Tag: poetry

Every year, the Vermont Arts Council brings young poetry-lovers together from all around Vermont to compete in Poetry Out Loud. Contestants recite poems both classic and contemporary, from Longfellow to Ada Limón, and are judged by a panel of accomplished local artists and teachers. Last week we held the 2020… Read More

The Vermont Poetry Out Loud 2020 Semifinals are scheduled for March 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Barre Opera House. The snow date is March 9. Champions from twenty-seven high schools across the state will compete. Ten finalists will be named at the end of the day, and will continue to the State Championship held Monday March 16 in partnership with Vermont PBS at their studios in Colchester. The state champion will move on to the National Championship held April 27-29 in Washington, D.C. Read More

We are delighted to announce that Mary Ruefle will succeed Chard deNiord as Vermont poet laureate beginning October 28, 2019. Nationally acclaimed Vermont author Major Jackson called Mary “one of the best poets in America,” and reflected that “one travels places, inward and outward” through her work. Critic Lisa Beskin of the Boston Review observed “Like John Ashbery and James Tate, Mary Ruefle investigates the multiplicities and frailties of being with an associative inventiveness and a lightness of touch; the purposefulness of her enquiry never eclipses the remarkable beauty of her work.” Committee members commended Mary's originality, imaginative writing, and wit. They agreed that she is a poet “at the height of her powers,” making her nomination as Vermont’s Poet Laureate in 2019 timely and appropriate. Read More

Rajnii’s lifelong love of words was inspired by his mother. At the age of eleven, Rajnii became the youngest member of the African-American Writers’ Alliance in Seattle, founded by Randee Eddins. Rajnii is passionate about the power of words to start conversations and foster healing—particularly among young people. He has… Read More

The words of four young Vermont women working for social justice have resonated throughout our state and the country in the past few years. Kiran Waqar, Hawa Adam, Lena Ginawi, and Balkisa Abdikadir began performing slam poetry as Muslim Girls Making Change (MGMC) in 2016. They have since competed internationally… Read More

LN Bethea is a poet, an arts activist, and a Silo Sister. This is what she says about being an artist in Vermont. How has living as an artist in Vermont affected your creative process? Let me be clear, Vermont not only changed the course of my art, it altered… Read More