Poem-a-Day - "Whispering, wistful showers of Spring"

April 24, 2024

poetry & the creative mind

Calling all poetry lovers! Join us as we celebrate the power of the word at Poetry & the Creative Mind, the Academy’s virtual benefit featuring Meryl Streep, Sterlin Harjo, Phillipa Soo, Paul Giamatti, and others, sharing favorite poems in honor of #NationalPoetryMonth. Donations support our K–12 educational programs. Free and open to all.

Tuesday, April 30, 7:30 p.m. ET

Register

Arab American Heritage Month

“Though Mahjar writers contributed to every genre of literature, in addition to working as journalists and political activists, their greatest contribution was to poetry.”

Read about the Mahjar movement, including work by Ameen Rihani, one of the members of the Pen League.

more at poets.org

Naomi Shihab Nye on the civic responsibility of the poet in America today. Filmed at the 2015 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. at Library of Congress.

poems on rain

“Even the Rain” by Agha Shahid Ali
“Looking at the Moon After Rain” by Li Bai
“Rain Fugue” by Jessie Redmon Fauset
“Rainfall” by Emily Pauline Johnson
“[The flowers and my love,]” by Ono no Komachi
“Rhythm of Rain” by Lynn Riggs
“Rainy Twilight” by Evelyn Scott
“Gitanjali 44” by Rabindranath Tagore

In honor of the Academy’s ninetieth anniversay, we share this archival postcard from former Chancellor Robert Lowell.

more at poets.org

#poetrynearyou pick of the week

Visit the place that Emily Dickinson called home. The Homestead and The Evergreens are now both open for the first time since 2019. Tickets are now available through August. Plan your trip to Amherst, MA! (Sponsored)

letras boricuas fellowship

The Letras Boricuas Fellowship awards grants of $25,000 to writers who identify as Puerto Rican. Applicants can write in English, Spanish, or both languages. Apply by April 30, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. (AST). Read more.

upcoming deadlines

The 2024 James Laughlin Award recognizes a poet’s second book forthcoming in 2025. Publishers can learn more here and apply by May 15.
The 2024 Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize recognizes the most outstanding book of poetry published in 2023. Publishers can learn more here and apply by May 15.

jobs for poets

The University of Texas at San Antonio is seeking a full-time assistant professor of practice in the writing program.
Pace University in Pleasantville, New York, is seeking a part-time writing specialist.
Poets House in New York, New York, is seeking a full-time library director.
O, Miami in Florida is seeking an executive director.
Words Without Borders is seeking an executive director.

last week’s poem-a-day

Revisit last week’s Poem-a-Day selections with us on Poets.org:

April 14: From “‘Muʻallaqāt’ [Canst thou make me immortal]” by Tarafa
April 15: “Lightning Bug” by Colin Pope
April 16: “Diagnostic Quiz for Human Ghost” by James Fujinami Moore
April 17: “Black Hole” by Virginia Konchan
April 18: From “Take Me Back, Burden Hill” by L. Lamar Wilson
April 19: “17 Kinds of Hungry” by Adrian Matejka
April 20: “Four Freedoms Park” by Monica Youn