Spring Poetry Festival Lineup Announced

The Center for Poetry has confirmed the spectacular lineup of poets for the 2017 Spring Poetry Festival. Funded in part by the MSU Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives, three poets known world wide will be visiting campus for afternoon conversations and evening performances during the month of April. Tina Chang, born in New York

Making up for lost time: Postcards from the Voyage of Robin Coste Lewis

By Laurie Hollinger Robin Coste Lewis closing out the Spring Poetry Festival, on April 27, 2016. Click the image to view more photos from her visit.       On April 27, the Center for Poetry hosted a visit by Robin Coste Lewis, author of the 2015 National Book Award for Poetry winning Voyage of

Renowned Translator and nye musician bring new perspectives to annual Translation Conversation

By Kelsey Block On Monday, February 22, Director of Arabic studies at DePaul University Nesreen Akhtarkhavari visited the RCAH Center for Poetry to join in the Translation Conversation. The Translation Conversation focused on the work Akhtarkhavari translated, titled Desert Sorrows: Poems on Love and Politics by Tayseer Al-Sboul. Akhtarkhavari’s reading and talk was accompanied by

Father and son duo Marvin and Nathan Bell visit Center for Poetry

By Kelsey Block Poet Marvin Bell and songwriter Nathan Bell joined the RCAH Center for Poetry on November 11 as guests in our annual Fall Writing Series. Marvin Bell served two terms as the state of Iowa’s first poet laureate. His son, Nathan Bell is a singer and songwriter. Click here to listen to the

Poem of the Week: from “Ampersand Revisited,” by Simeon Berry

II. I’d like to walk again in her weather, in the dark through the fog, its gray damage laid down all over town. When she couldn’t bring herself to get up from the bed, Belinda would say it was like being the most stylish drowned person in the whole universe. It was the only likeness

Folklorists visit Center for Poetry as part of Fall Writing Festival

My heart, my soul, my spirit flies, As I walk with granny one more time… Folklorists Michael and Carrie Nobel Kline joined the RCAH Center for Poetry as part of the annual Fall Writing Series. Throughout the week of October 27, the musicians visited classes, facilitated conversations and gave a performance in the RCAH Theater.

Center for Poetry Fall 2015 Events – Save the Date!

Welcome back, poetry people! The RCAH Center for Poetry is excited to be up and running again, led by our new assistant director, Laurie Hollinger. Laurie graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Arts and Humanities and Creative Writing. Also new to our team are interns Frances Master and Grace Carras. Frances is a

Renowned poet, activist, and MSU alumna Carolyn Forché returns to campus

By Kelsey Block The Residential College in the Arts and Humanities Center for Poetry was proud to welcome Michigan State University alumna and poet Carolyn Forché to campus on April 22 and 23. Forché joined the Center as a part of its annual Spring Poetry Festival, which is held in conjunction with National Poetry Month

2014 Fall Writing Series wraps up with nonfiction writer

By Kelsey Block On Wednesday, Nov. 19, the Center for Poetry welcomed nonfiction writer Jim Minick as the last guest in the Fall Writing Series. Throughout the week, Minick visited two RCAH classes in addition to reading from his memoir, The Blueberry Years: A Memoir a Farm and Family and an essay in which he explores the

Writing pair visits Center for Poetry

By Kelsey Block The Center for Poetry welcomed writers and teachers Rick Mulkey and Susan Tekulve for round two of the Fall Writing Series. Mulkey is the author of five collections of poetry and Tekulve is a short story writer and the author of the novel, In the Garden of Stone. Currently, Mulkey and Tekulve