The first eight pages of Michael Robbins’s new book, “Equipment for Living: On Poetry and Pop Music” (Simon & Schuster), make reference to Annie Dillard, Harold Bloom, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Kenneth Burke, Geoffrey Hill, Kenneth Koch, Adam Phillips, Frank O’Hara, Emerson, Boethius, Nietzsche, Freud, and Miley Cyrus. The book is a collection … Continue reading Can Poetry Change Your Life? (via The New Yorker)
New documentary "Romeo is Bleeding" follows spoken word artist Donté Clark as he mentors high school students in Richmond, California, a city notorious for gang violence. In the film, Clark teaches the teenagers spoken word poetry and works with them to adapt Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" into a modern day Richmond tale, hoping to start … Continue reading Donté Clark and Russell Simmons on “Romeo is Bleeding” and why poetry matters (via CBS News)
Southern Word is approaching its 10th year placing writers in Tennessee schools, and Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Magnet High School in Nashville is one of Southern Word’s oldest partners in utilizing this local, educator resource. This innovative collaboration engages more than 200 students each year in writing and public speaking, both in the classroom … Continue reading How Southern Word changes lives through writing and spoken word (via Tennessean)
A dozen students participating in Through the Eyes of a Young Poet, a spoken word poetry camp taking place this week at the Birmingham Central Library downtown, got to see first-hand photos and artifacts of Birmingham’s civil rights past and other historical events. The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) is partnering with John Paul Taylor of … Continue reading Spoken Word poetry camp teaches students about city’s history (via The Birmingham Times)
Over the years Houston has become home base for poets far and wide, showcasing their talent and supporting the world of spoken-word poetry. And while local poetry slams where wordslingers go head-to-head onstage are nothing new, the battle royal, group-style slam format is taking place here for the first time. It requires verbal dexterity, timing … Continue reading 1st Annual Bayou City Poetry Group Slam (via Houston Press)
IN between Spoken Word's popular bi-monthly show, there are the Poetry Sessions. A more casual coming together of performance poetry novices and veterans who take to the revolving developmental stage to return to the game, try out new material or make their Spoken Word debut. “Our bi-monthly sessions are a research attempt, so to say,” … Continue reading Spoken Word presents the Poetry Sessions (via The Namibian)
The Neighborhood Laundromat is not a place you'd expect to find poetry. The machines are loud and the fluorescent lights flicker as people periodically come in and out the door at 4200 14th Ave., Rock Island. Laura Winton, however, has taken advantage of the space. In October, Ms. Winton began "Coin-Op Poetry Readings" in a … Continue reading Coin-op poetry sessions offer verse-and-wear prose (via Dispatch Argus)
Anashta Celovich’s life has been a journey filled with emotionally damaging events and experiences. As a teen her only outlets were painting and poetry, both of which kept her from being swallowed by a deep emotional pit. She continues to do so in her adulthood. During the past 20 years, Celovich has used her own … Continue reading Author aims to revive poetry movement (via The North Platte Telegraph)
One school librarian explains the methods she has used to challenge negative perceptions about poetry and get pupils excited about reading and writing poems I run an annual poetry week at my school, a celebration of all types of poetry in which we try to involve all year groups and run across the curriculum. Here are my … Continue reading How to change pupils’ minds about poetry (via TES)
A renowned poet, Ahmed Maiwada, has admonished young writers to avoid rushing to publishing their works to guide against producing substandard publications that would not impact meaningfully on the society. “You have to ponder over it to ensure it makes sense and also an interesting reading,’’ Maiwada said. Maiwada told newsmen on Monday in Abuja … Continue reading Poet advises young writers against rushing to publish works (via Vanguard)
