Poetry has long served as a tool for social justice. At Read Poetry, we’ve celebrated poetry’s powerful impact on Black Lives Matter, reproductive rights, and queer rights. Today’s poets regularly take inspiration from modern headlines—from the #MeToo movement to the

In 2020, we’ve seen how the coronavirus pandemic has become a health crisis throughout the world. Nearly every country has dealt with this crisis, and right now, the United States is the global leader in cases, according to CNN. States

Literature and public art come together to beautify the outdoors in the form of sidewalk poetry. What is it, exactly? Well, it’s pretty simple. Sidewalk poetry is poetry found along sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, or other outdoor and public or

Whether holding a brush or a pen, both painters and poets have a special knack for capturing a moment and turning it into something much greater—be it a story, a memory, or mythology. Visual art and poetry have a long

Coronavirus has changed nearly every aspect of our lives within months. We celebrated Pride Month and National Poetry Month from home, struggled with mental health, and found new, imaginative ways to share support. But as much as the pandemic challenges

The Black Lives Matter movement has increased social awareness about police brutality, systemic racism, and white privilege in the United States. The homicide of George Floyd ignited worldwide protests to mourn his death and to create change in our justice

During times of high stress, instability, and media overload, taking the time to read and meditate on poetry can be a radical act of self-care. Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman can remind us how it feels to connect with

Every June, the LGBTQ+ community and its allies celebrate Pride Month in honor of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. According to the Library of Congress website, “celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ+ Pride

This weekend, Black Lives Matter protestors gathered around the world to fight police brutality, systemic racism, and the recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. But as I scrolled through Twitter, tweeting, retweeting, and scrolling past horrific

New York School poets and painters, (l. to r.): Kenneth Koch, Larry Rivers (holding sign), John Ashbery, Jane Freilicher, Lelia Telberg, and Nell Blaine. Courtesy of the John Ashbery Estate/Flow Chart Foundation.   When discussing poetic movements, literary scholars and fans frequently

Seventy-three years ago, this April 15th, the son of a Georgia sharecropper made his Major League Baseball debut as a Brooklyn Dodger. Each April 15th since 2007, every Major Leaguer wears the number 42, the day set aside to honor

Featured photo courtesy of Humanities Kansas   When you think of poet laureates, you probably think of those on the national stage, like Tracy K. Smith and Joy Harjo. However, 43 states appoint their own poet laureates, selecting established and passionate voices