Poem of the Week: “Late February” by Ted Kooser

Center for Poetry intern, Kaylee McCarthy, choose this week’s poem. “I chose this poem because we’ve had a warm couple of days, and I think Kooser’s description really captures the facade of spring offered by the end of February. He masterfully conveys how the snow fades to reveal everything hidden in winter. He challenges our

Poem of the Week: “We Should Make a Documentary About Spades” by Terrance Hayes

Center for Poetry intern, Jayla Harris-Hardy, chose this week’s poem. “I thought this would be a good poem of the week because it is still Black History Month, and there is so much about this poem in particular that I find somber and uplifting. So much of black media replies to the negatives, which is

Poem of the Week: “Unrequited Love Song for the Panopticon” by Franny Choi

            This week’s poem was chosen by Center for Poetry intern, Lydia Barron. ” I chose Unrequited Love Song for the Panopticon by Franny Choi because I like the way it prompts readers to think about their personal and cultural relationship with technology and Choi’s examination of how our relationships with technology mirror our in-person

Poem of the Week: “Drum Dream Girl” by Margarita Engle

This week’s poem was chosen by Center for Poetry intern, Charlotte Krause. “I chose it because I think we all need a little mid-winter pick-me-up poem and I love this one because of all the beautiful imagery and cultural references!” Drum Dream Girl On an island of music in a city of drumbeats the drum

Poem of the Week: “how to say” by Safia Elhillo

This week’s poem was chosen by Center for Poetry intern, Lydia Barron. “I chose the ghazal how to say by Safia Elhillo because first and foremost it’s a great plug for the ghazal writing workshop being lead by Professor Guillermo Delgado tomorrow, January 28th at 7 p.m. in Snyder C303! Last week we talked about

Review Alert: “Smuggling Elephants through Airport Security”

We haven’t yet seen too many reviews of our Wheelbarrow Books series, but were thrilled that Ray Walsh, owner of Curious Books in East Lansing and long time book reviewer for the Lansing State Journal chose Smuggling Elephants through Airport Security by Brad Johnson for his book column on January 26. “You’re better off not

On Idleness and Enchantment by Jeanine Hathaway

In October of 2019, Professor Emerita at Wichita State University and poet Jeanine Hathaway was a visiting writer at the Ghost Ranch Fall Writing Festival in Abiquiu, New Mexico, and on Thursday, October 10 delivered a talk, “Idleness/Enchantment,” to a full house in Agape Gathering.  Those of us who came early were lucky enough to

Poem of the Week: “Ghazal” by Tracy K. Smith

Acting director Laurie Hollinger chose this poem as a powerful example of how the ghazal form can be used to make a point. Here, previous Center guest and former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith chose “our name” as the radif (repeated phrase at the end of each couplet), ending with a haunting chant for

Book Review: come see about me, marvin by Brian G. Gilmore

We are pleased to have Brian G. Gilmore open our Spring Poetry Festival on Wednesday, April 1. His newest book, come see about me, marvin, was released from Wayne State University Press in 2019. To order the book, click here. Brian G. Gilmore’s come see about me, marvin, is a masterful exploration of being a stranger in a strange land, while attempting to call on

Poem of the Week: “Cold Poem” by Mary Oliver

Assistant to the Director, Estee Schlenner, chose this week’s poem. “In this poem, Mary Oliver recognizes the difficulties of winter, while also helping the reader see how it is a season of reflection, and that can be very special.” Cold Poem Cold now.Close to the edge. Almostunbearable. Cloudsbunch up and boil downfrom the north of