Dear Poets,
For some of us, I should write, ‘it continues….’ ‘It’ being our love of poetry, writing, and aspirations to dig more deeply into the creative life. Last year my subtitle to April’s post was ‘yadda yadda’ since for those immersed in these worlds the sudden national declaration of a month dedicated to poetry can seem so arbitrary (despite the T.S. Eliot touchstone) and it is. But I’m still glad to see poetry receive more attention. Just like last year, you can have The Academy of American Poets send you their free National Poetry Month poster (or download immediately). This year it includes a line from National Poet Laureate Ada Limon’s poem “The Carrying.”
I’m heartened to see so many random acts of poetry infiltrate in unexpected ways. A coffee shop in Philadelphia is offering up poems on coffee sleeves though this was part of a public art project “Heart on Your Sleeve” that started this fall.
And I’ve been amazed to see all the site-specific events the O Miami festival is holding in my hometown. There are ice cream flavors inspired by poems and this one makes me laugh — poetry parking tickets meant to surprise (and relieve) recipients.
Locally, I just learned about a downtown financial district Poet’s Walk featuring poems by Charles Simic (and others?). Why have I not known about this before?Apparently this statue (below) is called “Corporate Head” and features a poem by Phillip Levine. Seems fitting.
Getting in the spirit myself, I’ve decided to revive my class Poetry Generator. Please join me! This workshop will consist of introduction to new poems/poets, in-class writing time, and the chance to read aloud. This workshop is meant to reveal the possibilities of poetry, build community, and keep your practice lively. Ideal for both those starting out and those already working on a poetry project. Fridays, 1:00-2:30 p.m. (PST). April 21, 28, May 4, 12, 19, 26. Meeting on Zoom. $210.00. Payment through Venmo (Elline-Lipkin-1) or Paypal. Email me at Elline.Lipkin@gmail.com to reserve a spot.
Sharing with you:
I’m always delighted when I learn about a new writers’ retreat. Here’s one I’ve never heard of — St. Nell’s which offers (free) two-week residencies for humor writers. Their website says applications open again in June. They host ‘family residencies’ in August and Zoom classes throughout the year.
I just learned about this fall 2023 writers’ residency in Kyoto! Paid plane fare, accommodations, and a per diem. The deadline is coming up on April 15th.
Here is a fellowship exclusively for women/nonbinary bookseller-writers. It looks like booksellers in CA aren’t eligible, but maybe you know someone who is? I worked in a bookstore throughout high school and many a writer has gotten a start in one.
The venerable publisher Farrar, Straus & Giroux (FSG) is offering a (paid) year-long fellowship “designed to give an emerging writer from an underrepresented community additional resources to build a life around writing: funding, editorial guidance, and advice on how to forge a writing career.” The fellow “agrees to offer to FSG the Fellow’s first book-length work before submitting to, or soliciting offers from, any other publisher.” Sounds like a good deal to me! The deadline was just extended to April 10th — that means they want more applicants.
Two for teachers: “The National Book Foundation Teacher Fellowship supports and celebrates 6th-12th grade teachers using innovative methods to make reading for pleasure a part of their students’ school day experience…” Deadline is April 13th.
And I noticed this on the O Miami website: “Miami Teachers Institute: Along with the Poetry Foundation … will once again host the Miami Summer Poetry Teachers Institute on July 10-14th, 2023 at the University of Miami. The Institute offers participants a fresh, energizing approach to reading poems, invaluable materials for teaching, and new ways to invigorate their instructional habits and practices.” Not sure the link is working, but there is an email address.
I try to be timely, but alas, some deadlines get by me. Here are two fabulous sounding opportunities to note for next year.
The American Library in Paris offers a one-month Visiting Fellowship for a writer. Bookmark your calendar.
The Library of America is offering its first Latino Poetry Fellowship. Hopefully this will be a yearly opportunity.
Alas, by the time I hit ‘publish’ it might be too late to go in person, but I will be watching the livestream of this reading by Vicky Vértiz and Angela Peñaradondo at the Altadena Library. There will also be a replay on the library’s YouTube channel.
Skylight Books in Los Feliz has been on a roll with great Tuesday night poetry events. On April 4th, Matthew Zapruder will be speaking with Victoria Chang about his recent memoir, Story of A Poem.
I was touched to read this recent article in the New York Times by my former professor and mentor Ed Hirsch: “I Am Going Blind, and I Now Find It Strangely Exhilarating.” It is poignant but I was struck by Ed’s characteristic enthusiasm for learning anything new.
Another entry in the category of poets writing about medical challenges in the NYT: “When I Got Cancer, My Dreams Told Me What My Doctors Could Not.”
And this piece by Maggie Smith is making the rounds: “My Marriage Was Never the Same After That: In 2016, I wrote a poem that went viral. My home life got complicated.” Mentions of AWP, the difficulty of understanding poetry as ‘real work’ and, dare I write it, a woman who sounds better off without her unsupportive (now ex) husband. The two books that have spun off since her poem “Good Bones” went viral seem like the best revenge.
I loved this profile of Judy Blume, which called her the “the poet laureate of puberty.” Makes me want to zip down to Key West to visit her bookstore (and maybe chat with her) the next time I’m in Miami.
As ever, I hope to hear from you! Please be in touch. ✍️