“Remembering Anna” by Marianne Forman (from the Read a Poet, Write a Poem workshop)

Her fingers always smelled of cabbage, Not like my mother’s hands From the raw bacon she’d wrap Around the Halupkis, But like the boiling water she’d plunge Her hands into after slivering out The core of the cabbage, Unafraid of the blade. I used to think her fingertips Must be callused hard scalded beyond All

“Bisti Badlands, Northwestern New Mexico” by Dorothy Brooks (from the Read a Poet, Write a Poem workshop)

I told no one I was going, I remembered too late as sunset cast brooding shadows on the ancient sea of rock with hoodoos rising like carved cobras in the advancing shadows. Impossible to find, remote— spinner of mysteries, keeper of quiet, the vast expanse spoke its own tongue. No landmarks, I noted, easy to

William Stafford on “Traveling Through the Dark”

Read a Poet, Write a Poem: William Stafford

In honor of next Monday’s Read a Poet, Write a Poem workshop featuring the work of poet William Stafford, here’s a link to some video and audio clips of Stafford reading his own work, including “Traveling Through the Dark”: http://www.williamstaffordarchives.org/browse/video/

In Person with: Ann Pancake

By Kelsey Block “When I first start a piece, as a first draft, I usually start it because I have a voice in my head,” Ann Pancake, 50 said. “It’s like a rhythm; it’s so transcendent.” The Romney, West Virginia native said she started writing as a child. “My mom enforced naps I didn’t need,

Looking Foward: Poets Laureate and The Spring Poetry Series

by Laurie Hollinger The RCAH Center for Poetry will be celebrating Poets Laureate in Spring 2014, with a visit by United States Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey on April 2, and Virginia Poet Laureate Sofia Starnes on April 16. A third visiting Poet Laureate has yet to be confirmed, but will be announced soon. It is

River of Words Poetry Workshop at Lansing STEM Academy

By Kelsey Block and Jenny Crakes Photos by Kelsey Block On November 8, the RCAH Center for Poetry was proud to sponsor a poetry workshop led by intern Jenny Crakes at Lansing’s STEM Academy.  Approximately ten students in grades 6-8 worked with Jenny, Kelsey, MSU Writing Center outreach coordinator Ashley Gulker, and mentor and volunteer

Documenting Barbara Presnell

By Kelsey Block Last week, the RCAH Center for Poetry was delighted to welcome North Carolina native Barbara Presnell to East Lansing. During her brief visit, Presnell conducted a workshop on documentary poetry and gave readings of her work. Presnell said she began writing when she was a child. As the youngest of three children,

Barbara Presnell at the Fall Writers Series

Today, the RCAH Center for Poetry is pleased to welcome North Carolina poet Barbara Presnell to our Fall Writers Series. At 3 pm in Snyder C302, she’ll be leading a conversation about documentary poetry, which includes exploring family documents (letters, journals, and such), census reports, and family legends and giving them life on the page. Then,

In Person with Carolyn Gage

By Kelsey Block The RCAH Center for Poetry was pleased to welcome Lesbian Feminist Playwright Carolyn Gage to East Lansing last week. During her visit, Gage visited several classes, conducted her workshop, “Interrupting Racism,” and gave performances of her work. Gage, 61, said she has been performing since the 1980s. She described the year 1986