April is National Poetry Month and this season's releases by Latino poets are exceptional, dealing with social issues like immigration and police brutality, reaching across the Americas to speak on the post-colonial condition, and exploring the interior landscapes to address personal suffering and healing. In an earlier column I highlighted the latest book by veteran poet Martín … Continue reading 5 New Latino Poetry Books for National Poetry Month (via NBC News)
The city’s first lady will be opening up her home to the city’s bibliophiles to discuss books related to the New York immigrant experience. The Gracie Book Club will officially kick off May 17 and feature selections chosen by Chirlane McCray and New York authors James Hannaham, Jacqueline Woodson and A.M. Homes. Over the next … Continue reading Chirlane McCray launches Gracie Mansion book club (via amNY)
The seven finalists for the 2016 Griffin Poetry Prize have been announced. The judges - Canadian poet Adam Sol, Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy K. Smith and U.K. poet Alice Oswald - read over 600 books of poetry from 43 countries in the process of selecting the shortlist. First established in 2000, the Griffin Poetry Prize … Continue reading 2016 Griffin Poetry Prize shortlist announced (via CBC Books)
Before Elliot Darrow performs his poem, “Red Shoes,” he unlaces his red canvas sneakers and goes on stage barefoot. This isn’t poetic license. No props are allowed. In college slam poetry. Poetry is art, but poetry contests are sport, bound by rules as exacting as any that govern collegiate competition—nine pages worth, split into alphabetical and numbered sections, … Continue reading Poetry Is Art, but Poetry Slams Are Sport, Bound by Pages of Rules (via WSJ)
Poet Richard Blanco said whether he’s speaking in front of a million people at President Obama’s second inauguration or to a group of young writers on a college campus, the message is the same. “It is very similar in spirit because it is about connecting poetry and people,” Blanco said by phone Thursday afternoon. “Art … Continue reading As poetry festival’s keynote, Blanco will share love of language (via Portland Press Herald)
The San Antonio Public Library is celebrating National Poetry month by hosting several poetry related events at various libraries. The first poetry event is to tweet a haiku to the SAPL official twitter. Participants are invited to tweet a family-friendly haiku about reading and must tag @mysapl and have their submission shared on the library's feed on … Continue reading San Antonio Public Library celebrating National Poetry month (via News 4 San Antonio)
The North Andover Garden Club recently announced Taila Brown, a freshman at North Andover High School, as the winner of the statewide Environmental Poetry Contest Award. The club had sponsored Brown’s entry into the contest. Brown’s poem, entitled “A Frog’s Point of View,” was chosen as the best poem in the state among ninth grade … Continue reading High school freshman wins poetry contest (via Eagle-Tribune)
Full Title: "14 Classic Poems To Reread For National Poetry Month, Because You Know It's Your Favorite Month Of The Year (via Bustle)" This April, poets and poetry lovers everywhere will join together in cracking open their favorite notebooks and anthologies in celebration of the 20th anniversary of National Poetry Month — a yearly, month-long appreciation of … Continue reading 14 Classic Poems to Reread for National Poetry Month (via Bustle)
When was it, exactly, that poetry got a bad rap? Surely not during the roadside Burma Shave days of: “Does your husband … Misbehave … Grunt and grumble … Rant and rave? ... Shoot the brute some … Burma-Shave.” These gems were fun, but also functional, like the poetry that Springfield-based author and poet David … Continue reading Poetry helps develop command of language (via Springfield News-Leader)
Berry College Professor of English, Rhetoric and Writing Sandra Meek will launch her new book with a reading and signing April 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the college chapel. “An Ecology of Elsewhere,” was named a Spring 2016 Poetry Top Pick by Library Journal. At once nomadic and deeply rooted to place, the book interweaves … Continue reading Berry professor launches fifth poetry book (via Northwest Georgia News)
