Jan 17 When politics gets out of hand, turn to this poem By Elizabeth Flock Since the election, thousands of musicians, poets and other writers have mobilized across the country to protest the rhetoric and proposed policies of President-elect Donald Trump. On Sunday, “Writers Resist” events were held around the country. But while less visible,… Continue reading
Jan 16 As 'writers resist' Trump, an interview with a poet in protest By Elizabeth Flock On Sunday, writers and artists rallied across the country in defense of freedom of speech and to protest the political discourse of President-elect Donald Trump. The Writers Resist events took place in Tuscaloosa, Fresno, Helena Denver, Chicago, Baltimore,and Washington D.C.,… Continue reading
Jan 09 The all-American essence of Kansas, Camaros and 'Jennifer' By Elizabeth Flock “[This poem] looks at the emptiness of American Exceptionalism and concepts of our ‘greatness’ but by talking about the name Jennifer… a quintessentially American name,” said Adair-Hodges, who said the poem came out of “thinking about names as signifiers” --… Continue reading
Dec 16 Watch 5:27 A poetry publisher on the math of rejection By PBS News Hour Every year, Jeff Shotts, executive editor of Graywolf Press, sorts through thousands of poetry submissions -- and rejects about 99 percent of them. It’s not a success rate poets like to hear, he says, but it’s the reality in the… Continue watching
Nov 11 Leonard Cohen, legendary singer-songwriter and poet, dies at 82 By Corinne Segal Leonard Cohen's songs on love, spirituality, human connection and mortality marked some of the most important moments in contemporary music. Continue reading
Sep 08 Watch 5:13 Scotland's national poet writes for those who've been asked 'where are you from?' By PBS News Hour Jackie Kay is Scotland's first black national poet. Adopted as a child, much of her poetry and prose speaks to her own experience of not feeling entirely welcome in her own country. “I wrote the poems that I wanted to… Continue watching
Aug 22 A poet's history lesson on Brooklyn's Bushwick neighborhood By Anne Azzi Davenport Jacqueline Woodson, one of America's premier writers of young adult and children's literature, is out with her second novel for adults called "Another Brooklyn." It's set in the Brooklyn borough of Bushwick, her childhood neighborhood, which becomes one of the… Continue reading
Aug 11 Watch 4:13 This Olympian -- and poet -- on her love for "freedom within boundaries" By PBS News Hour On Friday, long-distance runner Alexi Pappas will compete in Rio in her first-ever Olympic race. But unlike many of her Olympic peers, Pappas does not put all her talent in one basket. In addition to training as a world-class runner,… Continue watching
Aug 08 Road to Rio is paved with poetry for runner Alexi Pappas By Mary Jo Brooks The 26-year-old athlete, who will compete in the women's 10,000 meter at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, was a poetry major. Continue reading
Aug 07 Meet the Deaf Poets Society, a digital journal for writers with disabilities By Corinne Segal Deaf Poets Society, a new digital literary magazine, has a message for writers with disabilities: we see you. We want you to be here. And this is your space. Continue reading