In November 2021, Dr. Robert Randolph, a professor of English at Waynesburg University, published a book of poetry titled “The Appalachian Archive.” 

The story began in 2006 when Randolph entered the annual Fernando Rielo World Prize for Mystical Poetry competition. Although he did not win, he was one of  13 finalists out of the 300 entries. Since then, he continually returned to the poem that he submitted, fleshing it out more and more.

“The poem would not let go of me,” he said.

Now, after 15 years, the poem was published by Wipf and Stock.

“I was happy to see my work finally come into print,” he said. “The Appalachian Archive” is an 1100 word poem with 41 parts and focuses on mystical Christianity, which Randolph admits is “not a big market.” 

Despite his feelings on the mystical Christianity market, his work found an audience. Professor Jill Moyer Sunday, director of the Writing Center and Chair of the English Department, lauded “The Appalachian Archive” as “hauntingly beautiful.”

“So many poems show him reaching to God,” she said. “All of the poems are just exquisitely beautiful.”

Randolph hopes to eventually develop a “faith writing minor” for the English Department, maybe using his own work as an example in class. “He lives what he teaches,” Sunday said. 

“The Appalachian Archive” is not the only official published work from the English Department. According to Sunday, Dr. Amy Randolph, Dr. Jamie Dessart, Dr. Richard Pierce, Dr. Cory Goehring and herself have also written and published various works of their own. 

As for what comes next, Randolph is unsure on the specifics. He is not working on a book, but at the same time, “I’m always writing something,” he said. “A week does not go by without me trying to write a poem.”

Whether this ultimately culminates in another formal publication, the community will have to wait and see.