How does one decide it's okay to write beyond these margins? What questions must the author consider in the act of witnessing? How do we write about our lives, which are entangled with the lives of others, in ways that are fair, loving and ethical? Caits Meissner's new hybrid poetry book, Let It Die Hungry, uses poetry, prosaic notes, illustrations and extensive writing prompts to grapple with questions of identity, crossing cultural lines and teaching in public school, a needle exchange and prison. Poet John Murrillo calls her, "a clear eyed witness with an intense lyric sensibility, her poems illuminate the shadows of self and society that lie outside the margins of acceptable discourse."
About Caits: She's the author of the hybrid poetry book Let It Die Hungry, and The Letter All Your Friends Have Written You, co-written with poet Tishon Woolcock. Her work has won awards and is published or forthcoming in many journals and anthologies including The Literary Review, Narrative, The Offing, Adroit and Drunken Boat. Multidisciplinary by nature, Caits experiments with writing's relationship to illustrations and sound. In 2010 her album, the wolf & me, was released to accolades on platforms such as Okayplayer. "Fresh, honest and loving," Erykah Badu called Caits' blend of poetry and music, naming her, "a delicate heart like mine." With a long history in community arts, Caits currently teaches in prison, public school, and at City College and The New School University. You can help Caits bring free creative writing workshops and collaborative readings to incarcerated writers! Learn more: tinyurl.com/prisonpoetry
or go to www.caitsmeissner.com
Please, join us for this unique discussion and networking opportunity followed by a Poetry Open Mic. Everyone who participates in the teleconference is welcome to share an original poem. Whether you’re reading your poetry aloud for the first time, or you’re a seasoned reader, this is a chance to share your writing in the supportive presence of appreciative listeners. It’s a remarkably fun and moving experience.
This meeting is free and open to the public, and you can join by following the links below:
