Two books on William Blake, “Eternity’s Sunrise” by Leo Damrosch and “Blake: A Biography” by Peter Ackroyd, provide an in-depth look at the artist and poet.
In Search of William Blake
A close look at the poet and artist William Blake provides some surprising facts about a man largely unknown in his own lifetime.
Poets and Poems: Yahia Lababidi and “Balancing Acts”
Egyptian-American poet and writer Yahia Lababidi is in love with words. That sounds like a trite thing to say – shouldn’t most poets be in love with words?
The Natural Poetry of the Biking Trail
The biking trail presents the opportunity to experience natural poetry, like snakes, squirrels, deer, wild turkeys, and bald eagles.
Poetic Voices: Teow Lim Goh and Marjorie Maddox
Teow Lim Goh seeks meaning in an immigration detention center, while Marjorie Maddox seeks spiritual understanding in the the study of literature.
Charles Sorley and the Poetry of World War I
Charles Sorley (1895-1915) was a poet whose “When You See Millions of the Mouthless Dead” was one of the best-known poems of World War I.
Poetic Voices: Kelly Hansen Maher and Heather Derr-Smith
Poets Kelly Hansen Maher and Heather Derr-Smith write about lives as women, one on miscarriages and the other on relationships.
“Poetry: A Survivor’s Guide” by Mark Yakich
Poet and teacher Mark Yakich takes a serious and irreverent look at reading and writing poetry in “Poetry: A Survivor’s Guide.”
Poetic Voices: Elizabeth Onusko and Athena Kildegaard
Poetry collections by Elizabeth Onusko and Athena Kildegaard show how poetry can diagnose society’s illnesses and problems.
2016 Pulitzer Prize: “Ozone Journal” by Peter Balakian
“Ozone Journal’ by Peter Balakian, winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for poetry, challenges, provokes, and helps us to see in a different light.
British Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy
British Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, the first woman to hold the post, writes powerful and beautiful poetry.
“The Joy of Poetry” by Megan Willome
“The Joy of Poetry” by Megan Willome tells the story of her mother and herself, what poetry can do in a person’s life, and what it does in all of our lives.
Poetic Voices: Lucia Cherciu and Sarah Nichols
Recent poetry collections by Lucia Cherciu and Sarah Nichols reflect the poetry of exile, but in very different ways – exile from one’s country and voluntary exile and isolation.
Walt Whitman in Brooklyn: Newspapers and “Leaves of Grass”
Walt Whitman lived for 22 years in Brooklyn, and the city exerted a powerful influence on his poetry, especially “Leaves of Grass.”
“The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606″
“The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606” by James Shapiro is a masterful re-creation of a critical year in the life of William Shakespeare.
Lexicographer Samuel Johnson: Bookended by Poetry
Poetry formed the bookends of the professional life of Samuel Johnson, the great lexicographer.
Literary Tour: Samuel Johnson House, London
A tour of the Samuel Johnson House allows a view into the man who wrote “The Dictionary of the English Language” and helped save Shakespeare from oblivion.
Poetic Voices: Relationships – Dinah Dietrich and Diane Lockward
Poetry is often used to describe relationships, as recent collections by Dinah Dietrich and Diane Lockward show.
Poets and Poems: Clive James and “Sentenced to Life”
“Sentenced to Life” by Clive James is not about dealing with death; instead, it is the story of a poet discovering life.
Poets and Poems: Laurie Klein and “Where the Sky Opens”
“Where the Sky Opens” by Laurie Klein shows how poems can help us navigate major life changes.