poetry
Two books delivered beauty, inspiration and humor — just when I needed them most
Sometimes, the right book shows up just at the right time. Our book critic encountered two such books this week: Water, Water, by Billy Collins, and The Dog Who Followed the Moon, by James Norbury.
Birmingham Poet And Activist Brian “Voice Porter” Hawkins Dies At 42
Birmingham poet and Ensley neighborhood activist, Brian “Voice Porter” Hawkins was found dead in his home at 42-years-old.
Alabama Names Ashley M. Jones As Its New Poet Laureate
Jones, a Birmingham native, is Alabama's first Black poet laureate and the youngest person to hold the position.
Poets Reflect On Six Months Of Pandemic
Several Alabama poets share their experiences and works inspired by the coronavirus pandemic.
Birmingham Poet Gives Voice to Enslaved Women
Dr. James Marion Sims, the man known as the father of modern gynecology, spent years performing surgery on women who experienced complications tied to difficult childbirth. This was in the 19th century at his makeshift hospital in Mt. Meigs, just outside of Montgomery. Sims, who is white, performed this experimental surgery on black enslaved women – without anesthesia. Birmingham author Kwoya Fagin Maples recently published a collection of poems meant to give voice to these forgotten women.
Birmingham Poet uses a “House” to Explore her Personal Loss
Five years ago, Birmingham poet Emma Bolden faced an excruciating decision. She was 33. She wasn’t married and had no children, but she was considering a hysterectomy because of decades of health issues. That decision and the subsequent surgery became a theme for her latest collection of poems called “House is an Enigma.”
Birmingham Student Wins National Poetry Award
Alabama School of Fine Arts senior Daniel Blokh was named a National Student Poet earlier this month. He's one of five students in the country to win the honor.
Andrew Glaze, Alabama’s 95-Year-Old Poet Laureate, Has Died
According to his family, poet and playwright Andrew Glaze died Sunday February 7, 2016. Glaze has been called "an essential poet for more than sixty years." The novelist, playwright and poet was currently serving as Poet Laureate of Alabama.
Jerri Hardesty: Changing Lives Through Poetry
Emotion often fuels poetry. Sometimes though that emotion is so personal it’s like being let into a secret space. That’s the way it is with poems we’ll hear from Jerri Hardesty. She’s president of the Alabama State Poetry Society. She’s won more than 600 awards and titles for both written and spoken word poetry. Hardesty […]
Celebrating Andrew Glaze, Alabama’s Poet Laureate, And His New Book
Novelist, playwright and poet Andrew Glaze is Alabama’s poet laureate. He’s been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and praised by numerous literary magazines and personalities, like poet Robert Frost. Last month, he was inducted into the Alabama Writers' Hall of Fame. His latest collection of poetry, “Overheard in a Drug Store” was just published…. WBHM’s Rachel Lindley sat down with Glaze for a look at his career.
