Susan Bowers Vergeront began writing poetry about 40 years ago, but it’s become her latest passion.
Now retired from her role as associate pastor of FPC – First Presbyterian Church – in Waunakee, Susan has published a collection of her works titled “A Poem Comes.”
She spoke to the Waunakee Rotary Club Feb. 8 about the book and her creative process – how the poems come.
Susan prefaced her talk by describing a little about herself. She was born just prior to the Baby Boomer generation and identified more with what’s been dubbed the Greatest Generation. Raised in the 1950s, she was more conservative than many of her peers in college, and sometimes questioned why they were out of class protesting, wasting their parents’ tuition dollars, she said.
After college, Susan began an unusual career path that began with working as a legislative researcher to put her husband through law school.
She also worked in public relations as an account executive.
When a seat opened up the Legislature, Susan received a call from the mayor of Cedarburg suggesting her husband run for it. She said her husband was sleeping at the time, but the mayor insisted she wake him and ask.
Her husband responded that he had no interest and it would mean a pay cut.
So Susan suggested she, herself, run for office.
She won the primary election by 150 votes, and was elected to the Assembly. The experience was life-changing.
“Half way through, as part of the campaigning, I grew closer and closer to God,” Susan said.
She did a lot of policy work and enjoyed problem solving as a state legislator, she said.
Eventually, she followed the calling, and described her work in the Legislature as “excellent training.”
“What about the poems?” Susan asked rhetorically.
They are produced when Susan is experiencing strong emotions.
“I’ve experienced many tragedies and hard times, as well as victories,” she said.
The book is divided into three sections. The first, “A Poem Comes,” contains more whimsical work, such as the title piece. The first stanza is as follows:
A Poem Comes
I can’t make a poem happen.
It times on its own
Like the fog
On little cat feet.
The second section, “Tough Times,” includes poems written during some of her hardest times, such as her divorce and the death of second husband.
One piece expresses her feelings of anger and abandonment. Susan read the poem, “It Is Finished,” with the final stanza:
I prayed
I submitted
I let go,
And fell short.
I gave you my life
You took away my love.
Some God you are!
Susan wrote “A Poem Comes” after finishing another one that “fell out of my head and onto the paper,” she said.
The works are meant to celebrate life, all of the ups and downs, she said, adding life usually has more good times than bad.
Next up for Susan are readings, one at an open mic in Madison and the next at the Waunakee Public Library. Right now, Susan is continuing to write, and working on her life story. She also writes weekly devotions and shares them with about 800 others. She plans to publish a book of those, as well.
“When I retired, I thought, ‘What am I supposed to do?’” she said. “I heard God say, write, write!”
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Other News:
-President Jennifer Tasker inducted Shauna Hughey into the club. Welcome, Shauna!!
-Brisa will be performing in the Waunakee High School winter play, “One Stoplight Town,” next week.
-Jennifer said all members will receive a letter and email regarding dues changes. The board of directors is considering changing the structure so that members are not automatically charged for lunch if they cannot be present at the meeting. Let her know, in writing, your thoughts on this.
Guests: Andy Milman, guest of the club; Steve and Vicky Doty, guests of Susan Vergeront.
Visiting Rotarians: None.
Birthdays: None.
Anniversaries: None.
Greeters:Feb. 15, Alex Welk and Lori Derauf; Feb. 22, Nancy Kuehn Thomas and Patrick Durden; Feb. 29 Jean Elvekrog; Roberta Baumann.
To sign up to greet or to find out if you are greeting, visit:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054CAAAA2CA7F85-44320149-2023#/
