In “Hagar Poems, ” poet Mohja Kahf tells and retells the biblical story of Hagar, Abraham, and Sarah, weaving threads between ancient and contemporary times.
Poets and Poems: Leon Stokesbury and “You Are Here”
“You Are Here” by Leon Stokesbury combines new poems and previously published poems to provide insight, emotion, and even humor.
Poetic Voices: Stephanie Rogers and Katie Manning
New collections by poets Stephanie Rogers and Katie Manning are infused with a sense of loss, displacement, and a grittiness that fits their subjects.
Jen Karetnick: Pondering the Often Invisible
In two new poetry collections, poet Jen Karetnick asks us to consider the reality behind what is often invisible, be it illness or climate change.
More than a Broken Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen
Songwriter Leonard Cohen is also a poet, and in “Songs and Poems, ” he mixes song lyrics with poetry, suggesting there’s little difference.
A Mistake Becomes a Discovery: John Holmes
A wrong shipment by Amazon turned into a discovery of poet John Holmes (1904-1962), who wrote his own poetry and encouraged other poets.
Reading ‘Spoon River Anthology’ for the Third Time
“Spoon River Anthology” is one of the great works of American literature, and reading it a third time yields new insights.
Poets and Poems: Tina Barry and “Mall Flower”
In “Mall Flower, ” poet and writer Tina Barry combines poetry and short fiction to tell the story of a life – childhood, youth, and adulthood.
Canada’s 2016 Griffin Prize: Norman Dubie and Liz Howard
Canada’s 2016 Griffin Prize was awarded to Norman Dubie for “The Quotations of Bone” and Liz Howard for “Infinite Citizen of the Shaking Tent.”
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?
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.
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.
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.