Dr.
Robert Deluty, associate dean emeritus of the Graduate School, has
published a new book, "Paying Heed." In his review, Dr. Ronald Pies
writes, “In his latest sparkling collection of short poems, Robert
Deluty heeds all his senses, especially his sense of humor. His
trademark love of wordplay and irony are everywhere to be found, but the
reader also finds many poems capturing what writer Diane Ackerman calls
‘complexly appealing moments.’ Thus, we find ‘counting the times/ the
young prof responds in class/ Great question!’ and ‘counting the times/ the old prof utters in class/ Where were we?’
Few poets are better than Robert Deluty at crystallizing life's complex
mix of the comic, the tragic, and the uproarious. Reader, pay heed!”
And in his appraisal of the book, Dr. George Northrup notes, “Anyone acquainted with Robert Deluty’s ongoing renovation of traditional haiku forms will welcome Paying Heed as an invitation to lively entertainment in his vast yet familiar stomping ground, where favorite subjects—children, college professors and students, relatives, and diverse ethnic groups—display their humor as they grapple with insight into life’s large and small concerns. From one smile to the next, the reader has opportunities on every page to be grateful that Deluty’s creative sparks are still flying—wryly illuminating love, atonement, psychotherapy, sports, and those aching questions about whether cats feel guilty, doctors have a profession in heaven, and the true cause of Socrates’ death. Here and there a rare appearance of life in its tragic form startles our awareness, all the more compelling for being embedded in an expectation of joviality and driving home the wise epigraph by Michael Scott wistfully reminding us to heed our senses. If you are not familiar with his work, you have much delightful catching up to do.”
]]>“In Cherishing the Small and Ordinary, his sixtieth collection, Robert Deluty once again charms the reader with his poetic snapshots of ordinary people in ordinary situations ‘caught,’ as Art Linkletter used to say, ‘in the act of being themselves:’ their quirks and peccadilloes across a vast array of contexts, ethnicities, and age groups, embellished with Deluty’s indefatigable wry insights, spectacular puns, ever-inventive wordplay, and cradled in the warmth of his affection for this peculiar species.”
“In his latest collection of short poems, Robert Deluty quotes the Canadian writer/musician, Charles de Lint, who wrote, ‘It's all a matter of paying attention, being awake in the present moment, and not expecting a huge payoff.’ Deluty clearly pays attention and--like the Buddha--is ‘awakened’ to what de Lint calls the ‘whispers and small kindnesses’ of the world. Nothing escapes Deluty's keen and compassionate eye, which sees our world in all its tragic, joyful, and poignant glory. The resulting ‘payoff’ for the reader is indeed huge, as Deluty’s trademark wit, love of language, and deep human sympathy work their magic.”