Poem-a-Day - "I am the blossom pressed in a book"

may birthdays

“Return” by Sterling A. Brown (May 1, 1901)
“Gitanjali 81” by Rabindranath Tagore (May 7, 1861)
“In the Evening” by Fenton Johnson (May 7, 1888)
“Four Poems for Robin” by Gary Snyder (May 8, 1930)
“This Morning” by Charles Simic (May 9, 1938)
“Speaking Tree” by Joy Harjo (May 9, 1951)
From “Mesongs” by Kamau Brathwaite (May 11, 1930) 
“Twenty-One Love Poems [Poem III]” by Adrienne Rich (May 16, 1929)
“Love Comes Quietly“ by Robert Creeley (May 21, 1926)
“Briefly It Enters, and Briefly Speaks” by Jane Kenyon (May 23, 1947)
“Imaginary Conversation” by Linda Pastan (May 27, 1932)
“Earth Your Dancing Place” by May Swenson (May 28, 1913)
“Spring Reminiscence” by Countee Cullen (May 30, 1903)
“O Me! O Life!” by Walt Whitman (May 31, 1819)

poet laureate fellows

literary seminars

this month’s guest editor

poetry coalition

#poetrynearyou pick of the week

upcoming deadlines

• The 2024 James Laughlin Award recognizes a poet’s second book forthcoming in 2025. Publishers can learn more here and apply by tonight, 11:59 p.m.
   
• The 2024 Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize recognizes the most outstanding book of poetry published in 2023. Publishers can learn more here and apply by tonight, 11:59 p.m.

jobs for poets

• The Poetry Coalition is seeking paid, part-time fellows at CantoMundo, Indigenous Nations Poets (In-Na-Po), Letras Latinas, Mass Poetry, O, Miami, The Poetry Center at San Francisco State University, and Urban Word. Individuals with a passion passion for poetry and an interest in arts administration can learn more and apply here by July 3. 
   
• Poets & Writers in New York, New York, is seeking a full-time senior editor. 
   
• University of Houston–Clear Lake in Texas is seeking a full-time visiting assistant professor in writing.

last week’s poem-a-day