Richard Blanco was thrilled to join host Elisa New, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and fellow inaugural poet Amanda Gorman, as a featured guest on the season premiere of Poetry in America. One of his favorite TV shows, it brings poetry into living rooms across the country. This episode celebrates the life and work of Phillis Wheatley. The first African-American author of a published book of poetry, she is one of the most famous names in early American history.
Click HERE to watch the episode.
As the first-ever Poet Laureate of Miami-Dade County, and led by his passion for connecting the community through poetry, Richard Blanco created Miami’s Favorite Poems Project. This project invites people from all walks of life to share a favorite poem that has had some meaningful impact on their life and thinking.
The project was launched at the Miami Book Fair on Nov. 19, 2022. Featured special guest readers included Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega, former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky, poet and novelist Sandra Cisneros, and poet Marci Calabretta Cancio-Bello, among others in our community.
CLICK HERE for the Miami’s Favorite Poems Archive
Poet Richard Blanco returns to Boston Public Radio for an episode of the “Village Voice,” to celebrate poet January Gill O’Neil’s latest collection Glitter Road, and to retroactively honor Black History Month, and Women’s History Month.
O’Neil is a professor at Salem State University and the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Poetry Festival. Her latest collection reflects on “Marriage, loss, and a new relationship, with the backdrop of a Mississippi season. She explores the legacy of Emmitt Till and how his legacy is braided with hers; how race blights us all.” Said Blanco. read more…
It was a tremendous honor to write (and recite) a poem about democracy and interdependence for Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s State of the County Address. I’m grateful to have a mayor invested in the community, the arts, and the environment. Remember the power of your vote this election season.
Shoutout to Nicole Tallman for her stellar efforts as Poetry Ambassador for Miami-Dade County!
Watch Mayor Daniella’s State of the County Address. (January 24, 2024.)
Richard Blanco joins Jim and Margery on Boston Public Radio to reflect on his most recent collection: Homeland of My Body: New and Selected Poems. He reads a selection of new works and shares thoughts on the inspiration that kindled them, as well as the creative journey that led him to this mid-career collection.
“The new poems are, in a sense, a letting go of things…the ego-driven idea of finding home, all the homes I’ve had that still live in me.”
The final poem he read, “Become Me” is dedicated to his husband, Mark, as is the book as a whole.
Enjoy the poems as they are read and discussed.
In this latest episode of Village Voice, Poet Richard Blanco joins Jim and Margery on Boston Public Radio to explore A-I-generated poetry.
“I was going to choose Halloween poems, but I think this topic is even scarier.” He said.
Blanco asked Chat GBT to generate two poems. One, in the style of his own voice, after his poem “Palmita Mia” which translates to “Little Palm of Mine.” (From City of a Hundred Fires.) For the second, he asked it to write a poem in the style of “How to Triumph like a Girl” (from Bright Dead Things) by Ada Limón.
Richard Blanco returns to Boston Public Radio and joins hosts Gerrard Bowen and Andrea Cabral for another segment of Village Voice. They speak a little about Richard’s forthcoming collection, HOMELAND OF MY BODY, and how the concepts of home and love are ever-changing landscapes we carry within us. Tune in for Richard’s reading of his own “beach poems,” and the stories and memories that informed them.
Enjoy the poems copied below as they are read and discussed. read more…
In this edition of the Village Voice, Richard Blanco recites poems to celebrate the 2016 National Park Service Centennial. For the occasion, The Academy of American Poets commissioned 50 poets from 50 states to write poems about their State Parks as a way of documenting the natural and historical sites through the poetic eye.
“A little tidbit, Campbell McGrath was my graduate school mentor in poetry. He is still the editorial voice in my head.”
Enjoy the poems listed below as they are read, and the conversation that surrounds them. read more…
Richard Blanco joins Jim and Margery on Boston Public Radio to celebrate Poetry Month with his favorite “Ars Poetica” poems.
“Ars Poetica is in some way shape or form a poem about the art of poetry, it can take on many different meanings… The mystery of the process is a subject to explore.”
Blanco shared thoughts on the creative process, “Write as though nobody will read it,” and emphasized the importance of language to cultivate meaning in our lives.
Follow along with the poems listed below as they are read and discussed. read more…
“I want to use this platform to invigorate the humanities because they are under attack in this country and it is essential that this be part of our education system. Especially in Florida!”
A recent recipient of the National Humanities Medal, Richard Blanco spoke with Jim and Margery about his tremendous honor. How he first thought the email from the White House was a scam, to meeting his idols; talking poetry with Bruce Springsteen; joking with Julia Louis-Dreyfus; and how the awards ceremony was a deeply humbling and profound experience — all gathered and united in the belief and advocacy for America’s highest ideals: education, compassion, equality.
Tune in to hear all the details and enjoy Richard’s reading of his inaugural poem “One Today.” read more…