Neal Bowers (b. 1948) was a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Iowa State University, where he taught poetry and creative writing for over 30 years until his retirement in 2008.  He has published nine books, including four poetry collections, a novel, and a memoir; and his poems have appeared in The New Yorker, Poetry, Sewanee Review, and dozens of other journals.  He continues to actively write poetry and prose.

Poetry Inspired by Art on Campus Collection

“Apogee” (Earth Homage: Iowa by Robert Andersen, in the Memorial Union Art Collection)

“Applied Science”, 1993 (Start to Finish by George Greenamyer)

“Art Thief”, 1992 (Flat Rabbit by Karen Strohbeen and William Luchsinger)

“Commission”, 1992 (Untitled I and II by Richard Haas)

“Dropping Off” (Silent River by Eric Sealine)

“For Personal Enjoyment” (Music Played for Personal Enjoyment by Byron Burford)

“Fountain of the Four Seasons” (Fountain of the Four Seasons by Christian Petersen)

“George Washington Carver” (George Washington Carver by Christian Petersen)

“Iowa: “It’s not flat, you know.” – an Iowa native” (Prairie Tetons by Frederic Rennels)

“Lessons”, 1990 (Carom by Bruce White)

“Petition to Remove a Statue”, 1990 (Left-Sided Angel by Stephen DeStaebler)

“The Calling” (Gentle Doctor by Christian Petersen)

“Tillage as Art” (Breaking the Prairie by Grant Wood)

“Walking the Landscape”, 1990 (Walking the Landscape by Keith Achepohl)