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Poets and Poems: Claude Wilkinson and “World Without End”

By Glynn Young Leave a Comment

Rocky Beach Claude Wilkinson

In “World Without End,” Claude Wilkinson writes poetry that communicates the beauty and meaning of both the seen and the unseen.

Filed Under: article, Black Poets, book reviews, Books, Poems, poetry, poetry reviews, Poets

Poets and Poems: Ben Okri and “A Fire in My Head”

By Glynn Young Leave a Comment

Lake Ben Okri

“A Fire in My Head: Poems for the Dawn” by Ben Okri offers hope even for the darkest of subjects and events.

Filed Under: article, Black Poets, book reviews, Books, Britain, Poems, poetry, poetry reviews, Poets

The Early Poetry of Langston Hughes

By Glynn Young 2 Comments

Blurry river Langston Hughes

In his early poetry, Langston Hughes told the stories and experiences of Black people for both adults and children.

Filed Under: article, Black Poets, book reviews, Books, Poems, poetry, poetry reviews, Poets

Poets and Poems: Shane McCrae and “Sometimes I Never Suffered”

By Glynn Young Leave a Comment

In “Sometimes I Never Suffered,” poet Shane McCrae uses the historical figure of a mixed-race boy to tell a larger story.

Filed Under: article, Black Poets, book reviews, Books, Poems, poetry, Poets

Poets and Poems: Yrsa Daley-Ward and ‘bone’

By Glynn Young 1 Comment

Black Musician Yrsa Daley Ward bone

The poems of “bone” by Yrsa Daley-Ward create discomfort, jolting the reader into an awareness of a very different and personal experience.

Filed Under: article, Black Poets, book reviews, Books, Poems, poetry, poetry reviews, Poets

Poets and Poems: Claude McKay and ‘Harlem Shadows’

By Glynn Young Leave a Comment

Almost a century later, the poems of “Harlem Shadows” by Claude McKay remain a statement for recognition, courage, and determination.

Filed Under: article, Black Poets, book reviews, Books, Poems, poetry reviews, Poets

Poets and Poems: Carl Phillips and “Pale Colors in a Tall Field”

By Glynn Young Leave a Comment

“Pale Colors in a Tall Field” by Carl Phillips invites you into a dream, asking unexpected if important questions.

Filed Under: article, Black Poets, book reviews, Books, color poems, Poems, poetry, poetry reviews, Poets

Forgotten Classics: “Cane” by Jean Toomer

By Glynn Young Leave a Comment

https://www.flickr.com/photos/stairhopper/44650864952/in/faves-110769643@N07/

“Cane” by Jean Toomer is considered a modernist classic, compared favorably and critically to the works of William Faulkner.

Filed Under: article, Black Poets, book reviews, Books, Poets

Poet-a-Day: Meet Ashley M. Jones

By Tania Runyan 13 Comments

Birmingham Skyline View From Quarry

What can the villanelle offer a poet? Ashley M. Jones has a suggestion—and a container for obsession or sorrow.

Filed Under: Black Poets, Blog, English Teaching, How to Write a Form Poem, Poet-a-Day, poetry teaching resources, Villanelles, writer's group resources

Reading Generously: Black Stories

By Megan Willome 6 Comments

Black girl dressed as angel

For February’s Reading Generously column, we share stories by Black authors. Fiction, poetry, and plays, oh my!

Filed Under: A Story in Every Soul, Black Poets, Generous, Read, Reading Generously

By Heart: ‘blessing the boats’ + New Elizabeth Bishop Challenge

By Megan Willome 8 Comments

blue boat beside reeds in water

For Black History Month, we learn Lucille Clifton’s “blessing the boats” By Heart and consider the memory of a Chilean sea.

Filed Under: A Poem in Every Heart, Americana Poems, Black Poets, Blog, By Heart, Poems, Poetry Memorization

Reading Generously: ‘How We Fight for Our Lives’ by Saeed Jones

By Megan Willome 11 Comments

Fishermen at Sunset Sandy Hook New Jersey

This month our book review column becomes Reading Generously. We begin with Saeed Jones’ open-handed memoir.

Filed Under: A Story in Every Soul, Black Poets, Blog, book reviews, Generous, Reading Generously

Take Your Poet to Work Day: Countee Cullen

By Will Willingham Leave a Comment

Countee Cullen Take Your Poet to Work Day

We continue our 2020 Take Your Poet to Work celebration with fabulous poet Countee Cullen.

Filed Under: Black Poets, Blog, Countee Cullen, poetry and business, Take Your Poet to Work Day

Take Your Poet to Work: Lucille Clifton

By Will Willingham 1 Comment

Lucille Clifton Take Your Poet to Work Day Cover

We kick off the 2020 Take Your Poet to Work celebration with beloved poet Lucille Clifton.

Filed Under: Black Poets, Blog, Lucille Clifton, poetry and business, Take Your Poet to Work Day

Poets and Poems: Major Jackson and “Holding Company”

By Glynn Young 1 Comment

The 2010 collection “Holding Company” by Major Jackson leads the eye and mind to a different understanding and a different context.

Filed Under: article, Black Poets, book reviews, Books, Poems, poetry, poetry reviews, Poets

Poems to Listen By: Under the Canopy 09—Eternity [Bonus Episode]

By Laurie Klein 8 Comments

Under the Canopy Eternity

In a bonus Under the Canopy episode, Laurie Klein shares “Eternity” from Tracy K. Smith, reminding us to consider, where would we be without trees?

Filed Under: Black Poets, Blog, Patron Only, Poems to Listen By, Tree Poems, Under the Canopy

Creating an ‘I Love Poetry Moment’: Magic City’s Ashley M. Jones

By Megan Willome 4 Comments

For National Poetry Month, create an ‘I Love Poetry Moment,’ following the example of Ashley M. Jones and the Magic City Poetry Festival.

Filed Under: A Poem in Every Heart, Americana Poems, Black Poets, English Teaching Resources, Poems, poetry, Poets

Poems to Listen By: Sharing the Canopy 02—Motherhood

By Laurie Klein 13 Comments

Poems to listen by under the canopy

In the latest Poems to Listen By: Under the Canopy podcast, Laurie Klein shares “Motherhood” from Diane Loretta Walker and considers the stories trees hold inside.

Filed Under: Black Poets, Blog, Patron Only, Podcasts, Poems to Listen By, Tree Poems, Under the Canopy

Poets and Poems: Edward Holmes and “Bravery & Brevity”

By Glynn Young Leave a Comment

“Bravery & Brevity,” the new poetry collection by Edward Holmes, is written from a place of transformation, moving from pain to hope.

Filed Under: article, Black Poets, book reviews, Books, Poems, poetry, poetry reviews, Poets

Afternoon Tea (and Poetry) with Tracy K. Smith’s podcast “The Slowdown”

By Megan Willome 14 Comments

When author Megan Willome needs an afternoon pick-me-up, she cues up ‘The Slowdown’ with U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith.

Filed Under: Black Poets, Blog, Food Poems, Podcasts, poem a day, Poetic Earth Month, poetry, Poets, Tea

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