Misha Solomon gave an energizing performance of poems from his book My Great Grandfather Danced Ballet at this fall’s Dawson Reads event on Sept. 17, sponsored by the English Department.

The Dawson alumnus said the Languages program inspired his love of words when he was a college student.

In response to a volley of questions from students, Misha spoke about writing from the perspective of an imaginary ancestor; publishing a collection with Brick Books; and his appreciation of New York poet Frank O’Hara. He dismissed boundaries between literary and pop culture, citing mentions of Modern Family, Lost and Billy Elliot in his poetry.

Misha also touched on his day job working as a creative consultant in TV; the tattoo he got of his book cover in what he calls “an act of pure egotism”; and his thoughts on using AI for any kind of creative work (“DON’T DO IT!”).

-by Sarah Gilbert