A New Essay on Frank Stanford, Poetry Celebrations Near You, and More

View this email on a browser Forward to a friend April 15, 2015 The Nothing That Is   As Academy Chancellor Mark Doty has written, “One ambition of poetry is to create a reverberant silence in its wake, one that means more or differently than the silence that preceded the poem.” All year long, we celebrate poetry’s ability to create meaning in our lives. And, for National Poetry Month, we encourage you to find inspiration in the following poems about the act of writing and the art of poetry.   “Light (an Ars Poetica)” by Michael Cirelli “Ars Poetica (cocoons)”by Dana Levin “Ars Poetica” by Archibald MacLeish “Take the I Out” by Sharon Olds “Stilling to North” by Arthur Sze “The Snow Man” by Wallace Stevens “Always on the Train” by Ruth Stone “Language” by W. S. Merwin “The Uses of Poetry” by William Carlos Williams

The Poet Frank Stanford: Between Love and Death   Read Academy Chancellor C. D. Wright’s new essay about the life and writing of the late poet Frank Stanford, whose collected poems, What About This, was just published this month by Copper Canyon Press. Also, take a look at four newly available poems by Stanford on Poets.org.  Poetry Events and High Line   We’re already midway through National Poetry Month, but there are still plenty of ways to celebrate. Visit Poetry Near You to find poetry events in your area, and be sure to submit your own. And if you’re in New York City on April 25, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., join us at the High Line for After Sunset: Poetry Walk. Enter the park at West 26th street and stroll south to encounter a series of poetry performances along the way. Visit the Poets Shop for our curated collection of jewelry, notebooks, totes, and more. Last chance to get your National Poetry Month poster, designed by Roz Chast! Celebrate National Poetry Month by signing up to receive Poem-a-Day. Poem in Your Pocket Day   Inaugurated in 2002, Poem in Your Pocket Day has become a popular staple in annual National Poetry Month celebrations. This year Poem in Your Pocket Day will be held on April 30. Join in the fun by carrying your favorite poem in your pocket and sharing it with others by using the #pocketpoem.      Don’t Miss Dear Poet   It’s not too late participate in the Dear Poet project by watching readings by and writing letters to our Chancellors. All letters, written by young people in grades 5-12 and received by April 30 will be considered for posting on Poets.org. And, teachers, take a look at the companion lesson plan we created just for you.       Awards Deadline: May 15   There’s one month left to submit to the $5,000 James Laughlin Award, which includes a residency at The Betsy Hotel in Miami Beach and is given to recognize and support a second book of poetry forthcoming in the next calendar year, and the $25,000 Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize, given to the most outstanding book of poetry published in the United States in the previous calendar year. Thanks for being a part of the Academy of American Poets community. To learn about other programs, including National Poetry Month, Poem in Your Pocket Day, the annual Poets Forum, and more, visit Poets.org.   You are receiving this e-mail because you elected to subscribe to our mailing list. If you would like to unsubscribe, please click here.   © Academy of American Poets 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 901, New York, NY 10038

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