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NEWBERRY — Poet Marilyn Nelson shared her work with a Newberry College audience Feb. 21.

Nelson, the author of 15 books and five chapbooks, was the 2012 winner of the Poetry Society’s Frost Award. She was the sixth author to visit the college as part of the Gerding Author Series.

During her presentation in Wiles Chapel, Nelson read several of her poems, including “The Lost Daughter,” “Lonely Eagles,” “Sap Rising,” and some from her Fortune’s Bones series. Nelson also recited from her newest series, Faster Than Light, which includes new and selected poems from 1996 to 2011.

“There were no particular reasons to the poems I read. I just chose poems that were well received at other readings and were short,” said Nelson.

After her presentation, the college held a reception and book signing for Nelson.

Assistant Professor of English Marilyn Seymour said she was “extremely excited” to have Nelson visit. “I absolutely love her poetry and I am particularly drawn to her poetry that deals with civil rights issues.”

Nelson said she enjoyed her visit.

“The faculty was nice and so were the students that I met. I was warmly welcomed, and I have never met so many people that have read my book,” Nelson said. “It was a real pleasure to come here because I have never heard of Newberry College, and it was a real treat to get to know everyone.”

Nelson is a professor emerita of English at the University of Connecticut. From 2004 to 2010, Nelson served as founder, director, and host of the Soul Mountain Retreat, a small, non-profit writers’ colony. From 2001 to 2006, she was poet laureate of Connecticut.