Andrew Motion is a celebrated UK Poet Laureate known for his poetry collections and biographies, having received prestigious awards and honors for his contributions to literature. [ more ]
As National Poetry Month comes to a close, 2 new retrospectives to savor
Marie Howe and Jean Valentine are celebrated for their impactful and essential poetry collections, with Howe particularly known for her genuine and thought-provoking work. [ more ]
Taylor Swift and Emily Dickinson aren't just acclaimed writers. They're distant relatives
Taylor Swift and Emily Dickinson are distant relatives, 6th cousins, 3 times removed, descended from a 17th-century English immigrant settled in Windsor, Conn.
Swift's song 'Evermore' coincided with Dickinson's 190th birthday, both being Sagittarius, and their poetic styles have similarities. [ more ]
The poet Erica Funkhouser has a deep love for language and the natural world, but also recognizes the limitations of writing in capturing real brutality.
Despite her disillusionment, the power of art and music to engage with injustice should not be underestimated. [ more ]
Taylor Swift's upcoming album title, The Tortured Poets Department, is a nod to the discourse around her music as poetry and the academic subculture of Taylor Swift studies.
Swift's writing incorporates poetry techniques and aesthetics, and she plays with language, genre, and structure in her songs. [ more ]
Brutality of oppression: Ai Weiwei speaks on Gaza, China and New York City
Power fears art and poetry because they challenge and defy the restrictions and uniformity imposed by those in power.
Ai Weiwei's graphic memoir Zodiac chronicles his lifelong struggle against power and repression, from his childhood in China to his exile and artistic career. [ more ]
A moment after death when the face is beautiful': rare Raymond Chandler poem discovered by US editor
A newly discovered poem by Raymond Chandler sheds light on the only known attempt by the crime novelist to write poetry as an adult.
The poem, titled Requiem, was discovered by the managing editor of the Strand magazine and dates back to 1955, shortly after Chandler's wife's death. [ more ]
Waterman's collection navigates poignant elegies and midlife reflections subtly, offering profound insights on loss, memory, and self-discovery through poetry. [ more ]
Bukowski Reads Bukowski: Watch a 1975 Documentary Featuring Charles Bukowski at the Height of His Powers
Richard Davies directed a documentary about poet Charles Bukowski capturing his life and success, focusing on his blunt language and reflections. [ more ]
Making of a Poem: Maureen N. McLane on "Haptographic Interface" - The Paris Review
Poem "Haptographic Interface" inspired by conference on Writing Practice, Andrew Bennett's talk on Keats, and haptographics technology, exploring poetry's aim and the sensorium. [ more ]
Harrow transport worker's art-inspired poetry at central London tube station
The poem 'Ode to the Mother' by Anthony Okolie displayed at St James's Park station is inspired by a mural at Brixton station.
Art on the Underground's Writer in Residence scheme aims to showcase creative voices within TfL through engaging responses to art across the network. [ more ]
I jumped like a wild kangaroo when I heard my poem would be in print'
Three schoolchildren have their poetry published in a festival anthology in London, showcasing young talent.
The Spine Festival for youngsters involves 16 library authorities across London with creative writing workshops for children aged seven to 11. [ more ]
"It's This Line / Here" : Happy Belated Birthday to James Schuyler - The Paris Review
Schuyler's poem reflects on intentions unfulfilled, the play of assembly and disassembly, and enjambments as sites of hesitation and meaning collection. [ more ]
Whether voice of a generation or queen of cringe, Rupi Kaur was a gateway to the world of poetry
Rupi Kaur gained popularity for her bite-size poems on Instagram, resonating with themes like love, femininity, abuse, and identity.
Her poems attracted a generation of young readers, addressing the uncomfortable experiences of womanhood and fostering a sense of community on social media. [ more ]
Instapoetry is successful and there's nothing wrong with that
Instagram poetry, or Instapoetry, has become a popular subgenre of poetry, with writers like Rupi Kaur rising to stardom and earning money.
Instapoetry combines self-help, reflections on relationships, identity, and plain language to create accessible poems that users can quickly grasp and share on social media. [ more ]
Debut poet Grace Yee wins $125,000 for 'feminist vision' at Victorian premier's literary awards
A first-time poet has won the $100,000 Victorian prize for literature and the $25,000 poetry category at this year's Victorian premier's literary awards, becoming the first poet to win the overall award in a decade.
Grace Yee won the awards for her debut collection Chinese Fish, which tells the story of a Chinese immigrant and her daughter navigating themes of patriarchy, racism, migration, and assimilation. [ more ]
Wanda Coleman's poems embody musical lyricism, especially in her 'American Sonnets' which she described as 'jazz poems.'
Coleman's connection to music and her ability to improvise with her own poems showcased her trust in the form and her profound relationship with language and sound. [ more ]
AUSD Notes: Highlighting the pursuits of Alameda schools' students, staff
1. Hakim Karimzada, an English language learner, showcases calligraphy exhibit at Rhythmix Cultural Works. 2. Roan Byrne Sarno, a 10th-grader, wins second place in Poetry Out Loud contest. 3. Bay Farm and Paden Elementary students run Valentine's Day post offices for hands-on learning. [ more ]
2024 Marks an Important Year in NASA's Search for Extraterrestrial Life
NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft will launch in October 2024 to explore Jupiter's moon Europa, a potential habitat for life.
Poet Ada Limon wrote verse inspired by Europa and the mission, capturing the cosmic lyricism and the longing to find answers about life beyond Earth. [ more ]
Fred Chappell, Admired but Unsung Writer of the South, Dies at 87
Fred Chappell was a poet, novelist, and critic known for his ability to capture universal themes through his evocations of rural North Carolina.
He was considered the South's premier contemporary person of letters and was influenced by writers such as Faulkner, O'Connor, Warren, and Welty. [ more ]
It was a real trauma': the TS Eliot poetry prize winner on his turbulent upbringing
Jason Allen-Paisant wins the TS Eliot prize for poetry with his book Self-Portrait as Othello.
The book explores themes of masculinity, Black masculinity, and vulnerability, addressing questions about the character of Othello that are not addressed in the play. [ more ]
Python Packaging, One Year Later: A Look Back at 2023 in Python Packag
Many of the Python packaging tools mentioned in the previous post are still being maintained, with recent commits, pull requests, and issues.
Popular tools like setuptools, Poetry, and Hathling are still widely used, but there are also new tools like Posy and Rye emerging in the space. [ more ]
Jamaican poet Jason Allen-Paisant's Self-Portrait as Othello wins TS Eliot prize
Jamaican poet Jason Allen-Paisant has won the TS Eliot prize for his collection Self-Portrait As Othello.
The collection explores themes of Black masculinity and immigrant identity, drawing connections between Shakespeare's Othello and the experiences of Black immigrants today. [ more ]
Louise Glück, Nobel Prize-winning poet, visited Claremont McKenna College in Southern California, where she shared stories about her life and love for food.
Glück won the Nobel Prize in Literature and shared the news with her son, friend, and editor before reporters arrived at her home. [ more ]
Benjamin Zephaniah was a widely respected and beloved poet in the UK, known for his rebellious nature and ability to appeal to a broad audience.
He used his poetry to tackle issues such as racism, unemployment, homelessness, and animal rights, and also wrote novels for adults and teenagers. [ more ]