Charles P Ries (born 1952) is an
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
poet and writer. He is currently the Senior Director of Principle Gifts and Innovation at
Marquette University
Marquette University () is a Private university, private Society of Jesus, Jesuit research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Established by the Society of Jesus as Marquette College on August 28, 1881, it was founded by John Henni, John Martin ...
. He is a founding member of the oldest freshwater surf club on the
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes in the mid-east region of North America that connect to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River. There are five lakes ...
, the Lake Shore Surf Club. He is a co-founder of The Commons, a student entrepreneurial skills accelerator based out of
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at th ...
.
Early life
Ries was born into a Catholic family in
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Sheboygan () is a city in and the county seat of Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 49,929 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Sheboygan, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a populatio ...
. His parents were Leo and Ann Ries. He grew up on a mink farm outside of Sheboygan. Ries attended Sheboygan South High School and received his degree from the
University of Wisconsin
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...
. After completing his graduation, he went to London and then to North Africa where he studied
Islamic mysticism
Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, r ...
and
Sufism
Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, r ...
. He also worked with the
Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama (, ; ) is a title given by the Tibetan people to the foremost spiritual leader of the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" school of Tibetan Buddhism, the newest and most dominant of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The 14th and current Dal ...
during a program involving religious leaders and psychotherapists.
Literary career
Ries began his literary career late in life by writing poetry and gradually began writing short stories, poetry reviews, interviews, articles and essays. He authored six poetry books and a novel based on memory. In 2013, his book titled, Girl Friend & Other Mysteries of Love was recognized as an Outstanding Achievement by Wisconsin Library Association and in 2016 it won the poetry category of The Paris Book Festival. From 1998 to 2013, his works were published in the independent small press and appeared in over two hundred print and electronic publications. In 2009, he took a hiatus and resumed his literary work later in 2013.
In 2015, Ries published The Fathers We Find, a fictional memoir, based in Southeastern Wisconsin between 1950 and 1971. He is the former poetry editor for Word Riot, ESC! and Pass Port Journal. He is also a former board member of the Woodland Pattern Book Center, Milwaukee. He also served on the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission.
Books
* ''The Fathers We Find: The Making of a Pleasant Humble Boy'', 2015
* ''Girl Friend & Other Mysteries of Love'' , 2013
* ''I'd Rather Be Mexican'', 2005
* ''The Last Time'', 2005
* ''Odd'', 2004
* ''Monje Malo Speaks English'', 2003
* ''Bad Monk: Neither Here Nor There'', 2001
Awards and recognition
In 2009, Ries was awarded the Wisconsin Regional Writers Association “Jade Ring” Award for humorous poetry. He was nominated five times for the Pushcart Prize but never won.
References
External links
‘’Why Being an Obscure Poet Isn’t Such a Bad Life After All’’- By Charles P. Ries
World Riot American magazine edited by Ries
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ries, Charles P.
Living people
People from Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Poets from Wisconsin
American male poets
1952 births