Poetry

Chen Chen on writing poetry while Chinese, American and gay

By Corinne Segal

Chen Chen's earlier work began with an exploration of his own intersecting identities, parts of himself that he said other people told him could not exist at once.

These young poets show there’s more to Flint than a water crisis

By Corinne Segal

These young Flint poets say the water crisis is overshadowing the innovative artists and activists that live and work there every day.

Poet Fatemeh Shams takes on politics in post-revolution Iran

By Corinne Segal

Fatemeh Shams grew up in Mashhad in northeast Iran, in a conservative environment where she said she found it challenging to express her doubts about religion and explore her identity as a woman.

In this poem, Beth Copeland shows what it’s like to have Alzheimer’s

By Corinne Segal

Writing poems helped Beth Copeland understand more about her father's experience with Alzheimer's disease.

How poetry helped Marcelo Hernandez Castillo speak out on immigration

By Corinne Segal

At a young age, language was Marcelo Hernandez Castillo’s best defense. Growing up undocumented, Castillo said that fluency in English — and, later, poetry — were the tools with which he could protect against deportation. Writing was “a way…

Poet’s haunting work recalls the ‘trauma’ of assimilation

By Corinne Segal

Vanessa Angelica Villarreal writes about growing up in Texas, cultural assimilation and the myths of her Mexican family's history.

Why grief is political for poet Muriel Leung

By Corinne Segal

Poet Muriel Leung began writing about grief and loss in college following the death of her father.

Poet Martín Espada chronicles father’s fight for Puerto Rican rights

By Anne Azzi Davenport

Martin Espada, an award-winning poet and former tenant lawyer, grew up watching his father fight for human rights in New York City.

On HIV/AIDS, poet challenges you to not look away

By Corinne Segal

Today is the 258th day that Michael Broder has published a poem on HIV. The online collection, titled HIV Here & Now, is a yearlong project by Broder to publish one poem a day leading up to June 5,…

How poet Ariana Brown became the Afro-Latina role model she needed

By Corinne Segal

Growing up in San Antonio, Ariana Brown said she struggled to find other representations of herself -- an Afro-Latina woman from a working class family -- both in her community and literature.