The following post is part of our From the Catbird Seat series, “Literary Treasures.” The monthly series champions the Library’s literary programming by highlighting audio and video recordings drawn from the Library’s extensive online collections, including the recently released Archive of Recorded Poetry and Literature. The series, by showcasing the works and thoughts of some of the greatest poets and writers from the past 75 years, helps further the Library’s mission to “further the progress of knowledge and creativity for the benefit of the American people.”
I chose the 2012 Witter Bynner Fellows Poetry Reading webcast, which features 18th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry Philip Levine introducing 2012 Witter Bynner Fellows L.S. Asekoff and Sheila Black, as March’s literary treasure because this month is the month of Witter Bynner! It has become a beloved tradition that our laureates select each year’s Witter Bynner fellow(s), because it serves as another opportunity to celebrate poets and poetry. And today is the day: this afternoon, at 4 o’clock in the Madison Building’s Mumford Room, our 21st Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera will present Allison Hedge Coke with the 2016 Witter Bynner Fellowship. Herrera will honor Hedge Coke’s poems as well as her work as an advocate and teacher of the art and she will read from her work. Click here to view the event’s listing and others like it.
Did you know our office administers prizes and fellowships? If not, click here to check them out.