Sean Dougherty explained how music influences his poetry.: Nhi Tran photo

On Thursday, April 16, the performance poet Sean Thomas Dougherty was welcomed to the stage of Taylor Little Theatre.

Dougherty was brought in as part of the 13th annual Literary Festival.

His set followed the relationship between father and their children, and how they change and evolve over time.

Dougherty read poems following this theme from his book, “All I Ask for Is Longing: New and Selected Poems,” which was on sale after the performance so audience members could buy their own copy and get it autographed by the author.

The locations in Dougherty’s poetry are some the audiences could recognize.

Since Dougherty is a local poet, he mentions locations right here in Erie area, like Parade Street in the poem “Arias.”

Dougherty is a unique poet in the sense that he was very influenced by music.

In the Q & A session following his reading, he said he listens for the baseline in the poem he is reading aloud.

He said he feels the musicality of the words.

His readings never follow what is directly written, as he said, the baseline of the words inspire him to read them differently every time.

Dougherty also read an essay he is currently working on writing.

The essay followed the themes of fathers and sons, telling the story of a father and son pool-playing team that Dougherty personally knows mixed with questions and queries about the father-son relationship.

Dougherty proved himself to be very down to earth when he admitted to always getting stage fright before any of his performances.

He admitted to being nervous even before he performs in informal settings, like Poet’s Hall, where he is a frequent performer.

Some very lucky students will also be able to take a class with Dougherty when he comes back to campus to teach a workshop on Wednesday, April 22.

On Thursday, April 16, the performance poet Sean Thomas Dougherty was welcomed to the stage of Taylor Little Theatre.

Dougherty was brought in as part of the 13th annual Literary Festival.

His set followed the relationship between father and their children, and how they change and evolve over time.

Dougherty read poems following this theme from his book, “All I Ask for Is Longing: New and Selected Poems,” which was on sale after the performance so audience members could buy their own copy and get it autographed by the author.

The locations in Dougherty’s poetry are some the audiences could recognize.

Since Dougherty is a local poet, he mentions locations right here in Erie area, like Parade Street in the poem “Arias.”

Dougherty is a unique poet in the sense that he was very influenced by music.

In the Q & A session following his reading, he said he listens for the baseline in the poem he is reading aloud.

He said he feels the musicality of the words.

His readings never follow what is directly written, as he said, the baseline of the words inspire him to read them differently every time.

Dougherty also read an essay he is currently working on writing.

The essay followed the themes of fathers and sons, telling the story of a father and son pool-playing team that Dougherty personally knows mixed with questions and queries about the father-son relationship.

Dougherty proved himself to be very down to earth when he admitted to always getting stage fright before any of his performances.

He admitted to being nervous even before he performs in informal settings, like Poet’s Hall, where he is a frequent performer.

Some very lucky students will also be able to take a class with Dougherty when he comes back to campus to teach a workshop on Wednesday, April 22.