poetry
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National Poetry Month Day 11: “The History of Asterisks” by Elisa Gabbert and Kathleen Rooney
The History of Asterisks It is midnight under the sky’s dome ceiling. The moon speaks, saying nothing of consequence. John Wayne is from Iowa, so we hitchhiked West and I realized I never really loved you. Your skepticism of scientific…
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The Saints of Streets by Luisa Igloria
Christian Anton Gerard reviews (in epistolary form) Luisa Igloria’s The Saints of Streets today in Rumpus Poetry.
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Devout Apostrophes
This week, the Paris Review has a really beautiful interview up with the poet Mary Szybist. She talks about religion, Wallace Stevens and her abiding love for the apostrophe: I have always been attracted to apostrophe, perhaps because of its resemblance to prayer. A voice reaches out…
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The Language of Poetry
In honor of National Poetry Month, we are taking time to consider how poetry makes us better readers of all different types of literature. George Quasha suggests that learning to read poetry is akin to learning to speak a new language:…
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National Poetry Month Day 10: “11 February 2004 / Buffalo” by Jessica Smith
11 February 2004 / Buffalo –Jessica Smith
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How To Travel Alone
Some days I come out wrinkled like a jacket / exhumed from a suitcase. Some days / I’m as constant as the last soggy corn flake / at the bottom of a bowl of milk, / that piece that keeps…
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The Rumpus Late Nite Poetry Show: Nick Lantz
For our first episode of The Rumpus Late Nite Poetry Show, Dave Roderick sits down with poet and playwright Nick Lantz to talk about his latest collection, How To Dance as the Roof Caves In, found poems, self-help manuals, and…
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National Poetry Month Day 9: “Prophecy: After the Dam” by Camille Dungy
Prophecy: After the Dam the floodplains do bloom_____ the horsetail die+++++ the wheatits thousand thousand eyes eyeing a fat future _____nods and nods never fearing the peasants plant potatoes plant turnips___ radish and carrot even the mice leave the hovels and make camp in the…
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The Ex-Nazi Poet You’ve Never Heard Of
Prussian poet Gottfried Benn landed on the wrong side of history, supporting Hitler’s government in the early 1930s when it promised solutions to the global economic collapse. But by 1934, his allegiance to the regime ended as it became clear…
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A Conjoined Book by Karla Kelsey
Kent Shaw reviews Karla Kelsey’s A Conjoined Book today in Rumpus Poetry.
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The Rumpus Interview with Fred D’Aguiar
British-Guyanese poet, novelist, and playwright Fred D’Aguiar discusses the influence of Jonestown on his work, writing in the wake of the Virginia Tech massacre, and the need to pay attention when tragedy comes to your door.
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Envision a Library Full of Blood
From Portland, Oregon, Black Cake Records is compiling an audio archive of contemporary poets reading their work. As they put it, “We envision a library full of blood. We want the very best blood, & we want it everywhere.” Check…