Poetry Friday--Poetry in NH

The New Hampshire Writers' Project (NHWP) is holding a month of Poetry and Politics. Yesterday there was a day long conference on the topic and an event with noted slam poet Mali Taylor. Today, at least 15 poets laureate from NH and several other states will be reading their work in different locations. And tomorrow, another conference will be held; topics for the panel discussions are, "Poetry & Community," "Poetry & Education," "Poetry & Social Justice," and "Poetry & Politcs." Tickets may still be available, so call 603-314-7980 if you're interested!

I'm particularly interested in next week's program on Sunday, October 23, when former U.S. Poet Laureate, Kay Ryan, will be presented with the Donald Hall-Jane Kenyon Prize in American Poetry. The award includes a $5,000 prize! Kay Ryan will also be reading her poems. (I saw Ryan at the Dodge Poetry Festival last year and thought she was awesome!)

The prize is sponsored by NHWP and the Concord Monitor through a fund established in Kenyon’s memory after her death in 1995.

The University of NH has an online exhibit on Jane Kenyon and Donald Hall, who, as husband and wife, lived in the town of Wilmot for many years. Be sure to check out:Life at Eagle Pond: The Poetry of Jane Kenyon and Donald Hall. Here's a poem by Kenyon that is featured:

Biscuit

The dog has cleaned his bowl
and his reward is a biscuit,
which I put in his mouth
like a priest offering the host.

I can’t bear that trusting face!
He asks for bread, expects
bread, and I in my power
might have given him a stone.

from Constance (Graywolf Press, 1993)

This week's Round-Up will be found at Fomograms.