In “The Family Book of Martyrs,” poet Benjamin Myers writes about our hopes, our fears, and the things we love.
Poets and Poems: Laura Mullen and “After I Was Dead”
Finding “After I Was Dead: Poems” by Laura Mullen in a university bookstore reinvents a personal history and stokes memories of 50 years ago.
“Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” – An Old Poem, a New Artwork
A new edition of the cherished poem “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” by Thomas Gray is a work of art in itself.
Poets and Poems: Nancy Murphy and “The Space Carved by the Sharpness of Your Absence”
In “The Space Carved by the Sharpness of Your Absence,” poet Nancy Murphy makes sense of loss, grief, pain, and separation.
Poet Matthew Hollis Writes a Biography of “The Waste Land”
In “The Waste Land: A Biography of a Poem,” poet Matthew Hollis tells the story of how T.S. Eliot’s poem came to be.
Poets and Poems: Tania Pryputniewicz and “The Fool in the Corn”
In “The Fool in the Corn: Poems,” Tania Pryputniewicz comes to terms with her unusual childhood and how it’s shaped her life.
Poetry Prompt: Response Poetry
Instead of arguing on social media, join author Callie Feyen as she explores response poetry. With help from poet Dave Malone.
Poets and Poems: Andrea Potos and “Her Joy Becomes”
In “Her Joy Becomes,” poet Andrea Potos invites the reader into her mind and her heart to experience what her mother meant to her.
J.D. McClatchy Tells the Story of the Civil War — in Poetry
“Poets of the Civil War” by J.D. McClatchy is a small volume that manages to capture the magnitude of the American Civil War.
Writing Prompt: Open Wide Your Wounded, Wonderful Heart
What book helps you write from your wounded and wonderful heart? Author Callie Feyen discusses teaching “Walk Two Moons.”
Poets and Poems: Paul Brookes and “As FolkTaleTeller”
“As FolkTaleTeller,” the new poetry chapbook by Paul Brookes, includes 33 poems that tell the stories of English folk tales.
Poetry Prompt: Almanac of Last Things—Write From Your Now
Write from your now, using all five senses and the present moment. Callie Feyen follows poetry advice she learned in Washington, D.C.
Poets and Poems: Jack Bedell and “Against the Woods’ Dark Trunks”
In “Against the Woods’ Dark Trunks,” poet Jack Bedell writes about the land and legends of south Louisiana.
“Elizabeth Bishop: A Very Short Introduction” by Jonathan Post
In “A Very Short Introduction,” Jonathan Post has written a concise and insightful summary of the life and poetry of Elizabeth Bishop.
It’s Been a Good Year for Poetic Biographies and Anthologies
The year 2022 is shaping up as one of the best in recent memory for the publication of poetic biographies and anthologies.
Poets and Poems: David Russell and “Quadrilateral: Utterances”
“Quadrilateral: Utterances” by David Russell is a feast of language that leaves you both sated and hungry for more.
Poetry Prompt: When I Am Old
What kind of person will I be “When I am old”? Callie Feyen writes a poem in which she relishes, for a moment, being exactly who she is.
“The Illustrated Emily Dickinson” for Children – and Adults
“The Illustrated Emily Dickinson” by Ryan Van Cleave introduces the poet and 25 of her best-known poems to younger audiences.
By Heart: ‘The Secret’ by Denise Levertov
The secret of life is found in a sudden line of poetry. Join us as we learn Denise Levertov’s “The Secret” By Heart.
Classic Biography: “Edgar Lee Masters” by Herbert Russell
In his classic biography of Edgar Lee Masters, Herbert Russell tells the story of a writer defined by one single, enormously successful work.