Apr 03 This poetry uses Mary Magdalene to explore troubles that bedevil modern life By Elizabeth Flock "Magdalene," a new book of poems from former New York Poet Laureate Marie Howe, who was raised Catholic, seeks to reenvision Mary Magdalene for the modern age -- and tackles some of our modern-day problems in the process. Continue reading
Mar 20 Caribbean artists remember poet Derek Walcott By Elizabeth Flock A Caribbean street photographer, poets, and other writers remember Derek Walcott, a Nobel laureate and Caribbean poet and playwright who died Friday. Continue reading
Mar 13 Watch poet Susan Howe read this Dickinson poem on life and death By Elizabeth Flock Leading contemporary poet and Dickinson scholar Susan Howe breaks down "There's a certain Slant of light," one of Emily Dickinson's most-beloved poems. Continue reading
Mar 07 How Gwendolyn Brooks' poetry is connecting Emmett Till with the violence in Chicago today By Elizabeth Flock Some worry that poet Gwendolyn Brooks is in danger of being forgotten. “The Golden Shovel Anthology,” a new book of poems honoring Brooks, seeks to make sure that doesn’t happen. Continue reading
Feb 27 As Trump addresses Congress, poets pen a people's view By Elizabeth Flock A week after President Donald Trump took office, hundreds of people gathered in their homes, schools and places across the country to share stories about how they saw the state of the nation. "Very sad," some said. "Becoming aware."… Continue reading
Feb 13 Two fathers use poems to teach their kids about growing up black in America By Elizabeth Flock Their poems explore with tenderness and anxiety the joys and perils of being a father -- especially a black father -- and how to escape the mistakes of past generations. Continue reading
Feb 06 A poet's quest to find the 'flavor of unity' in divisive times By Elizabeth Flock "I think my practice as a writer has become a search for how to be a good citizen in a troubled country," Kim Stafford said. "What I’m really trying to do with my poetry these days is search for common… Continue reading
Feb 02 From the heart of the Ebola crisis, this educator and poet says 'never again' By Mary Jo Brooks When the Ebola virus devastated Liberia two years ago, this poet and educator became an activist to make sure such an epidemic never happens again. "I don’t want to get over it," she says. Continue reading
Jan 30 Read poems from the 7 countries affected by Trump's immigration ban By Elizabeth Flock On Monday, Tehran-born poet Kaveh Akbar began tweeting out poetry written by poets from the seven countries -- Iran, Libya, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, and Syria -- impacted by President Donald Trump’s executive order that temporarily bans immigrants from those… Continue reading
Jan 23 For the film 'Paterson,' poet Ron Padgett wrote four original poems By Elizabeth Flock This poem is one of four that American poet Ron Padgett wrote specifically for the new Jim Jarmusch film “Paterson,” which follows a poetry-writing bus driver (played by Adam Driver) who shares a name with his city of Paterson, New… Continue reading