CONGRATULATIONS, J. IVY! We are so proud of you! Barack Obama, LeVar Burton and Dave Chappelle are among the nominees for Best Spoken Word Album at the 64th annual Grammy Awards, which were announced this morning. Also up for the prize are 10-time Emmy nominee Don Cheadle and poet/hip hop artist J. Ivy.The nom for … Continue reading Grammys: Barack Obama, LeVar Burton & Dave Chappelle Among Spoken-Word Nominees (via Deadline)
More than three decades after scribbling his first poem as a teenager in the mountains of northern China, Chen Nianxi is living a literary dream. He has published two critically acclaimed books. He hobnobs with intellectuals around banquet tables. He tours the country promoting his writing, flitting between book fairs and university lecture halls.Still, he … Continue reading Deep Underground, a Chinese Miner Discovered Poetry in the Toil (via NY Times)
Join us for another round of poetry recommendations, this time in celebration of the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and contributions of Native people. Follow these poets over water, land, and ice, through dreams and histories, as they examine language, loss, violence, revolution, resilience, and home. Horsefly Dress by Heather CahoonWe convey meaning through language. We describe landscapes, … Continue reading Sixteen Poetry Recommendations for National Native American Heritage Month (via Orion Magazine)
90-Card Game Offers Solo and Multi-Play; Now Available for Pre-Order CHARLOTTE, NC—November 9, 2021—Today, The Poet’s List announces the debut of WordPit, a card game catering to poets and writing enthusiasts. Serving as the organization’s first official game, the deck is more than just an exciting venture. It is an innovative and fresh approach to … Continue reading THE POET’S LIST DEBUTS POETRY CARD GAME, WORDPIT
Full Title: "United States of Poetry: An Overview of Poet Laureates in the U.S. (via Book Riot)" What do Rita Dove, W.S. Merwin, and Louise Glück have in common? Other than being renowned American poets, all three were U.S. Poet Laureates at some point. Given America’s long history of poetry, it is unsurprising that there … Continue reading An Overview of Poet Laureates in the U.S. (via Book Riot)
When Jenn Lim pitched her new book “Beyond Happiness” in early 2020, she thought she’d discuss her decade of work as CEO of Delivering Happiness, the business consulting firm she cofounded to help companies build happier, more sustainable workforces using science-backed research on happiness.No one, let alone she, could predict the way the coronavirus pandemic … Continue reading The book of poetry this workplace happiness expert thinks everyone should read (via CNBC)
When we think of poets, too often we imagine posh parlors, stoic sophistication, and austere attitudes. But the lives, hobbies, and eccentricities of some of the world's greatest poets made them much more than titans of the turn of phrase. Here are 15 fun facts about some of your favorite poets.ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING'S LAST WORDS WERE … Continue reading 15 Things You Might Not Know About Your Favorite Poets (via Mental Floss)
John Giorno didn't have access to the best technology when he started. Nothing more than a couple of answering machines patched together to a phone line. But he had access to the most avant garde poets of his generation — and that made "Dial-A-Poem" revolutionary.The late New York-based poet and artist launched his free poetry service in 1969. The 24-hour hotline … Continue reading New exhibit revives Dial-a-Poem — a free poetry hotline once investigated by the FBI (via CBC)
The poet Ashley M. Jones wants far more than financial reparations to compensate for centuries of slavery and its legacies — though she would take a check. To her, true reparations require an enormous cultural evolution.“You think money can ever repay what you stole?” she asks in her third poetry collection, “Reparations Now!,” which was published in … Continue reading Alabama’s Next Poet Laureate Writes Searingly About Race (via NY Times)
Twenty years ago, a group of friends gathered in a candle-lit living room. With the warmth of D’Angelo, Erykah Badhu, and Jill Scott playing, they shared food and ideas before turning down the music and turning up their talent. The friends performed their own poetry, keenly listening and offering critique. In time, artists from these … Continue reading 20 years strong, Spitfire Poetry continues to foster the spoken word community in Savannah (via Savannah Morning News)
