Poets in Support of Obama Readings

From Dawn Lonsinger:

“We may feel bitterly how little our poems can do in the face of seemingly out-of-control technological power and seemingly limitless corporate greed . . . yet it has always been true that poetry can break isolation, show us to ourselves when we are outlawed or made invisible, remind us of beauty where no beauty seems possible, remind us of kinship where all is represented as separation.” –Adrienne Rich

Dear Poets who support Obama:

In the weeks following 9/11 New York City bookstores reported selling more poetry than ever before. In times of public and private crisis people seem to understand intuitively that uncomplicated answers and simplistic narratives are not going to suffice. Instead, they seek out more complex renditions of what it means to be human like those found in poetry. Might we say that we are now, also, in an instance (or a multitude of instances) of public and political crisis? How might we, as poets who continue to believe in the change that Obama stands for and wants to continue to work toward, behave civically and hopefully during these pre-election months?

Please consider organizing a POETRY READING . . . in support of OBAMA in your town or city in the coming month and a half.

If/when you do, please write Dawn Lonsinger (dawn.lonsinger at UTAH dot EDU> with the details and she will post it here: Poets in Support of Obama

“It is difficult to get the news from poems yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there.” –William Carlos Williams

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