When a female author dies by suicide, it defines her. From Virginia Woolf to Sarah Kane, everything she did, everything she created during her life becomes part of a death-drive narrative. When a male author dies prematurely, it is a tragic stopper in his creative output – we mourn the poetry Dylan Thomas never wrote … Continue reading Sylvia Plath: Will the poet always be defined by her death? (via BBC)
For poetry in the U.S., 1946 marked a memorable year. The nation naturalized W.H. Auden, who still also remained a Brit. Ezra Pound – declared to be of “unsound mind” for misadventures during World War II – landed in a Washington, D.C., psychiatric hospital for a dozen years. Gertrude Stein left the world; Patti Smith … Continue reading Saint Louis Poetry Center Celebrates 75 Years (via Ladue News)
Full Title: "Milan’s Miart Fair Is Making Its In-Person Return This September With a Slew of Poetry-Inspired Initiatives (via Artnet)" Milan’s international art fair, Miart, is making a much anticipated in-person return this September. The lively Italian fair was gaining new attention back in 2019 when a number of blue-chip international galleries joined as exhibitors for the first time. … Continue reading Milan’s Miart Fair’s Slew of Poetry-Inspired Initiatives (via Artnet)
Lincoln Center on Thursday named Mahogany L. Browne its first ever poet in residence, part of its initiative to use its outdoor spaces as New York emerges from pandemic lockdowns. Browne, 45, is the author of several books, including “Black Girl Magic,” “Chlorine Sky,” and the forthcoming “I Remember Death by Its Proximity to What … Continue reading Lincoln Center Names Its First Poet in Residence (via NY Times)
InsideOut Literary Arts, an award-winning organization headquartered in Detroit, announced the winners of its 2021 Performance Troupe supported by Toyota Motor North America. The Performance Troupe is part of the organization’s Citywide Poets afterschool program, which provides teens with weekly creative writing workshops, publications, and performance opportunities. For over two decades, InsideOut Literary Arts has … Continue reading Toyota supports Detroit students through ‘InsideOut Literary Arts’ spoken word (via Rolling Out)
As we worked on our "Pandemic Generation" series about how the coronavirus has deeply affected the mental health of a generation of kids and teens, we wanted to include a project that would center on their voices and perspectives. The frustrations and fears of adults were shared widely in columns and commentaries across many news sites, including … Continue reading Kids Reflect On COVID-19 In Letters, Poetry And Artwork (via WBUR)
Oakland selected poet, playwright and community activist Ayodele Nzinga as the city’s inaugural poet laureate, city officials announced this week.Nzinga is the founding producer and director of the West Oakland theater company Lower Bottom Playaz, established in 1999. She’s also the founding director of Black Arts Movement Business District Community Development Corporation, which produces BAMBDFEST, … Continue reading Oakland’s Poet Laureate: Ayodele Nzinga chosen for inaugural post (via East Bay Express)
June is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month. One psychiatrist is dedicating a portion of the proceeds from his new book, Poetry Rx, to the David Lynch Foundation (DLF)—specifically the Resilient Warrior program—in the hopes of curbing US military veteran suicides.In this Q&A, we speak with author of Poetry Rx, Norman E. Rosenthal, MD. Dr Rosenthal is a world-renowned psychiatrist and … Continue reading Poetry for PTSD and Preventing Suicide (via Psychiatric Times)
Topping the headlines again, Arizona State University Associate Professor Natalie Diaz has been awarded the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry for her collection “Postcolonial Love Poem,” which has been described as “an anthem of desire against erasure.”The honor comes mere months after the MacArthur Fellow made history by becoming the youngest chancellor ever elected to the Academy of American … Continue reading Poet Natalie Diaz wins Pulitzer Prize (via ASU News)
Caleb Femi, the former young people’s laureate for London, has been shortlisted for one of the prestigious Forward prizes for poetry for his first collection Poor, an exploration of growing up Black in Peckham.Femi, a former English teacher who took on the laureate role in 2016, is one of five first-time poets in the running for the … Continue reading Forward poetry prizes shortlist former young people’s laureate Caleb Femi (via Guardian)
