Poetry Oct 23 ‘Oh, they’re on the pills. We don’t really see them anymore.’ Author William Brewer didn’t want to write a book about the drug crisis decimating his state, but it was a topic he couldn’t avoid. Watching the people around him succumb to addiction, he set out to capture the crisis in…
Arts Jul 05 Watch Taj Mahal and Keb Mo sing the “Diving Duck Blues” Taj Mahal and Keb Mo are both living legends in the blues music scene. But they haven't released an album together -- until now.
Poetry Feb 02 From the heart of the Ebola crisis, this educator and poet says ‘never again’ 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.
Poetry Dec 26 ‘What this year will be’ Shelley Girdner's recently published debut collection is called “You Were That White Bird” and is filled with poems that capture the details in the natural world around her and the small miracles of her life.
Poetry Dec 20 Can a poem make the world a better place by documenting the darknesses around us? Daniel Borzutzky's newest poetry collection, “The Performance of Becoming Human” feature themes of economic and political dysfunction. The collection was recently awarded the National Book Award for poetry.
Poetry Dec 13 In joy and discrimination, poet explores duality of growing up black Clinton Smith's debut collection of poetry, "Counting Descent", examines what it means to grow up Black in America. Smith recounts moments from childhood when Black lives were celebrated and juxtaposes them with incidents that have become all too common in…
Poetry Dec 06 Native poet speaks the language of Standing Rock — and explains how a presidential apology falls short Poet Layli Long Soldier's forthcoming collection of poetry called "Whereas" is a critique of President Obama's 2010 apology to Native Americans for their mistreatment by the U.S. government.
Poetry Nov 28 A poet squeezes the presidential election into a clown car Poet Joseph Hutchison says he wrote “The Greatest Show on Earth” four years ago when he was watching yet another chaotic Presidential election process unfold. “It was a response to the circus that we make of elections and how political…
Poetry Nov 21 Through writing, a poet returns to the Appalachian home she left Melissa Range was raised in Appalachian Tennessee, and she says she is constantly exploring through poetry the deep connection she has to that region. “Those mountains have a pull on you. I don’t feel at home there, but I don’t…
Poetry Nov 15 America, I sing you back Allison Adelle Hedge Coke says her poem, "America, I Sing You Back", was born not out of anger but out of concern and a love for her country.