Poetry Provides Peek Into Past

Summary:

Four women poets tell history through verse

Website:

http://www.writersvoice.net

Timely on:

April: Poetry Month

Tones:

Contemplative, Engaging, Unusual

Language:

English

Description:

Poetry has traditionally been used to tell current generations about the past. In honor of National Poetry Month, Francesca Rheannon talked with four poet-historians. Annie Boutelle is a founder of Smith College's Poetry Center. Her poem cycle BECOMING BONE, is about the 19th century poet Celia Thaxter. Gail Thomas uses verse to explore the history of place. Her book, NO SIMPLE WILDERNESS, AN ELEGY FOR THE SWIFT RIVER VALLEY, is about the drowning of towns and villages in the 1920?s and 30?s to create the Quabbin Reservoir near Amherst, Massachusetts. Holly Iglesias? poetry cycle, NOW YOU SEE IT, is about the 1904 World?s Fair in St. Louis, her hometown. And Janet Aalfs is Poet Laureate of Northampton, Massachusetts. She explores the history of the Northampton area through her work.

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