American poetry has a rich tradition of taking on important political and social events. The 99 poems in this diverse and dynamic collection demonstrate how engagement with what Wallace Stevens called “the actual world” does not diminish poetry’s punch—rather it makes it hit harder. Born out of a popular blog began by Dean Rader at the height of the recession and at the infancy of the Occupy movements, 99 Poems for the 99 Percent shows that the aims of poetry and the aims of democracy are hand-in-hand. These are poems of anger, love, protest, humor, contemplation, hope, frustration, and beauty. These are poems by the famous and the marginal, by the heard and the ignored. These are poems that speak to the past as well as the future. These are poems of and for the real America. Published in 2014, 99 Poems for the 99 Percent hit #1 on the Small Press Distribution Poetry Bestseller List, and there have been a series of readings hosted around the country.
In a fantastic review, Judy Halebsky makes a connection between the activism of marching and public demonstration and the aesthetic activism of thse poems: "Will these poems carry theweight? Can they reach into the corners and forgotten spaces? Can they nourish compassion and help us to care for each other across so many divides? I hope so. I thinkso. I’m sure. Actually, for me right now, they already have"
In a fantastic review, Judy Halebsky makes a connection between the activism of marching and public demonstration and the aesthetic activism of thse poems: "Will these poems carry theweight? Can they reach into the corners and forgotten spaces? Can they nourish compassion and help us to care for each other across so many divides? I hope so. I thinkso. I’m sure. Actually, for me right now, they already have"
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Since Walt Whitman, American poetry has been about democracy. It's been about reaching people on issues they care about in a voice they recognize.The original project posted 99 original poems over 99 days by major American poets, mid-career writers, students, and ordinary Americans. It attempted to provide a plurality of voices, approaches, and visions.
Contributors include Robert Pinsky, Camille T. Dungy, Edward Hirsch, Dana Levin, Timothy Donnelly, Bob Hicok, Heid Erdrich, Dorianne Laux, Troy Jollimore, Brian Clements, Patty Seyburn, LeAnne Howe, Ray Gonzalez, Fred Marchant, Martha Collins, Lee Sharkey, Matthew Zapruder, Gillian Conoley, Jon Davis, Alexandra Teague, Rachel Loden, Janice Harrington, & 69 others. Ultimately, 99 Poems for the 99 Percent demonstrates how the aims of poetry are in concert with the aims and ambitions of the vast majority of Americans. It is proof that poetry can speak in a vital, robust, and meaningful way about real issues to real people. These poems are for you. |
RIGHTS
Martha Collins He had no rights, they beat him up, you’ve got no right, he said, and he was right, we thought, we saw them beat him up, right? it happened right over there, but it was proper form, the jury said, and they were right, if you could judge the beating by what happened next, our driver said, right off they up and burn the place, this rights stuff goes too far, next thing it’s an- imal rights, vegetable rights, mow ’em down I say, he said, and turned, he had the right of way, license to get where he needed to go, but what if they stopped him anyway, they’re the law and that’s their right, the right side of the body’s on the other side of the heart. |