Poetry

For his friend James Foley, Daniel Johnson reads 'In the Absence of Sparrows'

By Anne Azzi Davenport

Poet Daniel Johnson wrote "In the Absence of Sparrows" during the 656-day captivity of his close friend, journalist James Foley. on Aug 19, Foley became the first American citizen known to be killed by the Islamic State group.

Weekly Poem: Charlotte Boulay reads 'Oracular'

By artsdesk

Charlotte Boulay earned her MFA from the University of Michigan. She taught creative writing at the university for five years and won both the Meijer Award and an Academy of American Poets Award. Her poetry has appeared in many journals,…

Weekly Poem: Mark Ford reads 'In Loco Parentis'

By Victoria Fleischer

Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Mark Ford is the author of four collections of poetry, including "Soft Sift" and "Six Children." "Selected Poems" is his most recent and comprises work from three decades of writing.

Weekly Poem: Ellen Bass wants you to eat that strawberry

By Victoria Fleischer

In the first poem of her new collection, “Like a Beggar,” Ellen Bass tries to accept what she has spent her whole life avoiding: misfortune.

Simin Behbahani, Iran's national poet, dies at 87

By Victoria Fleischer

Iran’s national poet Simin Behbahani died Tuesday of heart failure at the age of 87, according to the country’s official news agency. Behbahani was an iconic figure of modern Persian literature, affectionately referred to as “the lioness of Iran” by…

Weekly Poem: Dan Chiasson reads 'The Flume'

By artsdesk

Dan Chiasson has published four books of poetry, including "Where's the Moon, There's the Moon" and "Natural History." "Bicentennial" is his most recent collection.

Weekly Poem: Alison Powell dissects myths to uncover human complexity

By Victoria Fleischer

Poet Alison Powell has always been a fan of the underdog. In her debut collection, “On the Desire to Levitate,” the writer takes that attraction as inspiration for her work.

Weekly Poem: W.S. Di Piero reads 'The Smell of Spearmint'

By artsdesk

W.S. Di Piero is a poet, essayist, art critic and translator. He is the author of 10 books of poetry including "The First Hour," "Skirts and Slacks," and "Nitro Nights." "Tombo" is his most recent collection of poems. The winner…

Weekly Poem: Marianne Boruch brings life to her 'favorite cadaver'

By Victoria Fleischer

When poet Marianne Boruch took a gross anatomy class at Purdue University, she was most interested in a woman who had been nearly 100 years old when she died. “For some reason, this figure, my favorite cadaver, just pushed me…

Garrison Keillor on loving poetry 'as clear statement'

By Victoria Fleischer

In college, Garrison Keillor, the host of American Public media’s “A Prairie Home Companion” and “The Writer’s Almanac,” majored in poetry. After he wrote his papers and received his degree, he didn’t look at it again until decades later, when…