Today in our poetry news round up we look at articles about the winner of the 2024 Princess of Asturias Award, An exhibition to honour Kazi Nazrul and Islam and Ada Limon’s new poetry anthology. 2024 Princess of Asturias Award for Literature Winner Announced The Romanian poet Ana Blandiana has been named as this year’s winner of the Princess of Asturias Award for Literature. The award was presented during a live broadcast which took place in Oviedo, a town in the north-west of Spain. The judges declared that they had selected Blandiana because she was “a radically singular creator”,and that he ..read more

This week on My Poetic Side we take a look at the Paisley Weaver, the Seamus Heaney inspired Concerto and the rare book donation to the Mitchell Library. Robert Tannahill – the Paisley Weaver – Celebrated The programme of events that will be taking place to celebrate the Paisley Weaver, poet Robert Tannahill’s 250th anniversary has been announced. The event is being supported by the charity OneRen and will help to offer ongoing support for the cause of men’s mental health. It is believed that Tannahill’s 1810 death was in fact a suicide. Born on 3rd June 1774, Tannahill created most of his poe ..read more

Today’s poetry news round up takes a look at a poet and songwriter collaboration, rainwater haikus and the 40th anniversary of the death of Sir John Betjeman. Where Is Your Pride? The musician and songwriter, Moby has released his latest track. Titled “Where Is Your Pride.”  The song is a powerful collaboration that features the words of the late poet and activist Benjamin Zephaniah. Zephaniah, who was not just known for his poetry but also his acting and his activism, died in December. He was 65. He died following a short battle with a brain tumour that he had only been diagnosed wi ..read more

Today in our poetry news round up, we look at a play about Dylan Thomas, the Frank O’Hara poetry prize winner, a bust for Keats and a world record poetry attempt. New York Premiers Play About Poet Dylan Thomas A specially commissioned play, written by the Welsh writer Christopher Monger, premiered in New York on 14th May  at 92nd Street. The play, which is titled “Dear Mr Thomas: A New Play For Voices”  is all about the life and work of the poet Dylan Thomas during the creation of “Under Milk Wood”. It’s timing is perfect for the moment given the recent mentions of the poet in Taylor ..read more

Another week begins on My Poetic Side, with a look at an AI-powered poet museum, a church with a poetry link that is for sale and the shortlist for the CLPE award. AI-powered Mehmet Akif Ersoy Musuem Opens Students at the Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University in Turkey have created an AI powered musuem with a 3D representation of the poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy. The representation allows visitors to explore the poet through his life, and work and interact with him on a number of different topics. The museum, which is situated in the university rectorate building, offers the opportunity to “chat” with ..read more

Today on My Poetic Side we look at the winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize, the AI camera that “makes” poetry and the shortlist for the Trillium Book Award. Winner of 2024 Pulitzer Prize Announced A work of poetry that was published in the Georgia Review has been announced as the 2024 winner of the Pulitzer Prize. The Georgia review is a publication linked to the University of Georgia, which was first published in 1947. The poetry, which was published under the title “Tripas” was written by Brandon Som. Som’s poetry is described as a It highlights a dignity in the working life of his family and ..read more

Today in our poetry news round up, we take a look at the statue for the poet behind a much loved children’s song, the archive recording of a poem that has been released, and a new society created in honour of the poet Rabindranath Tagore. Statue for Poet Behind Twinkle Little Star A statue in honour of the poet who penned the first verse of the Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star is to be unveiled. The statue will be located on Colchester High Street and will be “dedicated to the children of the world”.   Sir Bob Russell, the former Liberal Democrat MP, has raised £90,000 to fund the creation of ..read more

Today in our poetry news round up, we take a look at the National Baseball Poetry Festival in its second year, and the Google Doodle dedicated to the poet Meena Alexander. National Baseball Poetry Festival The most memorable piece of writing about baseball is possibly one of the most famous poems in American literature. Casey at the Bat was penned in 1888, by Ernest Thayer. This year, the National Baseball Poetry Festival will be celebrated in Worcester, Mass, Thayer’s home town. This year marks the second anniversary of what is an annual event. It will take place from 2nd – 5th May in Polar P ..read more

We begin the week on My Poetic Side with a look at an event celebrating the poet Rabindranath Tagore and the plans to move a statue dedicated to Lord Byron to a more prominent location. Renowned Poets Legacy Celebrated with Event The birthplace of the poet and writer William Shakespeare will be celebrating the legacy of a renowned poet with an annual event. The event, which will take place on 5th May, is in honour of the poet Rabindranath Tagore. Born in 1861, Tagore was the first writer of non-European descent to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. This year marks the 163rd anniversary ..read more

Today on My Poetic Side, we look at poems written on seeded paper, a Byron poetry reading and a new poetry prize’s inaugural winner. Poems Written on Seeded Paper to be Scattered Over Poet’s Grave Children at the Wilfred Owen School, which is located in Shrewsbury  have been writing poetry on seeded paper. The idea is that the poems will be scattered over the war cemetery where Owen and other soldiers are buried. Owen, who was himself from Shrewsbury, was killed during WWI. His body is buried in a war cemetery in Ors, France. The children are hoping that their poems will help to create a ..read more