News Archive

Now here is a peachy romantic line: "love deep as this sees the beloved /wherever it looks."—Jessica Fisher

This reviewer has decided: John Ashbery is a peach.

"Her poems examine and enact the phenomenon of attentiveness."—Floyd Skloot on Elaine Equi.

Controversy over Dorothy Parker's uncollected verse, originally assembled under the enticing title Not Much Fun.

Are too many normal mothers writing poetry about motherhood? Could we get a bipolar witch to pen a few verses?

The cult of Rumi proliferates. Nevertheless, world still seems to be going to hell in a handbasket.

In Boston, where they can't build a tunnel to save their lives, debate over the need for a public poet.

Galway Kinnell is 80, but still looks like he could win a brawl. Perhaps this is why reviewers tend to call his language "vigorous."

In Britain: Attempt to find author of poem naming murder suspect continues.

Free Klonopin for all new readers? Publisher of Louisville's Sarabande Books says people have anxiety around poetry.

Poetry about the ancient art of buying and selling women's bodies.

Some poetry from Rosie O'Donnell about Bill O'Reilly. Ah Rosie, the world is more exciting with you in it.

From Japan: baseball haiku. So compact, you can recite it while stuffing a hot dog in your mouth.

Via Bloomberg news: fun facts about John Ashbery you might not know.

British columnist decides to read poetry on the train instead of newspapers. Well knock me over with a feather.

The Oberiuts: An historic Russian poetry movement populated by writers who believed in miracles.

Guy claims his poem was written by God, and should be part of a monument. Others disagree.

Finalists for Griffin Poetry Prize announced. Don McKay is among them, and his author photo depicts a man who needs to see a Will Ferrell movie.

Spanish poets to be featured on D.C. subway placards.

Cillian Murphy will play Dylan Thomas in upcoming film. He's the guy who played the violent psycho in Wes Craven's Red Eye.

In New Zealand: thieves steal laminated poem off an old woman's garden bench. Newspaper implicates they are wankers for doing so.

Was this guy the worst poet in history?

Jane Campion, who actually makes good movies about writers, (see An Angel at My Table) is going to make a John Keats biopic.

White Horse Inn, Dylan Thomas drinking self to death, yadda yadda yadda.

Homeless man becomes "bird of beautiful want" in Di Piero's latest.

Being Charles Olson: Malkovich narrates new doc.

Fred Seidel digs Fred Astaire.

Overpowered by Funkhouser: Massachusetts poet gets a Guggenheim.

"To be by force of arms renewed"—er, make that "triumphantly restored"!: Wordsworth MS bears wife Mary's handwriting.

In the Times, William Logan discusses Derek Walcott: "For the exile, language is a daily form of betrayal." And he also discusses . . . William Logan.

Jack Prelutsky, children's poet laureate, to read in Chicago.

Czech poet Egon Bondy dies; wrote lyrics on that Plastic People of the Universe album you still haven't listened to.

More grave-spinning: Wordsworth's "Daffodils" set to rap.

Poetry trivia: Which drowned poet's father invented Life Savers?

The Poetry Foundation site—the one you're reading right now—has been nominated for a Webby.

"It surprises me that the human heart is capable of such misery": Casting for Keats-in-love movie announced.

Banning of poems mars centennial celebration of late great Burmese bard.

Egyptian cream: Someone translate Naguib Surur, please.

Christopher Buckley—not the Thank You for Smoking author—grabs a Gugg.

Today's time-waster: Watch North Carolina students recite Dylan Thomas.

Student arrested; then poet arrested when inquiring about it.

A radio program asks: Can poetry heal? We're murmuring Donne to our bum knee.

Among this month's noteworthy titles: books by Elaine Equi, Franz Wright—and one introduced by Bono.

Eliot biographer Craig Raine digs up the buried life.

Northern exposure: Canadian poets pick their favorites.

Remembering Artie Gold, poet and "dissociate editor."

Polis Is This: Important Charles Olson documentary screens in Buffalo.

It's that time of the year—flowers blossom, love is in the air, and Ecco gets all Tupac and unleashes another posthumous Bukowski collection. Read all about the hot action in our Best Sellers column.

Dolly Parton–centric MS endures 44 rejections before acceptance.

How's this for multimedia? Watch online films of former Glasgow poet laureate reciting work inspired by paintings!

So it goes: The late Kurt Vonnegut peppered his novels with light verse.

Tony Hoagland wears glasses, but otherwise isn't your typical professor.

Can we get a price check on this sonnet? Zach Houston writes you a poem while you go grocery shopping.

Georgia not on their mind: Russian Foreign Ministry sez Griboedov's grave should be moved.

Heard melodies are sweet—but do you know if you're hitting your sweet spot: Brooklynite pens verse, designs hole-y practice baseball bat.

Poems from teenagers incarcerated in Kansas.

A profile of Brian Turner, Iraq vet and author of Here, Bullet.

In Egypt: cleric sues poet for comparing God to cop.

In Russia: debate over poet Alexander Griboyedov's final resting place. Should the old guy be dug up? Should anyone?

This New York poetry blog is taking off. They are even throwing parties.

So why was Paul Revere the only messenger who had a poem written in his honor? Lots of guys were riding around yelling about the British coming.

The Christian Science Monitor goes ape for poetry reviews. Oh yeah, it's April.

Listen to Gwendolyn Brooks, she could teach you to be cool.

Remains of Spanish poet identified. They figured it out by looking at his thigh bone.

Natasha Trethewey's Native Guard wins poetry Pulitzer.

Phebus Etienne, poet and Cave Canem fellow, dies.

Buffalo needed Charles Olson as much as Charles Olson needed Buffalo.

Nikki Giovanni taught Virginia Tech shooter in her poetry workshop. He was so troubling, she threatened to quit if he wasn't removed.

Neighbors report Philip Larkin's garden is currently being used as a "toilet by louts."

UNC prof prepares Anne Finch (1661–1720) for rediscovery.

"Play your guitar while Derry burns": another great Irish poet.

Stage vs. page at Seattle Poetry Festival.

Rachel Zolf becomes a writing machine in new collection.

From Hokies to Okies: the late Wilma McDaniel wrote, "You can put your trust in gravy."

Nikki Giovanni: "We are Virginia Tech."

First Brooklyn anthology has Whitman, Bishop, Walcott, and that dude who had the party in Williamsburg.

Do not back out gently: Lindsay Lohan won't be playing Caitlin Thomas.

The Plath of least resistance: playing up Sylvia's lighter side.

"There is no true hatred of women in Hip Hop": A poet's open letter to Oprah.

In the wake of the VT massacre, what lessons should writing teachers learn?

Snap Pushcart collection judgments: Adrienne Rich is interested in power, Seamus Heaney in...otters.

In wake of VT massacre, Maya Angelou emphasizes courage.

New poem from the Bard, someone given to "dashing some lines down on the back of an envelope and then chucking them away."

Shakespeare solution unconvincing, says TLS.

"A mix of spaghetti western, psychedelic cartoon, allegory and quest saga": August Kleinzahler on Edward Dorn.

Imagine that these poets are working at an independent bookstore and plugging their latest.

Of mice and petals: Mekeel McBride's latest collection.

Publisher's crunch: What will be the fate of 10,000 letters relating to Byron?

Canadian roundup: Patrick Friesen's new confessions; just say yes to Dennis Lee's yesno.

More poet suicide: new doc looks at life of South African bard Ingrid Jonker.

Australian double suicide takes strange twist: One girl had posted poem online.

As orphan, Cervantes prizewinner Antonio Gamoneda learned to read with his late father's book.

James Fenton wins Queens Gold Medal for poetry.

Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai on NPR audio archives. The show was called Poems to a Listener, and it wasn't just for National Poetry Month.

"In my age poetry was . . . not something you did gladly."—David Halberstam, who died in a car wreck earlier this week.

Nikki Giovanni preaches poetry in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech massacre.

Gee, we thought you liked us: Teacher in trouble for passing out poem in which teacher "cuts, hacks, and shoots students."

Starlet update: Lindsey Lohan is out as Dylan Thomas's wife, Sienna Miller is in.

Some dingaling claims 50 cent is on a par with Keats. Ghostface, maybe.

In Edinburgh, effort to erect statue of poet in posh hotel. The glitch: hotel is built on site of former insane asylum where poet died. Sounds like a horror movie in the making (i.e. statue comes alive, kills guests).

"You're a poet. Welcome to hell."—James Wright to his son, Franz.

A rant about Nikki Giovanni's violent poems. Well, what do you expect from a self-professed black radical, pretty flowers?

"I cannot think of a contemporary poet who amazes me."—Robert Sibley, Vancouver Sun

Isabella Whitney: The first woman in England to publish a volume of poetry.

What's the big deal about the word "ho?" Santa Claus uses it constantly.

Box of poems creates a terrorism scare.

Ah, remember the VLS? seems like ancient history. National Book Critics Circle petitions newspapers to save the book review.

Mississippi: the state where everyone is searching for a love poem.

Harriet's own Kwame Dawes shape-shifts from poet to novelist.

Patti Smith on William Blake and Myspace.

One Million Poet medal doesn't go to Jordan Davis . . . but to Abdulrahman Al-Ahdal.

On beauty: David Swanger writes about "the edge of the world."

"My poor eye": Playing the first book, first poem, first line game with Meghan O'Rourke.

Walking around with Wordsworth and Coleridge . . . and Dorothy.

Simon and Garfunkel fans: Here's the skinny on "Richard Cory."

Don't like poetry? Have we got a poet for you!

National Poetry Month ends, and NPR doesn't keep quiet about William Stafford.

"The wreck of a noble woman": Nancy Cunard was the publisher of Pound, muse for many, lover of Eliot and Neruda.

Has it come to this? A celebration of Emily Dickinson's dog.