Poetry blog

We keep you updated on the world of poetry with our news roundups.

Recent posts

Poetry Prescriptions and Jane Austen remembered – Poetry News Roundup 20th July

 

Today we look at poetry as an alternative to medicine; can it really work? And look at the ways in which the world remembered Jane Austen on the bicentenary of her death. Poetry on Prescription Arts on Prescription, a scheme which is available in the UK via GP referral is nothing new, it has been around for quite a few years and has very ...

John Addington Symonds Poems

 

John Addington Symonds was a 19th century English poet, biographer, literary historian and critic.  He also taught at a number of establishments in Bristol.  His life took a curious course in that he married and had children but was also an enthusiastic advocate of homosexuality, espousing pederasty and egalitarianism in equal measures.  Indeed, one of his poems (simply called Hymn) suggested a utopian ...

Poetry and Politics/Palestinian Poetry/Poetry in the Indian Language – Poetry News Roundup 19th July

 

Today we bring you poetry news from three very different cultures; poetry and politics from Cuba, a Palestinian poet who is being brought out of the shadows and a rise in Indian language poetry. Poetry and Politics At My Poetic Side, we are interested to see that once again poetry and politics have become interwoven in the news. This time at Cuba’s First Itinerant ...

Rumi, Social Media and Latitude – Poetry News Roundup 18th July

 

In today’s news round-up, Music and poetry meet in two very different ways and we see just how much of an influence social media is having on the popularity and accessibility of poetry. Persian Poet and Philosopher: Rumi Following the announcement that Beyonce and Jay-Z had chosen the name Rumi for one of their twins, the big question that many people were asking was ...

Liu Xiaobo Passes Away After Short Illness Poetry News 17th July

 

News has reached My Poetic Side of the passing of poet Liu Xiaobo. Born on 28th December 1955 in Changchun, Jilin, Liu Xiaobo was a Chinese writer, literary critic, and poet. He is possibly best known for his role as a human rights activist, the role that he played in calling for political reforms in China and his involvement in campaigns to ...

Johannes Carl Andersen Poems

 

Johannes Carl Andersen was a Danish-born New Zealand poet and anthropologist who was an authority on Maori folklore and customs.  He also held down an administrative job with the Department of Lands and Survey for almost three decades. He was born on the 14th March 1873 in a small Jutland village called Klakring, the son of a watchmaker.  The family emigrated to New ...

Johan Ludvig Runeberg Poems

 

Johan Ludvig Runeberg was a poet hailing from Finland who wrote in Swedish.  He wrote the lyrics to a song called Our Land which was adopted as the national anthem of Finland and his fame and literary achievements led him to be considered the National Poet of Finland.  He wrote many religious pieces for a Finnish Lutheran hymnal, this being the nationally recognised book ...

Poet gains 5th Masters/ WW1 Poet Celebrated / Pollution Campaign Through Poetry – Poetry News Round-up July 14th

 

With stories from across the globe surrounding both old and newly discovered poets, we bring you today's news roundup. Poet gains Master’s Degree from fifth top University South African born poet, Athol Williams, was awarded a distinction this week from Oxford University, bringing his total Masters degrees tally to 5 – with degrees from University of Witwatersrand, Massachusetts’ Institute for Technology, Harvard and the ...

Jessie Mackay Poems

 

Jessie Mackay was a New Zealand poet who, although never having been appointed to the position, was considered by many to be the “unofficial” poet laureate of her country.  She was one of the first native-born New Zealand poets and was a champion of national awareness through her writing.  Additionally she was, at times, a school teacher and editor of a local newspaper. She was ...

Memorial for Henry David Thoreau/Orlando’s 1st Poet Laureate/Poets Independence Day Play a Success – Poetry News Round-Up 13th July

 

Today"s news covers an import memorial, news of a search for Orlando"s 1st Poet Laureate and poet Vanessa Evers" first foray into theatre. Memorial poem for Henry David Thoreau"s 200th Birthday To celebrate the 200th birthday on July 12th of celebrated poet Henry David Thoreau, Robert Chute, Professor Emeritus of Biology and acclaimed Maine poet, has written ...