Jump to navigation Skip to content
“I’m no moaning bluet, mountable / linnet, mumbling nun. I’m / tangible, I’m gin. Able to molt / in toto, to limn.” In this short film, Paisley Rekdal, who served as the Utah state poet laureate from 2017 to 2022, recites her poem “Self-Portrait as Mae West Anagram” for the Utah Division of Arts and Museums.
“Fish / fowl / flood / Water lily mud / My life // in the leaves and on water,” writes Lorine Niedecker in “Paean to Place,” a long lyric poem that meditates on the region of southern Wisconsin where she was born and lived most of her life. Written in short sections, the poem goes in and out of memories and pastoral descriptions of marshlike landscapes, altogether serving as a testament to the impact a place can have on one’s poetic sensibilities. This week write a pastoral ode to the landscape you grew up in. Whether an urban sprawl or a rural town, try to use the poem’s form and idiosyncratic language to paint a portrait of your experience in this formative place.
With only a few more days left before the deadline, don’t miss the opportunity to submit to the annual National Poetry Series Open Competition. Five U.S. poets will receive $10,000 each and publication of their collections by participating trade, university, or small press publishers. The 2023 publishers are Beacon Press, Ecco, Milkweed Editions, Penguin Books, and University of Georgia Press. Residents of the United States and American citizens living abroad are eligible to apply.
Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of a suggested length of 48 to 64 pages with a $35 entry fee by March 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines. Finalists will be notified around May 31, around which time their manuscripts will be shared with five judges for further consideration. The competition winners will be notified around August 31, and all finalists will be informed of their status at that time.
The National Poetry Series literary awards program seeks to “support poetry and increase the audience for poetry by heightening its visibility among readers,” as well as “give American poets, of all ethnic and racial groups, gender, religion, and poetic style, access to publishing outlets not ordinarily available to them.” Members of the Board of Directors include Natalie Diaz, Daniel Halpern, Cathy Park Hong, Imani Perry, Tracy K. Smith, and Natasha Trethewey. Recent winners include Adrienne Chung (Organs of Little Importance, Penguin Books), Olatunde Osinaike (Tender Headed, Akashic Books), Tennison S. Black (Survival Strategies, University of Georgia Press), Courtney Bush (I Love Information, Milkweed Editions), and Alisha Dietzman (Sweet Movie, Beacon Press).
An independent not-for-profit arts organization founded in 1974, the Chicago Poetry Center’s mission is to promote poetry through readings, workshops, and arts education, to make poetry accessible to the general public, to stimulate and encourage young poets, and to advance the careers of poets by offering them professional opportunities.
The Benbrook Public Library provides a safe and comfortable facility and resources that meet informational needs, encourage lifelong learning, provide cultural enrichment, and support responsible citizenship. The library provides free services to all residents living within the Benbrook city boundaries, as well as non-residents.
The library also hosts various literary events, such as storytime, poetry readings, workshops, and more.
Harvard Book Store is a unique and special place to shop—a locally owned, independently run Cambridge landmark since 1932. It is known for its extraordinary selection of new, used, and remainders, a popular author event series, and a history of innovation—including local bike delivery and a book-making robot (capable of printing and binding any of millions of titles in minutes). On their website, customers can browse the shelves, staff recommendations, and the author events calendar.
Founded in 2004, Porter Square Books is a general new bookstore featuring contemporary and classic literature for both kids and adults, as well as greeting cards, magazines, and unique gifts. The store hosts many events by national and local authors, sells books for other organizations in the community, and organizes book fairs and author appearances in local schools.
The Parma Chai Out of the Blue Community Arts Gallery is a beloved art gallery, music venue, and literary salon known for its lively local art exhibits and music shows. With thirty years of experience in the arts and hosting events both public and private, formal and casual, the team behind the gallery has always worked to ensure art flourishes in the Cambridge neighborhood. At the gallery, there is space available for artists and makers to work in, as well as room for art shows, music, rehearsals, and other creative activities such as classes, dance, and yoga.
University of Massachusetts Amherst hosts the Visiting Writers Series among other literary events including lectures, talks, and panel discussions with faculty, students, and visiting writers.
Beginning in spring 2007, the New York University Creative Writing Program launched a series of intimate salons at the newly dedicated Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House. Students responded with enthusiasm to the events, especially to the informal atmosphere that encouraged conversations with writers whose work they admired. In a typical week, graduate courses are offered Monday through Wednesday, and readings are held Thursday and Friday evenings.
