DANBURY, Connecticut — Being selected as a Connecticut Poetry Circuit Poet is certainly something to write home about — or in Western Connecticut State University student Daniel Sousa Silva’s case, it might be worth singing about. Silva, a Danbury native, said he discovered his interest in poetry when he began writing songs while a student at Danbury High School.
“It was Ian Curtis of Joy Division that made me write my first song,” Silva said. “About a year after that, when I actually began to write poetry, it was Emily Dickinson, and this one specific poem, ‘Lunar Baedeker’ by Mina Loy, that inspired me. Since then, poetry has been big in my life, mostly in the form of songs I’d write. But this past year or so has been very poetry heavy.”
This year, Silva is a senior in WCSU’s Creative and Professional Writing program. He’s also the Vice President of the Student Publication Board on campus. His involvement in the Connecticut Poetry Circuit came about as a suggestion from one of his professors.
“Professor of Creative and Professional Writing Dr. Brian Clements reached out to me, asking if I would be interested in being nominated to represent WCSU for the Connecticut poetry circuit,” Silva explained. “When I saw the email, I was like, of course I’m interested; these kinds of opportunities don’t just happen. And either way, I figured if I wasn’t chosen, then at least I tried and sent something out. I received the email saying I was one of five CT Student Poets on the very last day of class for this past Fall 2025 semester, and I was ecstatic. I was shocked. It was an honor to be thought of for nomination and to be nominated, but I sort of just sent it out and forgot about it in all the busyness of life. So, when I saw that I was chosen, I kind of couldn’t believe it. Nothing like this has happened to me before.”
As a singer-songwriter and bass player for his band, ‘Lootbug,’ Silva is no stranger to expressing himself with words. However, he credits several WCSU Writing faculty with helping him hone his craft.
“Dr. Edward Hagan, who retired about two years ago now, was a big help to me in my writing in general,” Silva said. “He never saw any of my poetry, but he was tough on my writing in a way that I needed someone to be. It was Dr. Clements who really helped me out with my poetry. His class on Forms of Poetry really allowed me to refine how I write my poetry, allowing me to be more intentional with my decisions. Before this, it was simply all about the word choices and not so much the craft. There is a very clear before and after: there’s my poetry before this class and there’s my poetry after this class. And the poetry I’ve written since taking this class has been the best I’ve ever written. I also want to mention Professor Caycedo-Kimura’s Poetry Workshop, which gave me the space to explore and further refine my craft. Some of my best poems so far, I wrote for that class.”
Silva added, “Poetry is important because it’s words and words hold a lot of power. Words can do a lot for people. It can make you feel seen, make you feel something you haven’t felt before, put words to thoughts and feelings you had, spread ideas, and make you feel alive or dead. And poetry is a very interesting form of words, and that’s because it isn’t just a bunch of words. There’s an almost indescribable feeling to poetry, like a shiver some get from listening to music. It’s like, ‘damn, someone not only said something, but they did it by putting words together in such a way that feels so right.’ I guess that’s what I try to do when I write a poem; I want to say something. Whether it’s political or personal (which is still political), I’m saying something that I think people should hear.”
He continued, “At the end of the day, poetry is a form of communication. But, I also want to deliver the something I want to say in this indescribable way. It’s not like I’m trying to be indirect, but I don’t want to straight up just say something (unless the subject needs that). I want people who read my poetry to reach the something I want to say themselves and to feel it, too. To feel it somewhere in their gut or bones or somewhere primal and affirming. To read a line and sigh as if something’s been lifted off their lungs. To read a line and feel the pain of how things are. And this is the part that I think makes poetry art; not just communication. And art and communication are important.”
After his May 2026 graduation, Silva plans to focus on his band and work. “Hopefully, I can find a job that has to do with writing, like an editing position somewhere, but I work retail right now and I plan to hold onto this job for as long as I can. I’d still write and submit things during this time, but the idea would be to focus on my band, seeing if it could go anywhere big. I just need to try, because if I don’t, down the line when I’m much, much older; I know I’ll regret it.”
Silva is the fourth WCSU Professional Writing student selected as a Connecticut Poetry Circuit Poet. Megan Canavan was chosen in 2023-24. Isabella Bullock was chosen in 2022-23, and Michelle Rochniak was selected in 2021-22.
Silva already has participated in a Connecticut Poetry Circuit reading at Yale and Quinnipiac; and will read at WestConn at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in the Kathwari Honors House on the Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. Events scheduled at Trinity College and University of Hartford were postponed due to weather, and most likely will be rescheduled.
Asked about his obligations to present poetry readings on the circuit, Silva said, “I guess I’m a little nervous but really, I’m thinking about how incredible it is to think that I’ll be traveling across the state to read my own writing in front of people. I’m already used to sort of doing that with my band with our shows, but this is different. I’m doing this for my own writing. And lots of people who don’t know me will hear my writing. It’s insane that I get to do this. It’s an incredible opportunity.”
In addition to Silva, this year’s selected student poets are Alenka Doyle from Trinity College, Olivia Jascot from the University of Hartford, Taryn Riley from Quinnipiac, and Sunny Vuong from Yale University.
The Connecticut Poetry Circuit was established in 1968 to continue the work of the New England Poetry Circuit, which was founded in 1964 by the Academy of American Poets and Holly Stevens, daughter of the acclaimed poet and Hartford insurance executive Wallace Stevens. Each year, the Connecticut Poetry Circuit enlists a panel of poets to judge a statewide contest of college-student poets. Five student poets are selected to tour the circuit each spring and will read their work at a number of universities and events.
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