Aerial view of campus with Williamsport, the Susquehanna River and Bald Eagle Mountain as a backdrop

Poetry collection published by Lycoming College instructor and Mill Hall native

Poetry collection published by Lycoming College instructor and Mill Hall native

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Lycoming College’s Shanna Powlus Wheeler, director of the writing center and instructor in the English department, recently authored her first full-length collection of poetry, “Evensong for Shadows,” published by Resource Publications. The follow-up to her chapbook titled “Lo and Behold,” published with Finishing Line Press in 2009, the book includes sixty original poems and is divided into four sections titled “Evensong for Shadows,” “A Choir of Cells,” “The Music of the Spheres,” and “Ring of Vowel.”

A native of Mill Hall, Pa., and a graduate of Central Mountain High School, Wheeler discovered her passion for poetry at an early age when she penned the lyrics to her high school’s alma mater. But it was during her undergraduate years at Susquehanna University when she nurtured her love of poetry, earning a bachelor’s degree in creative writing. Wheeler subsequently earned a master of fine arts in English from Penn State.

Many of the poems included in “Evensong for Shadows” date back to her days of developing her craft, while others reflect on her life experiences since she began her career at Lycoming College in 2007. While featuring locales in both Clinton and Lycoming counties, at its core, the collection explores the physical and emotional landscapes of miscarriage, including a variety of her personal experiences as a mother.

“There is still too much silence, misunderstanding, and shame surrounding the topic of miscarriage, and many grieving women crave empathy and connection,” Wheeler explained. “My hope is that the book can provide a kind of comfort, whether or not my readers share the Christian faith that is central to not only my life, but also the book.”

Dedicated to her husband, Wheeler’s collection acts not only as a memorial to their unborn children, but also as a celebration of the liberal arts model of education that has enriched her life and career. Her poems are inspired by interests across a wide breadth of disciplines including astrophysics, biology, art, music, religion, mythology, language, and other realms of study.   

“Evensong for Shadows” can be purchased either through Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Evensong-Shadows-Shanna-Powlus-Wheeler/ or through Wipf and Stock Publishers at https://wipfandstock.com/evensong-for-shadows.html.