The Poetry of Michael Holloway

When Michael Clark Holloway died in 2022 at the age of 79, he was a relative unknown in the poetry world, even though he had a loyal following in his native Champaign-Urbana community. Holloway’s work --  notable for its funny, irreverent, sometimes off-color and beautiful musings on nature, politics, the mundane, the meaning of life and so much more – resulted in the publication of three books of poetry and generations of students-turned-teachers who have used his work as an important example of the poetry of the Midwest.

Holloway was raised in Mattoon, Illinois.  Penny Hanna, Holloway’s wife of nearly 50 years, says his mother called him “a busy boy” as a toddler.  But it was apparent from an early age that he had a rich inner life.

“He was always writing things down, even as a boy,” Hanna says.

After high school, Holloway enrolled at the University of Illinois and studied biophysics. But his writing slowly took precedence.  His first big opportunity to make the leap to full-time writer and poet came when renowned composer Salvatore Martirano asked him to help write a speech for an upcoming engagement. Soon, Martirano and Holloway were collaborating on works that combined poetry with music. Their most famous collaboration, “L’s GA”, toured around the United States and the world from the early 1960’s to 1994.  The piece, interpreted as an anti-war statement, combines Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address with a visual film display and one costumed onstage character (played by Holloway).

              Holloway also variously taught preschoolers, older children and university students. He taught at Parkland College’s Adult Education Department for many years.  He performed readings of his poetry in Champaign-Urbana and many other venues nationwide, including the Electric Circus in New York City and the University of California – Los Angeles. 

              Holloway never sought the limelight in the world of poetry, and he didn’t seem to mind, according to Hanna.

              “He submitted poems to major publications and they told him how much they liked his work, but they always said, ‘we want short poems’.” 

              He relied on colleagues, friends and fans to get his poetry published.  His books, “The Rocking House”, “Infinity’s Middle” and “Habit’s Dad” are available at libraries and in limited quantities for sale.

              Holloway and Hanna raised two sons, Brendan and Nathaniel, who have helped catalogue and archive their father’s extensive work.

For information about how to buy Holloway’s books, please email us.