Poetry

Poet Justin Phillip Reed relocated to St. Louis to earn his MFA at Washington University, and the city's history hovers over his first book, which won the National Book Award.

Arts

Cut & Paste: Justin Phillip Reed's poetry is haunted by St. Louis history

Jeremy D. Goodwin

Justin Phillip Reed’s writing career has gotten off to an extraordinary start. Following a chapbook in 2016, this year he published his first collection…

Shirley Bradley LeFlore was installed as St. Louis City’s Poet Laureate in a special ceremony Friday, November 9 in the City Hall Rotunda. She will serve as Poet Laureate until April of 2019, when she is succeeded by Jane Ellen Ibur.

Arts

Performing artist, writer and educator Shirley LeFlore is new St. Louis Poet Laureate

There was more than a year of back-and-forth about who should succeed St. Louis’ inaugural Poet Laureate Michael Castro. But the moral of this story is…

St. Louis Public Radio contributor John Larson (left) talks to local poet Aaron Coleman about the use of poetry and Coleman's book "Threat Come Close."

Arts

Aaron Coleman uses poetry to turn memories into reflections and epiphanies

Lara Hamdan

Fulbright scholar and Cave Canem fellow Aaron Coleman writes, teaches and translates poetry. Fascinated with what words can do, he cites hip-hop as his…

Arts

Commentary: St. Louis is a strong literary city

Last week I had a morning filled with culture. I first went to the Eugene Field Museum in downtown St. Louis. In March 2007 the Eugene Field House was…

St. Louis poet Mary Jo Bang discusses her latest poetry work, "A Doll for Throwing."

Arts

Award-winning St. Louis poet Mary Jo Bang latest poetry collection draws influence from the Bauhaus

Lara Hamdan

On Wednesday’s St. Louis on the Air, host Don Marsh talked with author and Washington University professor Mary Jo Bang about her work and new poetry…

Sept. 30, 2017. Dail Chambers works on a piece called A Song for the Black Rising at the St.ART event. Chambers said the piece examines repetition and and reflects the Jason Stockley verdict protests and the 20th-century Great Migration.

Arts

Street art comes to St. Louis parks to document despair and hope at a time of unrest

Nancy Fowler

The two-day St.ART festival this weekend is billed as a street art event, but it takes places in parks, not streets.It opened Saturday at Langenberg Field…

Arts

Nationally recognized St. Louis poet Alison Rollins shares latest work, her inspiration

Alex Heuer

St. Louis poet and librarian Alison Rollins started along her poetry journey in high school at Nerinx Hall in Webster Groves.She is now a published poet,…

File Photo. Alderman Terry Kennedy says the delay in naming a St. Louis poet laureate could stretch into next year.

Arts

St. Louis may not have a poet laureate until 2018

Nancy Fowler

When members of the Board of Aldermen created St. Louis' poet laureate position, they intended to promote unity. Indeed, inaugural official poet Michael…

File photo: St. Louis Board of Alderman President Lewis Reed said it would be unfair to appoint a poet laureate until the controversy is settle.d

Arts

Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed says St. Louis should have a poet laureate this month

Nancy Fowler

The delay in naming a new St. Louis poet laureate may soon be over.in December, a poet laureate task force recommended local poet and educator Jane Ellen…

Poet Jane Ellen Ibur, seen here in a May 1, 2017 photo, has enjoyed a storied career. For nearly 20 years, she co-produced and co-hosted the local radio show "Poet for the Halibut."

Arts

St. Louis’ would-be poet laureate Jane Ellen Ibur is 'incredibly disappointed' in delay filling post

Nancy Fowler

St. Louis poet Jane Ellen Ibur is certainly a character. She's appeared before a class of children wearing a cape and carrying a magic wand. She sometimes…