February 2007
	People

Love Fest

This Indiana teacher knows the quickest way to students’ (and a special lady’s) minds can be through their hearts

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Marty Irwin can honestly say he’s written the book on love. Irwin, a guidance counselor at Greene Intermediate School in Indiana, has had two books of poetry published: Words from Within and The Celestine Poet: A Journey of Love. His gift for verse blossomed as a child in the south side of Chicago. “A lot of kids teased me about writing poetry but I really enjoyed doing it. I always dreamed that I’d write a book of poetry someday,” Irwin says.

Back in 1978, when Irwin was first dating his wife Jacinta, he decided to write her a poem for  her birthday. The following year he wrote her another poem for her birthday, using techniques he learned in a poetry writing class. “The second poem was so much better,” he admits. “So much so that she told me ‘I’d much prefer a poem for my birthday rather than spending a lot of money to buy me something.’” So every July 3, Irwin gives his wife a poem for her birthday.

This time of year, Irwin catches our eye for his melding of his passion with the pen and his work in schools. He’s been a guest speaker in a number of classes to talk to students about writing poetry, and sees it as a tool to get them to get in touch with their inner selves. “It’s a good way of letting out bad and good feelings.” Irwin has also organized an event called “Love Fest” on Valentine’s Day. Students either recite a poem or sing a song. “The idea was for them to express something that promoted unity, love, and brotherhood, in other words, something positive and uplifting,” he says. “With poetry, when students saw that I was willing to step up, share personal things and step out of my comfort zone, some of them were willing to do the same.”

  —Mishri Someshwar