Cirque read with friends this evening!

Join Cirque and friends this evening, Friday, April 30, 2021, at 7:00pm Pacific (6:00pm Alaska), as poets, writers, and artists celebrate the publication of The Fox Boy by Gretchen Brinck, followed by an open read. It’s free on Zoom.

more poetry books

It’s still National Poetry Month and that means more book recommendations.

• Chicago Review of Books – Twelve Poetry Collections to Read in 2021
• Dandelion Chandelier – 13 New Books Perfect to Read During National Poetry Month 2021
• MS. Magazine – 2021 Poetry for the Rest of Us
• New York Public Library – It’s Poetry Month: Here Are NYPL’s Best Poetry Books of 2020
• The New York Times – 5 Poets to Help You Love Poetry
• Oprah Daily – 29 of the Best Poetry Books, As Recommended by Acclaimed Writers
• Pan Macmillan – The best poetry books of all time
• Paperback Paris – 15 New Poetry Collections To Pick Up During National Poetry Month

Maybe you’ll find some inspiration here as you’re finishing up your NaPoWriMo poems.

Dear Vaccine

Have something to say to the vaccine? A wish, a concern, a complaint? Write the vaccine a poem and share it as part of Dear Vaccine, a global community poem created by the Wick Poetry Center at Kent State University and The University of Arizona Poetry Center. Learn more a globalvaccinepoem, where you can read the words of others in Responses or read “Dear Vaccine” by Naomi Shihab Nye and use one of the prompts provided to add your own.

more from Spokane

Back in January, we mentioned Browne’s Addition, a Spokane neighborhood, and how it figured into a city-centric project of Spokane Poet Laureate Chris Cook. Since that time, Cook’s project, In the Neighborhood, has taken on a life of its own, inspiring poetry from neighborhoods throughout the city and yielding a video as well.

Good work, Chris Cook and Spokane poets!

LiTFUSE

The LiTFUSE folks have just announced the full faculty lineup for this year’s LiTFUSE gathering. Though they are not yet certain whether the September 24-26, 2021, events will be virtual, face-to-face in Tieton, Washington, or somewhere in between, pre-registration is now open, as are signups for the two master classes, which typically fill up very quickly. You can also view video highlights from last year’s virtual LiTFUSE.

Merits*

2020 Merit Award
By J. L. Wright

Each day as a teacher, I touch a life.
I hope that it may be softly,
carefully, compassionately;
so, the fruit is not bruised.

The pear in my lunch box has brown spots
but it is still worth eating.

Filled with the warm stink of seventh grade boys,
the classroom emits possibility.

Behind clumsy arms and gangly legs,
each plot how he will
take over the world.

*Copyright 2020 by J. L. Wright. Broadside illustrated by Christian Smith.

– – – – –
NOTE: This is the last Sunday posting of 2020 contest winners. Find links to winning poems from all contest years on the Winners page, and stay tuned to hear about 2021 winners.

last chance

Sorry for the late notice, but we’ve just learned about the annual Cadence: Video Poetry Festival 2021, which will end tomorrow, Sunday, April 25, 2021. The Pacific Northwest’s only festival dedicated to video poetry, this year’s collection includes a feature film and five programs of a dozen or more short films each. Admission is by festival pass.

on poetry

“It’s a useful habit never to believe more than half of what people tell you, and not to concern yourself with the rest. Rather keep your mind free and your path your own.”
Halldór Laxness
(April 23, 1902 –February 8, 1998)

. . . . .
quote from Independent People

poetry on earth

Happy Earth Day! If you’re not sure how to celebrate, here are a few options, all online, all times Pacific (some may require advance signup):

James Crews & Ross Gay – How To Love The World – 5:00pm

Edmonds Bookshop Annual Poetry Reading, live on Facebook – 6:00pm

Pass the Torch: Tacoma Poet Laureate Celebration – 6:00pm

Salem Poetry Project featured readers Pattie Palmer-Baker & Tricia Knoll – 7:00pm

Special Northwind Reading Series reading and discussion with Rob Lewis, Ann Spiers, and Cedar Sigo – 7:00pm

Oregon Poetry Association /pãn| dé| mïk/ 2020 Reading, Oregon poets – 7:00pm

Bill Yake, Waymaking by Moonlight: New & Selected Poems – 7:00pm

Or simply head over to Orion and treat your ears to five minutes of rainforest.

now on

The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, now in its 25th year, is the largest event of its kind in the United States and a dazzling attraction for book lovers of every stripe.

The all-online 2021 Festival opened on Saturday, April 17, and will continue through Friday, April 23. Events are ticketed, some free and some not. But in addition to a robust calendar of talks, readings, and conversations, the Festival is offering free videos from the first-ever virtual poetry “stage” produced in partnership with Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center. The readings are short and additional poets are being added, so have a watch/listen.