Tag Archives: poetry

Pulitzer-Winning Lesbian Poet Mary Oliver Dies At 83

The New York Times reports: Mary Oliver, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet whose work, with its plain language and minute attention to the natural world, drew a wide following while dividing critics, died on Thursday at her home in Hobe Sound, Fla. She was 83. Her literary executor, Bill Reichblum, confirmed the death. Ms. Oliver had been treated for lymphoma, which …

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Acclaimed Gay Poet J.D. McClatchy Dies At 72

The New York Times reports: J. D. McClatchy, an American poet known for work whose cool formal sheen belied the roiling emotion below its surface, died on Tuesday at his home in Manhattan. He was 72. His death, from cancer — an illness that had been grist for poems in recent years — was announced by Random House. The author …

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Grindr Debuts Official In-House Poet

No, seriously. His name is Max Wallis and he announced his debut in a Guardian column: Poetry and sex have a long and venerable history, one often being used in the service of setting up the other. Catullus kicked things off, and Lord Byron, Sharon Olds and Carol Ann Duffy, among others, have run with the ball since. The work of …

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British Poet Laureate Says “God Is Gay” In Pulse Poem

Pink News reports: Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy has declared that “our children are gay and God is gay” – in a poem released in the wake of the Orlando massacre. Duffy was appointed as Britain’s Poet Laureate in 2009, and is the first ever openly LGB person to hold the esteemed traditional role. The Poet Laureate is expected to …

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It’s National Bad Poetry Day

Give us your best/worst shot. Minus points for “Nantucket.”

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CUBA: Gay Poet Richard Blanco Reads At Opening Of US Embassy In Havana [VIDEO]

Cuban-American gay poet Richard Blanco is already winning raves for the poem he read today. The new work will be published in English and Spanish by the University of Pittsburgh Press late next month.

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CUBA: Gay Poet Richard Blanco To Read Work At Opening Of US Embassy In Havana

Openly gay Cuban-American poet Richard Blanco writes today on Facebook: “I’ve had to keep this a secret for months, but it’s finally out: the US Department of State has asked me to write a poem for the re-opening of the US Embassy in Cuba, which I will read at the ceremony on August 14th in Havana! So incredibly emotional for …

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Richard Blanco – Until We Could

I got to see this gorgeous short back in April at the tenth anniversary celebration of Freedom To Marry. The Daily Beast recaps: It is a decade since the U.S. first state, Massachusetts, enshrined marriage equality in law, and since the founding of campaign group Freedom To Marry (FTM). It has been a fruitful, frustrating decade, a bizarre range of …

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Tomorrow In Provincetown

From the Facebook event page: Join us for a fun and fur-filled hour of hirsute literary pursuit for a reading and book signing for the new bear poetry anthology, Hibernation, and other poems by bear bards. Bear down to listen up as an outstanding group of authors reads from the book as well as other poems. This free event will …

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Maya Angelou Dies At Age 86

Legendary poet, author, and civil rights activist Maya Angelou has died in her North Carolina home at the age of 86. Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines confirmed Angelou was found by her caretaker on Wednesday morning. Angelou had been reportedly battling health problems. She recently canceled a scheduled appearance of a special event to be held in her honor. Angelou was …

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Slam Poet Patrick Roche – 21

(Tipped by JMG reader Stray Kat)

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Fear Not: A French Poem On Marriage

You don’t have to speak French to enjoy this. Translation. (Tipped by JMG reader Mark)

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Dear Straight People

Beat poetry from Denice Frohman. (Tipped by JMG readers Alan and Denise)

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New App: Gay Haiku

Joel Derfner’s hit book is now an iPhone app.

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Armisted Maupin Settles Super Bowl Bet

Famed gay novelist Amistead Maupin made a Super Bowl bet with fellow writer Laura Lippman in which the loser would pen an ode to the winner’s hometown. Here’s Maupin’s tribute to Baltimore. The Virtues of Baltimore (After Pondering Weak and Weary) Who makes Baltimore so fine? The Duchess of Windsor or Divine? Poe and his Raven or Mama Cass? The …

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Richard Blanco Reads Inaugural Poem

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PBS Interviews The Inauguration Poet

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Gay Poet To Read At Inauguration

President Obama has selected openly gay poet Richard Blanco to read at his second inauguration. On Wednesday the president’s inaugural planners will announce that Mr. Blanco is to be the 2013 inaugural poet, joining the ranks of notables like Robert Frost and Maya Angelou. “Since the beginning of the campaign, I totally related to his life story and the way …

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Bette Midler Tweets A Poem On Newt

UPDATE: Following a third verse, Bette tweeted out credit to the author.

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NYC Launches Curbside Haiku

NYC’s transit agency has launched a temporary “Curbside Haiku” campaign aimed at reducing pedestrian and biking injuries. I have a feeling we’ll see the top-left mirror ball sign in Chelsea: “Cars crossing sidewalk / worst New York City hotspot / to run into friends.” Giant PDF version here. NOTE: The above campaign was created by openly gay artist and JMG …

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