For the late poet Amiri Baraka, poetry was about the sound of the words — that the poems should come alive when they were read aloud. "I'm trying to make the poems as musical as I can — from the inception," he said in 1980. "So that whether they're read on the page, or people … Continue reading Amiri Baraka Didn’t Worry About His Politics Overpowering His Poetry (via NPR)
Rod McKuen, a ubiquitous poet, lyricist and songwriter whose work met with immense commercial success if little critical esteem, died on Thursday in Beverly Hills, Calif. He was 81. Mr. McKuen, who died at a rehabilitation center, had been ill with pneumonia, his half brother, Edward McKuen Habib, told The Associated Press. Information on other … Continue reading Rod McKuen, Poet and Lyricist With Vast Following, Dies at 81 (via NY Times)
The Carriage House Poetry Series in Fanwood will present readings by three distinguished poets on Tuesday, Feb. 17. The free poetry performances by Jill Stein, John Barrale and Loren Kleinman will begin promptly at 8 p.m. in the Patricia Kuran Arts Center on Watson Road, off North Martine Avenue, adjacent to Fanwood Borough Hall (GPS … Continue reading Three poets featured at Fanwood Poetry Series’ free reading on Feb. 17 (via NJ.com)
Sometimes, the words come to her on the Garden State Parkway or on the Outerbridge Crossing, snippets of verse that capture a flash of light, an eruption of color, a piercing cry. She recites the words aloud, burning them into memory, as she steps out of the faculty parking lot at the College of Staten … Continue reading Fallen Journalist Finds Solace and Success in Poetry (via NY Times)
The iDiOM Theater, 1418 Cornwall Ave., is starting late-night events and one of them is a series of poetry and jazz slams. At 10 p.m. on the last Friday of every month, Tobias Childs, a Dead Parrots Society alum who has performed at the Upfront Theater, will host the Jazz Jam and Poetry Slam, reviving … Continue reading Late-night poetry and jazz coming to iDiOM (via Bellingham Herald)
Bill Yake arrived in Olympia from his native Spokane in November 1977. He watched the vast, sweeping horizons of Eastern Washington disappear behind the mountains, forests and clouds of Western Washington. Yake’s Olympia welcoming committee was a steady procession of storms that dumped more than 10 inches of rain on him in a span of … Continue reading Olympia is blessed with rich poetry (via The Olympian)
Instead of the standard side-panel advertisements, Metro Nashville buses will start showcasing poetry in April. Poetry in Motion®, sponsored by Metro Nashville Arts commission, Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority, the MTA Youth Action Team and Oasis Center, will display work from local poets in April for the fourth year of the program. Created in 1992, Poetry … Continue reading Poetry in Motion® returns to Nashville in April (via The Tennessean)
This London-based poet's list of influences includes Suli Breaks, Jonesy, George Watsky, Linton Kwesi Johnson... and one of our favorites, Black Ice! Check out the full article by clicking on the link below. Rap and spoken word, despite being such kindred spirits, can often be awkward bedfellows. But that might be about to change, especially … Continue reading George the Poet’s spoken-word heroes (via Red Bull)
GINOSKO FLASH FICTION CONTEST: $500 Award, $10 entry fee, deadline March 1, 2015. Submit up to 2 pieces, 800 words maximum each piece. Awarded work will be published on Ginosko Literary Journal website. Guidelines and Eligibility: The Ginosko Flash Fiction Award is for an unpublished work of flash fiction. Awarded piece is selected through a … Continue reading Ginosko Literary Journal Announces March Deadline for Flash Fiction Contest
The town has decided to go ahead with appointing a poet laureate. Over the next few months, a committee made up of members of the fine arts commission, library board and town council will meet to determine the duties of the poet laureate and interview candidates. Mike Lepore, former town councilman and treasurer of the … Continue reading Glastonbury Moving Forward On Naming Poet Laureate (via Hartford Courant)
