READ THIS POEM OUT LOUD

He Made This Screen   Marianne Moore

not of silver nor of coral, but of weatherbeaten laurel. Here, he introduced a sea uniform like tapestry; here, a fig-tree; there, a face; there, a dragon circling space— designating here, a bower; there, a pointed passion-flower.

A POEM FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

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American Life in Poetry: Column 521

BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE

 

Amanda Strand is a poet living in Maryland. I like this poem for its simplicity, clarity and directness. No frills to decorate it, just the kind of straightforward accounting of an experience that Henry David Thoreau said he looked for in an author. Father and Daughter  The wedding ring I took off myself, his wife wasn’t up to it. I brought the nurse into the room in case he jumped or anything. “Can we turn his head? He looks so uncomfortable.” She looked straight at me, patiently waiting for it to sink in. The snow fell. His truck in the barn, his boots by the door, flagpoles empty. It took a long time for the taxi to come. “Where to?” he said. “My father just died,” I said. As if it were a destination.

POETRY NEWS/EVENTS - CHICAGO

RHINO READS!

Featuring Colleen O'Connor & Kyle Churney

Friday, June 26, 6:45 PM
Brothers K
500 Main Street
Evanston, IL
Free admission

POETRY FOUNDATION

Poetry Foundation Library: Special Saturday Hours

Saturday, June 27, 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Poetry Foundation
61 West Superior Street
Free admission

POETRY FOUNDATION

Saturday Poemtime

Saturday, June 27, 10:30 AM
Poetry Foundation
61 West Superior Street
Free admission

POETRY FOUNDATION

Forms and Features: Diction

Saturday, June 27, 12:00 PM–2:00 PM
Poetry Foundation
61 West Superior Street
Free admission

SPUTNIK PRESS

Printers Ball 2015: Push & Pull

Saturday, June 27, 2:00 PM–10:00 PM
Hubbard Street Lofts
1821 W Hubbard
Free admission, register here

PRINTERS BALL 2015

19 ¼ : A Collaborative Letterpress Poem

Saturday, June 27, 3:00 PM, 4:30 PM, & 6:00 PM
The Spudnik Press Printshop
Hubbard Street Lofts
1821 W Hubbard
Free admission, register here

PRINTERS BALL 2015

Plantlets for Poems

Saturday, June 27, 3:00 PM–7:00 PM
Doug Fogelson Studio
Hubbard Street Lofts
1821 W Hubbard
Free admission, register here

PRINTERS BALL 2015

The Swell: Curation as a tool to Intersect Communities

Saturday, June 27, 4:00 PM
Filter
Hubbard Street Lofts
1821 W Hubbard
Free admission, register here

PRINTERS BALL 2015

Hannah Gamble: Gender, Sex, and Honesty

Saturday, June 27, 6:30 PM
Platform Studios
Hubbard Street Lofts
1821 W Hubbard
Free admission, register here

RHINO POETRY

Poetry Forum Workshop with Anthony Madrid

Sunday, June 28, 1:30 PM–4:30 PM
Evanston Public Library
1703 Orrington Avenue
$5.00 – 10.00 donation appreciated

GREEN MILL

Uptown Poetry Slam

Sunday, June 28, 7:00 PM
Green Mill Jazz Club
4802 North Broadway Avenue
$7.00 admission

POETRY EVENT - CHICAGO

POETRY FOUNDATION  Sarah Ruhl:Melancholy Play, Music, and Poetry Wednesday, June 24, 7:00 PM Poetry Foundation 61 West Superior Street Free admission

POETRY NEWS

June 10, 2015 Juan Felipe Herrera Named U.S. Poet Laureate   We’re thrilled to share today’s news that Academy of American Poets Chancellor Juan Felipe Herrera is the new Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. Herrera is the first Mexican American poet to hold the position. “Juan Felipe is someone who believes that poetry can make a difference in people’s lives and communities,” said Executive Director Jennifer Benka in aWashington Post article announcing the news. “He will bring an enthusiasm and electricity to the role of poet laureate that is sure to spark new and wider interest in the art form among people of all ages.”

Introduce Juan Felipe to Your Students Before School Is Out   Bring the newly appointed U.S. Poet Laureate to your classroom. Show ourexclusive video of Juan Felipe Herrera reading his poem “Jackrabbits, Green Onions & Witches Stew” to your students.  Juan Felipe Herrera Reads a Poem   Watch the newly appointed U.S. Poet Laureate read his poem "Jackrabbits, Green Onions & Witches Stew." Read ten poems by Juan Felipe Herrera. Read letters Juan Felipe Herrera wrote back to students for the Dear Poet project. Take a look at our tribute collection to the new U.S. Poet Laureate.

A POEM FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

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American Life in Poetry: Column 520

BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE

 

With this column American Life in Poetry celebrates its tenth anniversary. Thanks to all of you for supporting us, week in and week out! When I was a boy, I was advised that if a wasp landed on me I wasn’t to move until it flew away. I did as I was told and got stung. Here Karen J. Weyant, who lives in Pennsylvania, takes a similar risk. Yellowjackets  When my father held his Bic lighter to the nests in back of the garage, the gray paper pulp sparked then blackened. Ashes fell, coating crawling ivy and clover. A few yellowjackets fled, one or two swirled, flying into the sweaty face of my father, but most too stunned, their usual side-to-side swag of a dance, flailing in the smoke. When one landed on my arm, I stiffened. His wings settled into a still gauze, body coiled in yellow bands, the same shade as buttercups we held to our skin, cupping sunlight near our chins. Every step, careful, quivering, as if neither of us knew who was supposed to sting.

POETRY EVENT - AMHERST, MASS

Amherst Poetry Festival call for proposals 

The third Amherst Poetry Festival, co-sponsored by the Emily Dickinson Museum and the Amherst Business Improvement District, will run October 1-4 on the Museum grounds and throughout downtown Amherst.

We are now accepting proposals for poetry readings, workshops, discussions, and other offerings  Find out more, and submit your proposals,here.   

The Emily Dickinson Project returns in July  Last year's sold-out staging ofThe Emily Dickinson Projectdrew such an enthusiastic response that it's back for a second year! A co-production of The Emily Dickinson Museum and TheatreTruck,The Emily Dickinson Project takes place in the poet's home, tracing moments of her life through a journey from room to room. In this production, multiple "Variations" of Dickinson are offered, each character highlighting an aspect of the unique voice that makes up the single persona of the poet. Written by Emma Ayres and Brianna Sloane, with design by Elizabeth Pangburn, The Emily Dickinson Project runs July 15 to August 2, Wednesday through Sunday, at 8 pm. Find out more, or reserve your tickets, here.

BIRTH OF A POET

MAXINE KUMIN  was born on June 6, 1925 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In 1973 she won the PULITZER PRIZE FOR POETRY for her collection "UP COUNTRY."

She was appointed the U.S. Poet Laureate from 1981-82.

To read her bio and sample her poetry GOOGLE her name.

POETRY EVENTS - CHICAGO

June 1 – June 15

Featured Event POETRY FOUNDATION  Grief Transformed: Elizabeth Alexander in conversation with Elizabeth Taylor Saturday, June 6, 2:15 PM Grace Place/2nd Floor Printers Row Lit Fest Tickets available here CHICAGO SLAM WORKS The LitMash featuring Elizabeth Tieri, Michael Sanchez, Bryant Cross, Alisa Rosenthal & Lily Be Monday, June 1, 8:00 PM Haymarket Pub & Brewery 728 W. Randolph Tickets $8 TUESDAY FUNK Featuring Emily Nordling, Hannah Gamble, Christa Desir & more! Tuesday, June 2, 7:30 PM Hopleaf 5148 North Clark Street Free admission, 21+ POETRY FOUNDATION Wednesday Poemtime Wednesday, June 3, 10:00 AM Poetry Foundation 61 West Superior Street Free admission PIVOT ARTS The Best of Chicago Spoken Word Wednesday, June 3, 7:30 PM Uptown Underground 4707 N. Broadway Avenue Tickets $10 - $15 MAKE: A CHICAGO LITERARY MAGAZINE MAKE #15 "Reverse Release" party featuring Deb R Lewis, Suzanne Scanlon, Chamandeep Bains & Matthew Corey with host Seth Vanek. Thursday, June 4, 7:00 PM Puebla Restaurant 2658 N. Milwaukee Avenue RSVP Tickets $10 ($12 at the door) POETRY FOUNDATION Chicagoland Poetry Out Loud Champions Saturday, Jun 6, 12:40 PM Arts and Poetry Stage presented by Columbia College Chicago Printers Row Lit Festival Free admission POETRY FOUNDATION Grief Transformed: Elizabeth Alexander in conversation with Elizabeth Taylor Saturday, June 6, 2:15 PM Grace Place/2nd Floor Printers Row Lit Fest Tickets available here SEMINARY CO-OP BOOKSTORES Healing Through Poetry featuring Joanna Kurowska, Katia Mitova & Stella Vinitchi Radulescu Saturday, June 6, 1:30 PM Seminary Co-op bookstore 5751 S Woodlawn Avenue Free admission CHICAGO SLAM WORKS The LitMash at Haymarket Pub & Brewery Monday, June 6, 8:00 PM Haymarket Pub & Brewery 728 W. Randolph Tickets $8 ILLINOIS STATE POETRY SOCIETY Southwest Suburban Chapter (Lisle) Sunday, June 7, 1:00 PM Lisle Public Library 777 Front Street Free admission GUILD LITERARY COMPLEX Third Annual Brooks Day -- By Any Art Necessary Sunday, June 7, 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Reva and David Logan Arts Center 915 East 60th Street Free Admission POETRY FOUNDATION Wednesday Poemtime Wednesday, June 10, 10:00 AM Poetry Foundation 61 West Superior Street Free admission ELIZABETH'S CRAZY LITTLE THING Open Mic featuring Andy Karel Wednesday, June 10, 9:00 PM Phyllis'  Musical Inn 1800 West Division Street Free admission POETRY FOUNDATION Cheryl Pope: Walk With Me #3 Thursday, Jun 11, 5:30 PM–7:30 PM Poetry Foundation 61 West Superior Street Free admission ILLINOIS STATE POETRY SOCIETY West Suburban Chapter (Darien) Saturday, July 11, 1:00 PM Indian Prairie Public Library 401 Plainfield Rd Darien Free admission DOLLHOUSE READING SERIES Featuring Lauren Haldeman, Daniel Khalastchi, Amy Lipman, Marc Rahe & Justin Grogan Friday, June 12, 7:30 PM 2274 W. Leland Avenue #1W Free admission HIGHLAND PARK POETRY 2nd Annual North Shore Poetry Pentathlon Friday, June 12, 8:00 PM Art Center of Highland Park ​1957 Sheridan Road Highland Park Free admission ILLINOIS STATE POETRY SOCIETY Central Chapter (Pontiac) Saturday, June 13, 1:00 PM Pontiac Public Library 211 East Madison Street Pontiac, IL Free Admission SECOND SATURDAY POETRY WORKSHOP Magical Realism in Poetry Saturday, June 13, 9:00 AM Palatine Public Library 700 N. North Court Tickets $15 RSVP (847) 382-6922 or email at nwcc@att.net. WAITING4THEBUS Poetry Word of Mouth Tuesday, June 16, 12:00 AM – 2:00 AM Powell's Bookstores University Village 1218 S Halsted St Free admission

BIRTH OF A POET

END OF MAY BIRTHDAY




WALT WHITMAN was born in HUNTINGTON, LONG ISLAND, NY on May 31, 1819 

WHITMAN is clearly among the most influential poets in American History. He is often referred to as the father of FREE VERSE.

To read his bio, his poetry, and to learn of his poetic influence on America, GOOGLE his name