Kurt Malkames

My name is Kurt Malkames and I am a sophomore Biology major with a tentative minor in Chemistry. Biology has always come natural for me and I find its intricacies fascinating. Biology is life – literally. Genetics is my favorite area of study and I think the future has lots in store for what can be done with gene mutation the like. I am from Allentown Pennsylvania, sometimes known by the semi-famous Billy Joel song, and attended a medium size private school in center city. Allentown is a hub for many commuters to Philadelphia (45min), NYC (1hr), and DC (4hrs). It is the third largest city in the commonwealth and is known for its extensive parks system. Aside from writing I enjoy competing in multisport events such as the biathlon (run/shoot) and duathlon (run/bike). I also play squash and xc ski for fun. I host a radio show on KSLU and am active in the college republicans.
For the most part feedback on my writing has been helpful. Though I have never taken a poetry specific class, other courses I have taken such as Medical Ethics have increased my awareness to constructive criticism. My first year program was also heavily based around giving and receiving criticism. Over time I think my writing improved because of it and I was able to make more poignant suggestions for others. Scientific writing for Biology and Chemistry also relies a great deal on peer review.
Though I haven’t followed a specific poet over the years there are certain geographic areas that tend to produce poetry that I enjoy more often. Classical poetry from China has always interested me because of how different (on a basic level maybe not a technical level) it is from the typical European-influenced readings I always saw. The poems always seem to teach something virtuous and have. As for naming a poet I would have to go with someone famous like Li Po or Tu Fu. Though I’m no expert on them I have read some of their stuff before. I’m taking a Chinese literature course this semester which I hope gives me more insight into them.
I think good poetry should teach you something. After reading it you should be rethinking something. I think a good poem should be able to do something that a normal paragraph could not. In terms of pitfalls I’d have to say that a poem that doesn’t grab your attention is something to avoid. By taking this class I hope to increase my self-awareness as to what is out there in the literature world and expand my range of writing. As I said before I have never taken a poetry specific literature class and I look forward to having a great experience.