Chicago's own Gwendolyn Brooks coined the term “verse journalism.” The idea is turning to news for poetic inspiration.
Another gifted local poet, Quraysh Ali Lansana, has been teaching the form, and joined Neighborhood Writing Alliance for a workshop last month. He’s a professor at Chicago State, and a recent nominee for an NAACP Image Award. Lansana had NWA writers turn their opinions and reactions to news events into poems, which WBEZ will present throughout the month of April in celebration of National Poetry Month.
Lansana talks with Afternoon Shift about his work and the series, which was recorded in collaboration with the Neighborhood Writing Alliance, a station partner.
