Kimberly O'Connor

writer & teacher

Category: Uncategorized

  • Now What

    I was pleased and honored to be invited to write a poem around the theme “Beyond the Voting Booth” for Anythink Libraries Civic Saturday. Writing a poem on this topic was beyond difficult; no one likes a preachy poet. In the end, I kept coming back to Walt Whitman’s Leaves…

  • On Louise Glück

    Reading the news that Louise Glück won the Nobel Prize this morning was the first time in a long, long time that reading the news made me smile. I wish I had time to write a winding, beautiful tribute to her; she is one of my very favorite poets. But…

  • (13) on Juneteenth

    If, like me, you didn’t grow up knowing about Juneteenth, think about why that might have been. Then check out: today’s Google Doodle and the story behind it. an astounding poem by Patricia Smith (about halfway down the page) (pay attention to the bolded words) Priscilla Jane Thompson’s “Emancipation“ student…

  • Then they said I was too

    For today: June Jordan’s “A Short Note to My Very Critical and Well-Beloved Friends and Comrades.“

  • one vote per eligible voter/ was all stacy abrams needed

    Check out “women’s voting rights at 100 (but who’s counting?)” by Evie Shockley.

  • Eve Ewing’s 1919

    If you buy one book of poetry this summer, maybe this one should be it. Check out some poems from the book here.

  • Let’s speak

    This poem, April, from Jean Valentine in 1968, echoes today. Thanks to poet Lynn Wagner for introducing me to this poem.

  • a name only the brave can say

    For today: Give Your Daughters Difficult Names by Aurora Poet Laureate (and someone I personally adore) Assétou Xango.

  • happens/ Almost everywhere in this country every day

    Here’s “American Sonnet for My Past and Future Assassin” by Terrance Hayes.

  • making it easier for us to breathe

    Here’s “A Small Needful Fact,” a poem about Eric Garner, by Ross Gay.