally wrote about the people and settings of the country that she had been

familiar with all her life. She has written two volumes of poetry, “Little Chicago Suite”

and “The Arrowhead Scholar.” She has won many awards for her work. She used to

teach writing at Furman University and led writing workshops at Notre Dame, Western Carolina, and Brevard. She held the position of poet laureate from 1986 until her death in

the year 2000.

PicturesPictures

InterviewInterviewSince Bennie Lee Sinclair died 3 years ago and her Since Bennie Lee Sinclair died 3 years ago and her husband could not be contacted, this interview is husband could not be contacted, this interview is not real but real quotes form Bennie are used.not real but real quotes form Bennie are used.

What inspired you to become a poet?What inspired you to become a poet?““Life has dealt me blows you can only deal with Life has dealt me blows you can only deal with with poetry.”with poetry.”

Do you think poetry is becoming less popular?Do you think poetry is becoming less popular? “ “Poetry is an undying art. It has always been Poetry is an undying art. It has always been

popular in our culture in the lyrics of songs. In popular in our culture in the lyrics of songs. In schools when I would ask children if they knew a schools when I would ask children if they knew a poem, they would say, ‘Nah.’ Then I would ask poem, they would say, ‘Nah.’ Then I would ask about their favorite songs, and they would quote about their favorite songs, and they would quote the whole thing and then it would dawn on them.”the whole thing and then it would dawn on them.”

August LightAugust Lightbyby Bennie Lee SinclairBennie Lee Sinclair

Something has shifted almost imperceptibly, Something has shifted almost imperceptibly, an axis so removed it is only theory. an axis so removed it is only theory. But through the window when I wake But through the window when I wake

the light itself seems to slant, and is golden, the light itself seems to slant, and is golden, not white or so direct as it was yesterday.not white or so direct as it was yesterday.

Perhaps it is the best moment we have Perhaps it is the best moment we have for readjusting, instructed in every phase for readjusting, instructed in every phase

as we are by the light, which daily becomes more oblique as we are by the light, which daily becomes more oblique so that the leaves reflect it curiously.so that the leaves reflect it curiously.

Or it may be merely a dream Or it may be merely a dream that we are here, and everything changed—that we are here, and everything changed—even your face as you sleep, the slow light even your face as you sleep, the slow light

toward winter turning.toward winter turning.

The Dying. The Donor. The The Dying. The Donor. The PhoenixPhoenix

Part IPart IBy Bennie Lee SinclairBy Bennie Lee SinclairToo soon, I find myself

dying, adrift among mine who have

gone, in rooms of those houses once known, anchored only

by tubes; a machine.

And nearby, in the sweet Georgia hills, a young woman

breathing her last perhaps starts, then settles back

protesting: Not yet! Not yet! Not yet! Such is the way life ends.

The Dying. The Donor. The The Dying. The Donor. The PhoenixPhoenix

Part IIPart IITimes change. Against grief,

her body is bequeathed to those desperate, who cling

by chance of another's passing. On a May evening bright

with the wonder of fireflies, the call comes: like sisters,

our blood and tissues match. As the helicopter lift from the hospital roof,

casting her forfeited loveliness like that of a dissected angel to far-flung operating rooms,

I become the first she reprieves.

The Dying. The Donor. The The Dying. The Donor. The Phoenix.Phoenix.

Part IIIPart IIIWaking to the extraordinary pulse

of a future, I marvel at the gift,not yet defined in theosophy

that I continue to exist through her

Conjoined, we have become miraculous as the phoenix, borne

on our new wings, raised from ashes by forces old as love and sacrifice,

recent as state-of-the art technology. Though a mere

biological trace, like the remnant of a Siamese twin, she nevertheless

grants me breath. On the day she is laid to rest, I know

I shall never be quite so alone, or she so completely gone.Such is the way life endsand, sometimes, begins.

Analysis of Her WorkAnalysis of Her Work Through Bennie Lee Sinclair’s different Through Bennie Lee Sinclair’s different

experiences dealing with her various medical experiences dealing with her various medical situations, she was able to write poems that situations, she was able to write poems that allowed many people to connect with her. For allowed many people to connect with her. For instance, the poems she wrote dealing with her instance, the poems she wrote dealing with her kidney transplant allows her readers who have kidney transplant allows her readers who have gone through the same experience to relate to gone through the same experience to relate to the feelings surrounding the situation, such as the feelings surrounding the situation, such as the unity experienced between the donor and the unity experienced between the donor and the receiver of a transplant. Bennie Lee the receiver of a transplant. Bennie Lee Sinclair’s poetry has a lasting effect on people Sinclair’s poetry has a lasting effect on people because she wrote about real life experiences because she wrote about real life experiences that her readers can relate to.that her readers can relate to.

Interesting FactsInteresting Facts

• Bennie Lee Sinclair wrote the Coastal Bennie Lee Sinclair wrote the Coastal Carolina Alma Mater in 1994.Carolina Alma Mater in 1994.

• She was appointed the South She was appointed the South Carolina poet laureate in 1986.Carolina poet laureate in 1986.

• The LynchingThe Lynching was her first novel. It was her first novel. It was published in 1991.was published in 1991.

• When Bennie was in first grade, a When Bennie was in first grade, a teacher submitted her first poem to a teacher submitted her first poem to a teacher’s magazine.teacher’s magazine.

LinksLinks http://www.http://www.greenvillehighgreenvillehigh

.greenville.k12.sc.us/index.asp.greenville.k12.sc.us/index.asp

http://www.coastal.edu/advancement/http://www.coastal.edu/advancement/alumniassocalma.htmlalumniassocalma.html

Bibliography

“Bennie Lee Sinclair.” Online Internet. [7 November 2003.] <:http://www.statehousegirls.net/sc/symbols/

poetlaureate/>

Brinson, Claudia Smith. “Bennie Lee Sinclair writes poetry for South Carolinians.” The State 22 March 2000. Online Internet. [7 November 2003.] <:http://www.state.sc.us/arts/poetry/bennie_lee_sinclair.htm>

Group MembersGroup Members

Amanda: research, poem selection, Amanda: research, poem selection, analysis of her workanalysis of her work

Susan: research, slide layout, Susan: research, slide layout, biography, interviewbiography, interview