New Poetry from Alum Explores Place & Survival
The Catastrophes, the debut chapbook by Rutgers–Camden MFA alum Marie Scarles, has been described as a powerful meditation on the aftermaths we live through—industrial, environmental, emotional. The poems trace what’s been left behind and what refuses to disappear, moving through landscapes shaped by labor, illness, memory, and ruin. Scarles examines what it means to keep going when the world itself seems in collapse.
Reviewers have praised the collection’s stark clarity and its attention to both physical and emotional terrains. Poet Patrick Rosal notes that the chapbook “bears witness to the body as landscape, landscape as body,” while Raisa Tolchinsky describes Scarles’ work as offering “a real chance at living” through the debris of daily life. The poems neither soften nor sensationalize—they document, observe, and refuse to turn away.
Scarles’ work has drawn early recognition for its depth and precision, and The Catastrophes marks an important first step in a growing literary career. Published by Finishing Line Press, the chapbook is available for preorder through August 29.
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Rutgers–Camden’s MFA: A Multi-Genre Journey in Creative Writing
The Rutgers University–Camden Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is a 39-credit terminal degree that fosters a multi-genre approach, encouraging exploration across fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Students engage in small, personalized workshops and craft classes led by distinguished, award-winning faculty, including recipients of the Pulitzer Prize and Guggenheim Fellowship. The program offers full financial support to all full-time incoming students, encompassing tuition remission and a living stipend. Situated just minutes from Philadelphia, the campus nurtures a vibrant literary community centered around the historic Writers House on Cooper Street. Additionally, students have opportunities to interact with nationally acclaimed visiting authors through the NEA-supported Writers in Camden series and can participate in international experiences across Europe, Asia, or South America.
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