The word novel carries for me a weight as ominous, all-consuming and unforgiving as any Job encountered. I was 17 when I decided to write stories as big as cathedrals, overflowing with the kind of memorable and audacious characters Walker Percy, Ernest Hemingway and Saul Bellow created. I stayed up all night, writing description, dialogue, … Continue reading Poet vs. Novelist (via NYTimes)
The Wisdom of Maya "The love of the family, the love of the person can heal. It heals the scars left by a larger society. A massive, powerful society." "It's one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody." "You may not control all the events that happen to you, but … Continue reading Remembering Maya Angelou
Additional Info National Poetry Slam finals stage 2007 Information courtesy, YouTube
The 20th annual West Chester University Poetry Conference will be held next week, bringing a schedule of events to the school that are free and open to the public. The gathering, running from June 4 through June 7, is the nation's largest all-poetry writing conference. Natasha Tretheway, now serving her second term as U.S. Poet … Continue reading Poetry conference set for WCU (via Philly.com)
REST IN PEACE MAYA ANGELOU (1928-2014) A literary voice revered globally for her poetic command and her commitment to civil rights has fallen silent. Maya Angelou died at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Wednesday, said her literary agent, Helen Brann. The 86-year-old was a novelist, actress, professor, singer, dancer and activist. In 2010, … Continue reading Legendary author Maya Angelou dies at age 86 (via CNN)
Additional Info Performed live at Le Poisson Rouge on 6.19.11 at The Strivers Row showcase. "Dean's List 2: Extra Credit" http://www.thestriversrow.com http://www.facebook.com/thestriversrow http://www.twitter.com/thestriversrow http://thestriversrow.bandcamp.com Information courtesy, YouTube
Late in 1987, two young poets made the trek to New York to attend the funeral of James Baldwin at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. Deeply moved by the ceremony, yet distressed that they had never met an African-American literary lion of Mr. Baldwin’s stature, the poets, Thomas Sayers Ellis and Sharan … Continue reading The Dark Room Collective: Where Black Poetry Took Wing (via NYTimes)
Additional Info Meet Kioni "Popcorn" Marshall, an extraordinary 12-year-old poet from the Bronx. Despite her age, Kioni has earned the respect and admiration of the NYC poetry community by developing her own unique voice and bravely exploring mature themes like alienation, abandonment, loneliness, and abuse. Follow Kioni's emotional journey as she prepares for her … Continue reading Bronx 6th Grader Wows NYC Poetry Scene (via THNKR)
The Poetry Society of Texas (PST) this week announced the launching of its first poetry anthology e-book. The anthology, “A Texas Garden of Verses,” includes poems from PST’s 2013 Summer Conference. The original 13 member chapter poetry readers from the Summer Conference and 41 other poets contributed to the anthology. Among the 54 poets are … Continue reading Poetry Society of Texas launches first poetry anthology e-book (via McKinney Courier-Gazette)
Additional Info NO.1 - of all def poetry - CHECK YOUR MOTIVES & THOUGHTS Information courtesy, YouTube
