Mary Elizabeth Murphy, a University of South Alabama alumna and adjunct English instructor, has been selected to read her poetry at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.

The Library of Congress hosts “Poetry at Noon,” a themed poetry reading program that is held bimonthly. About 400 contestants entered the program but only three were selected. The May 15 poetry reading is titled “Innocence and Experience.” Murphy came across the program when she was browsing the Library of Congress’s Web site, www.loc.gov, and decided to submit her poems. The poems she will be reading are “Liar,” “Grasp,” “Veteran” and “Secrets."

Her poetry, which consists of free-verse and non-rhyme, has been recognized by the Alabama State Poetry Society. She won first place in 2004 for “Veteran” and third honorable mention in 2001 for “Pearls.” Another poem, “Almost Home,” appeared in Literary Mobile and will appear in the forthcoming Alabama Anthology.