World of the News
Politics & Poems: Café Muse at the Writer's Center
How do poets committed to social justice respond to political events around the world? Last Monday at the Writer’s Center and in Zoom, Café Muse presented three outstanding poets who each touched upon political issues within their own wide-ranging concerns. So this week I’m breaking out three poems from the reading to show how these poets deftly and artfully express their political voices. In case you were unable to attend the reading, here’s a link to the YouTube. Finally, I have a video reading of my just published poem inspired by the tragic events in the Middle East, Chyron, from the anthology, We All Live Under the Same Sky.
Adam Chiles - Ten Days After the Dobbs Decision
In setting up the poem, Adam Chiles said it wrote itself exactly as happened. I’ll keep with that spirit and let you all just listen.
If a room could let out a gasp, that’s what you’d hear as Adam concluded his reading of the poem.
Majda Gama - Why Aren’t You Just American
With an amazing array of images, Majda expresses the bewilderment and alienation that comes with cultural, linguistic and racial hybridity in America.
I’ve worked with Majda for around 15 years now and I’ve been honored to be a witness to how this theme in her work has matured into such a polished diamond. You can get the poem in her new award winning collection of poems, In the House of Modern Upbringing for Girls.
Eileen Sirota - I Can’t Write Poetry Anymore
Here’s a poem of anger and humor that tickled everyone’s irony bone. So she can’t write poetry. So what did she do? She wrote this poem.
“…strongly worded letter to follow!” What a wonderful closer.
Chyron
I mentioned this poem last week. Here is a video visualization of the poem I put together using stock news footage and my Chyron-like text design.
You can purchase the e-book at this link: We All Live Under the Same Sky. You can also get a hold of the poem, Chyron, in my newly released third collection of poems, Screens.
Have a reading or event coming up? Let me know and I’ll pass it along. And as always, feel free to email me with questions or comments at henrycrawfordpoetry@gmail.com. Use the subject “Coming Up” Stay creative!
If you’d like me to list an upcoming poetry event in Everyday Poet, please let me know by emailing me at henrycrawfordpoetry@gmail.com. Use the subject: “Coming Up”.