Additional Info: Amanda Gorman, the United States' first-ever youth poet laureate, recited a powerful poem at the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Information courtesy, YouTube
Author: thepoetslist
Tongo Eisen-Martin becomes San Francisco’s eighth poet laureate (San Francisco Examiner)
Bernal Heights resident Tongo Eisen-Martin has become San Francisco’s eighth poet laureate. Mayor London Breed and City Librarian Michael Lambert announced the selection Friday. He will succeed poet Kim Shuck in the role. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Tongo when he was teaching artist at the African American Arts and Culture complex, and … Continue reading Tongo Eisen-Martin becomes San Francisco’s eighth poet laureate (San Francisco Examiner)
(Video) Teeanne | Silent
Additional Info: this was just a bit of a stream of consciousness poem that turned into a slam for some reason... I was feeling particularly anxious about what I say out loud once I moved to a new school and I realized that it was because people don't always take what I have to say … Continue reading (Video) Teeanne | Silent
New Deep Vellum poetry editor leads community of Dallas writers (via Dallas Morning News)
Full Title: "New Deep Vellum poetry editor found community among Dallas writers. Now, he’s helping lead it (via Dallas Morning News)" Anyone paying close attention to Dallas culture will remember 2014 as the year a literary scene began to emerge. It was the year the city’s first independent bookstore, The Wild Detectives, opened; the year … Continue reading New Deep Vellum poetry editor leads community of Dallas writers (via Dallas Morning News)
(Video) Mila Cuda & Jessica Romoff | Exes
Additional Info: Join the movement of Get Lit Rising (Simon & Schuster, 2016), an anthology poems and narratives by 19 of Get Lit's youth, as well as Get Lit founder Diane Luby Lane. Overcome struggle and stereotype through expression and redemption. Information courtesy, YouTube
Meet Joy Harjo, the country’s first Indigenous poet laureate (via Business Insider)
Over the past few months, Joy Harjo, the nation's poet laureate and the first Indigenous person in US history to hold the title, has been receiving a lot more emails and handwritten letters. She says many people have been writing to thank her for her poetry, share their own, or ask for verses to help them … Continue reading Meet Joy Harjo, the country’s first Indigenous poet laureate (via Business Insider)
(Video) Brandon Leake | Tick
Additional Info: Brandon Leake, the recent America's Got Talent champion, performing at IWPS 2019 in San Diego, CA. About Button: Button Poetry is committed to developing a coherent and effective system of production, distribution, promotion and fundraising for spoken word and performance poetry. Information courtesy, YouTube
Best poetry books of 2020 (via Guardian)
While the pandemic might have stopped poets gathering physically, poetry itself is in good health. [In 2020] books of urgency and contemplation have jostled for attention, and striking new voices have emerged. Prime among these has been Will Harris, whose RENDANG (Granta) won the Forward prize for first collection. Harris writes with a piercing clarity and … Continue reading Best poetry books of 2020 (via Guardian)
(Video) Joan “Lyric” Leslie | Triggers
Additional Info: Joan 'Lyric' Leslie performing "Triggers" in San Diego, California. Information courtesy, YouTube
A Monumental and Rapturous New Anthology of Black American Poetry (via NY Times)
In her stirring essay “The Difficult Miracle of Black Poetry in America,” June Jordan recalled serving as the final judge for a poetry prize in the mid-1980s. As she sifted through the last round of manuscripts, she began to jot down recurring nouns: moon, elms, lilac, gulley, tundra. “Sixteen different manuscripts of poetry written in 1985 and not one of them uses … Continue reading A Monumental and Rapturous New Anthology of Black American Poetry (via NY Times)