Prompt: The Ekphrastic Epistolary (after Dr. Dior J. Stephens)
 
Write a poem that is directly addressed to a known person, dead or alive. Think Elton John and Princess Diana. Whether the subtext of your poem is love lost, or the mortal coil, allow the lyrical intimacy to bloom.

Thrilled share Ama Codjoe’s sensational poem from my Poem-a-Day curation. If you have not had a chance to read the full poem, please make your way to the homepage of poets.org now! Ama’s poetry astounds. I am moved to offer a prompt, inspired by Ama’s poem, out of sheer gratitude.

Women can use a wand to collect a vaginal sample, then mail it to a lab that will screen for cervical cancer. The device will be available by prescription through a telehealth service. By @jenniferludden.bsky.social

The Naomi Shihab Nye Prize was established in 2024 for writers in the Arab community to create book length stories for and about young Arab readers. First prize: $1,000; second: $500. Learn more about the prize here: www.albustanseeds.org/naomi-shihab...

Seeing those men being paraded in shackles, heads shaved, heads down sent to a random country and we have no list of names, proof of criminality, or even proof of nationality is terrifying. El Salvador agreeing to keep them as long as the US keeps paying is terrifying. It could be any one of us next

Israel just killed hundreds of Palestinians, including kids. The US just killed dozens of Yemenis, including kids. "Why do they hate us?" asks the American public, blissfully ignorant of what's being done in its name in the Middle East by the US and its ally Israel. Sigh.

Celebrate Black history. “BLK History Month” BY Nikki Giovanni

Celebrate Black poetry. “Paul Robeson” by Gwendolyn Brooks

Celebrate Black poetry. Excerpt from “34” (from “Blood Dazzler”). 17. Wait with me. Watch me sleep in this room that looks so much like night. I’m gon’ wake up, I swear it to some kind of sun.

2. Continuing #blackhistorymonth #poetry, hopefully you don't need me to tell you to read Omotara James's SONG OF MY SOFTENING. I'm gonna say more but need to go teach some students 😅 @omotarajames.bsky.social

Celebrate Black poetry. “Beatitude” by John Keene

Celebrate Black poetry. “little prayer” by Danez Smith

Celebrate Black poetry. “Ode to the Common Clothes Moth” by Tyree Daye

“parents in Kenya whose children are believed to have tuberculosis cannot get them tested. There is no clean drinking water in camps in Nigeria or Bangladesh for people who fled civil conflict. A therapeutic food program cannot treat acutely malnourished children in South Sudan.”

Calling all poets! Enter the Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize for a chance to win $2,000 and publication. Submissions open until April 30th! ✍️✨ #PoetryContest #WritingCommunity

Come write poems with me!

I’m infinitely grateful to Jennica Harper for introducing me to the poetry of Omotara James. Reading ‘Song of My Softening’ as a fat woman is a fucking gift, and the collection offers so much more beyond that. @omotarajames.bsky.social

Celebrate Black poetry. “When A Nigga Call You a Faggot” by Jzl Jmz (FKA jayy dodd) aka [Lady Tournament]

Today, I found out that the Department of Defense banned the Well-Read Black Girl anthology by Glory Edim. I was one of its contributors. I'm really hurt right now. So if you have it in you, please buy books by Black women from independent bookstores.

Celebrate Black poetry. “Summer” by Robin Coste Lewis.

📍💃🏿 COVER REVEAL (& pre-order link) nightboat.org/book/local-w...

Celebrate Black poetry. “Why I Left the Garden” by Ama Codjoe

Celebrate, Black poetry. [When I come home they rush to me, the flies] by Aracelis Girmay

Celebrate Black poetry. All My Friends Are Sad & Bright after Richard Siken by Cameron Awkward-Rich

Celebrate Black poetry.

DO NOT MEMORY HOLE THE NAZI SALUTE! Elon Musk did it not once but twice, and with vigor! It’s been 3 weeks, and there’s been no accountability. Institutionalized Judaism has let him off the hook. It is up to us to remember, to never forget the ancestors who deserve better, and to make it stick.

Celebrate Black poetry. “Duplex” by Jericho Brown.

Being disabled means being in a constant state of grief. When our communities members pass, we don't even have time to process one person passing before the next person passes because they didn't have their basic needs met. Turn to each other now. Do whatever you are able to support others. ❤️

Celebrate Black poetry. My Phone Autocorrects “Nigga” to “Night” by Karisma Price.

Celebrate Black poetry. “philosophically immune by Evie Shockley.” Split This Rock

One day left to register for this seven-week, online workshop w/ @omotarajames.bsky.social, where we'll explore the interplay between art, literature and personal narrative through the lens of ekphrastic poetry as we explore the eras spanning the 1960s to the 2000s! brooklynpoets.org/workshop/p/t...

It’s also your final chance to register for workshops starting next week with @omotarajames.bsky.social, Matthew Gellman, Gregory Crosby and Ramya Ramana! brooklynpoets.org/workshops/all

Celebrate Black poets. “blessing the boats” by Lucille Clifton poets.org From Quilting: Poems 1987–1990 by Lucille Clifton. Copyright © 2001 by Lucille Clifton. Reprinted with permission of BOA Editions Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hi, I am @motherjones.com' disability reporter. In the following weeks, I am very interested in hearing how tariff nonsense impacts getting your meds and medical equipment. My email to get in touch is [email protected]. Reposts appreciated.

Happy Black History Month: This February, in addition to well-known staples, @criterionchannel.bsky.social has some special offerings of Black filmmakers: films by late Cuban feminist Sara Gómez, American Billy Woodberry, late Senegalese Poulin Soumanou Vieyra, Julius-Amédée Laou & more! #Blacksky

“Flirtation” by Rita Dove

Forgot to post this here yesterday: Celebrate Black poetry. “For everyone who tried on the slipper before Cinderella” By Ariana Brown after Anis Mojgani and Audre Lorde

Love > hate. What’s simple is true. Inclusion > exclusion. Truth feels difficult to come by, but abounds.

Staff pick at White Whale Books in Pittsburgh PA. ♥️🌱

My debut poetry collection will be published on February 13th, a significant day for many reasons. Barnes & Noble is currently running a discount on preorders until January 26. www.barnesandnoble.com/w/song-of-my...

I've been away too long! I'm mainly on IG, but came here to say I'm putting together a book tour schedule with winter and spring dates. Please reach out to me if interested at [email protected] Thanks. Happy Holigays!

First slide: black background with the number, “99” centred in large, white font. At the bottom of the slide reads: 02/13/2024. Second slide, in cursive font, reads, “Heaven on earth is a patient woman with time to spare. — Museum of What is Owed” #debut #poetry

With Maxine Waters, 24 members of Congress now support a ceasefire: Senate: –Durbin House: –Bush –Tlaib –Carson –S. Lee –Ramirez –Bowman –W. Coleman –C. Garcia –Jackson (IL) –AOC –Omar –Pressley –Velázquez –B. Lee –Jayapal –Casar –Adams –Frost –McGovern –Castro –Escobar –McCollum –Waters

‘Jay Weiland, a leading COVID modeler, estimated that 650,000 Americans are becoming infected daily, with 1 in 51 Americans currently infected with COVID’

My poet brain delights in this thread.

my press Alice James Books is having a great sale right now—don’t miss out on the chance to preorder my book Theophanies (or books by @theoceanisgay.bsky.social, @omotarajames.bsky.social!) ✨ also is that….a tiny peek at my cover…? 🫢 https://www.alicejamesbooks.org/

A LIVING REMEDY is on sale for $14.99 (50% off!) at @barnesandnoble.bsky.social now through 9/4 as part of their annual Book Haul sale!! https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-living-remedy-nicole-chung/1141997853

hey girl hey 👋🏾