April is National Poetry Month. In celebration, U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón selected twenty poems from contemporary poets for this month’s Poem-A-Day series. For poetry writing prompts, I love the ones that Mathias Svalina and Phillip B. Williams regularly post on Instagram.
A stunning radio image of the complex heart of the milky way galaxy
Via Austin Kleon, a bill of rights for slow learning.
In Aeon, “Meaning beyond definition” considers how clarity can sometimes require an acceptance of ambiguity, as in poetry. (Put another way, the essay argues, “precisely defining our terms can sometimes be an impediment to clarity.”)
Related: How art helps the brain by increasing connections and plasticity.
In his newsletter “Range Widely,” author David Epstein defines happiness as a 2x2 matrix, and reflects on being grateful for the things we don’t have that we don’t want.
My poem “Blue 52” is featured in the latest issue of Southeast Review. The issue is available for free online. The poem references the 52-hertz whale.
Thanks for reading,
Kate
Awww, the story of the 52-hertz whale is a bit heartbreaking, and your poem certainly captures that. The closing lines truly call out a sense of loneliness and want to be found. I'm glad you also included that image of the galaxy heart. Being able to go back and look at that did help me feel re-connected. I also loved the Bill of Rights for Slow Learners. I think it's important for people of all ages to take to heart, either for themselves or when dealing with others one may not feel is "picking things up" as quickly as one would like.
And once more, a congratulations on the published poem. It's exciting to see so much of your work out there like that.