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National Poetry Month -- New Mexico Style

by Suzanne Schadl on 2017-04-18T11:01:00-06:00 in American Studies, Information Science, Southwest Studies & New Mexico | 0 Comments

Since 1996, the Academy of American Poets has promoted National Poetry Month each April, encouraging the celebration of poetry through a variety of programs and resources available on their website at https://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/home. Check out the 2017 interactive poster: https://www.poets.org/sites/default/files/npm_poster_with_links.pdf

As schools, libraries, publishers, and poets celebrate this month, it is fitting to spend a little time highlighting Poet Laureates and a handful of local events that foster appreciation for local and contemporary poetry.

According to the Poetry and Literary Center’s (PLC) blog (https://blogs.loc.gov/catbird/), the position of the Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry is selected by the Librarian of Congress to increasing national appreciation of poetry through a variety of service projects. Former Librarian of Congress James H. Billington explained the position as “the nation’s official lightning rod for the poetic impulse of Americans.”

Juan Felipe Herrera, the current Poet Laureate and first Hispanic poet to serve the position, is wrapping up his second term. Herrera has worked with students across the country finding new ways to teach poetry. The LoC is celebrating his service on Wednesday, April 26th, and the events will be livestreamed at  youtube.com/LibraryOfCongress.

Additionally, the PLC released fifty new recordings to the Archive of Recorded Poetry and Literature, which dates back to 1943 and has been working to include more recordings from women and writers of color.

(https://www.loc.gov/collections/archive-of-recorded-poetry-and-literature/about-this-collection/?loclr=blogpoe)

Here in New Mexico, we have had three Albuquerque Poet Laureates so far. Hakim Bellamy, the first Poet Laureate of Albuquerque, remains active in the community. Check out his blog, Be-Side (http://hakimbe.com/), to see what he’s working on.  

Image credit: Peña, Zeke. “Nepantla.” (http://zpvisual.com/archive/#item=nepantla)

UNM Professor and former Poet Laureate of Albuquerque, Jessica Helen Lopez, is co-hosting UNM Lobo Slam featuring student poets from Chicana and Chicano Cultural Studies - Borderlands Poetics 393 on Wednesday, April 19th from 7:00pm to 10:00pm at Winning Coffee.

Current 2016-2018 Albuquerque Poet Laureate, Manuel Gonzalez, will be hosting a Youth Poetry Slam Fiesta at the National Hispanic Cultural Center on Sunday, April 23 from 11:00am to 4:00pm.

Want to continue celebrating poetry beyond April? Sign up to receive a new poem-a-day in your inbox (https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem-day). Check out these events scheduled for later in the year. Weathergrams, or short poems calligraphed on paper and hung outdoors, submitted by local poets will be featured during the Poets’ Picnic on May 20, 2017 at the Westside Open Space Visitors Center.

Image source: https://flic.kr/p/KbR4Xw

Haiku North America (http://www.haikunorthamerica.com/2017-conference.html) will be hosted in Santa Fe, New Mexico in September 2017. Look out for panels, readings, workshops, and more.

 

 


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