Kankakee Times

Poet, painter, critic and linguist Hedy Habra will visit Kankakee Community College (KCC) to read her poetry 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, in KCC’s Cavalier Room on campus, near River Road.

The event, featuring the Egyptian-born Lebanese writer, will be free to the public. Habra plans to read excerpts from her short-story collection and poetry collection, titled "Flying Carpets (2012)" and "Tea in Heliopolis (2013)," respectively.

Both works won awards in varied competitions and have garnered critical acclaim from colleagues, who described Habra's work as witty, profound and irresistible.

“Hedy Habra's hospitable poems, lush with intricate landscapes of relating and remembering, are so rich, they make me homesick,” Palestinian poet Naomi Shihab Nye said. “Here are worlds, both ancient and modern, spun and sung in shining wonder.”

The writer, with multiple passions, speaks five languages fluently and has two master’s degrees in English and a master’s and doctorate in Spanish literature, all from Western Michigan University, where she teaches Spanish.

“Professor Habra stimulates our imagination as she weaves the spice of the Middle East into her narratives and poetry, and interprets the exotic mysteries of her life for our pleasure,” KCC English and humanities professor Penelope Stickney said. “Her path of inquiry and insight enables us to understand human similarities and appreciate cultural differences.”

Those interested in obtaining directions or more information can visit www.kcc.edu/directions or www.hedyhabra.com.