Welcome to the Blog

Son of Stephen is an old idea.  In 1994, Doctor Stephen Gardner had me in his poetry class.  The first half of the class was filled with many students writing poetry, including myself, followed by a large portfolio project.  During this time, myself and many other students were mentored by one of the most caring and correct professors to teach.  His own style of proper teaching, and guidance guided more than a number of people into the realm of poetry and writing, and pushed us to do the best we could.  I was lucky at this time to have been in a class with such talented individuals as John Lowery and Monica Garvin Dees.  Jannette Giles Hypes was also in my class, and my connection to Stephen Gardner  strengthened my connection to many other students, including Clay Morton and many other people.

There was an unspoken connection between writing students, and we celebrated each other and felt proud to have been taught by the professors of USC-Aiken.

After leaving the University of South Carolina at Aiken, I ventured forward into the world of Academia, where I went to graduate school.

Back home Stephen Gardner continued what he'd always done, mentor, guide and teach aspiring students and from that teaching, he inspired so many students to strive for excellence.

Son of Stephen, or maybe I should say, Sons and Daughters of Stephen exists to pay homage and honor Stephen Gardner, who taught us so much beyond being simply a teacher.  He was like a father to so many.

These blog posts highlight through poetry, (Some of Stephen's own and some inspired by Stephen), essay and visuals the skill that Stephen Gardner mentored in people.

I welcome any student of Stephen's to submit something personal to this blog, so Stephen's legacy and family live on.

Contributions
Jannette Giles's "Late June."

Jannette Giles's " "Raking."

James Enelow's "Darkness into Light: An Introduction to  Why He Doesn't Sleep."
James's intro complete with poem links to the Stephen Gardners poems that inspired and the poems written in homage to Stephen's original work.

James Enelow's "For Doctor Stephen Gardner Who loved His Students."

Contributors

Poetic Callling

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-apr-21-mn-29499-story.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawVAoBBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5J0wsW--PrAo2qJqMnGN_F7Wcc2UPfye4m7NCQKVz_Grw2vTAC_Yys7ntH0A_aem_2CvGOtX5FFRc8EKrmtd_lw