'Alaska's Fiddling Poet' takes part in SEMO's annual Wordsfair Saturday

Two decades ago Ken Waldman had no idea his life's road would take him to Alaska, or that he would one day be known as that state's "Fiddling Poet" -- a sort of literary and musical ambassador of the biggest state in the United States.

In 1984 Waldman, a Philadelphia native, decided to pick up and head out west, ending up in Seattle for a year before going to graduate school in Fairbanks, Alaska, for a master's degree in creative writing.

Now Waldman travels the country as "Alaska's Fiddling Poet," performing in homes, coffee shops, outdoor festivals and primary and secondary schools with a blend of poetry, music and the spoken word. He'll perform Saturday at Southeast Missouri State University's annual Wordsfair, an event that organizer Dr. Susan Swartwout, English professor and university press director, calls a celebration of the "performed word" in poetry and music.

Waldman will perform a selection of poetry and music flavored by life in Alaska.

"There are only about 700,000 people in the whole state," Waldman said in a telephone interview Monday. "You have the freedom to try and do anything. You become a lot bigger than you would be otherwise.

"It leads to certain extremes. I arrived there and could barely play fiddle, and I hadn't written poems. Ten years later I was Alaska's fiddling poet."

Waldman has been praised by national media outlets for his traveling troubadour style and has four poetry collections and five CDs to his credit. The former college professor's time is consumed by his traveling career.

"This is kind of like my teaching now," Waldman said. "Instead of being a full-time professor, I can go places ... and share what I can."

Waldman left the world of teaching after being sidelined for a few years with an illness that prevented him from performing his duties. He then began his travels around the country -- a life that isn't necessarily glamorous or well-paid.

"On the good days, I'm close to getting well established, getting some fame," Waldman said. "On the bad days I'm close to going broke."

Each year Wordsfair features performers who are well known in the literary world, Swartwout said, along with readings and musical performances from Southeast students and faculty and members of the community. This year English professor and musician Dr. Dale Haskell, the community poetry group Prescription Strength Poetry and others will share the stage with Waldman.

Wordsfair goes from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday with Waldman performing from 1 to 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information on Waldman, visit www.kenwaldman.com.

msanders@semissourian.com

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