poetry

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

By PBS News Hour

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,…

After fatal gun accidents, children can find comfort in poetry

By PBS News Hour

In a shocking accident, a nine-year-old girl shot and killed her instructor last week at an Arizona gun range. When children are involved in fatal incidents, what helps? Jeffrey Brown talks with poet Gregory Orr, who accidentally killed his younger…

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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.

Poet Behbahani Writes for Peace Amid Iran's Political Turmoil

By PBS News Hour

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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…

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

By Victoria Fleischer

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.