For many readers, poetry can seem daunting, freighted with mistaken notions taught long ago by well-meaning but misguided English teachers: that what a poem says and what a poem means are always two different things, and it’s up to the reader to puzzle out the actual meaning; and that true poetry is an “elevated” art,…Read more Tod Marshall’s new anthology proves poetry alive in Washington (via Spokesman-Review)

College and high school teachers took turns behind the podium, interpreting award-winning poetry as the introverted author sat in his favorite spot — the middle of the crowd. JMU and the Furious Flower Poetry Center hosted a week-long seminar based on the works of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa. The week culminated Saturday with educators…Read more Pulitzer Prize-winning poet visits JMU for week-long seminar (via The Breeze)

Staff at a bookshop were surprised to get an anonymous letter complaining the poetry read out at fortnightly evening events is too rude. The unsigned letter arrived at the Tree House Bookshop on Wednesday. The letter posted to the shop in The Square, Kenilworth, says: “Please ask the owners to stop allowing rude and offensive…Read more Bookshop receives complaint about ‘rude and naughty poetry’ (via Coventry Telegraph)