60-plus Poetry Columns, free for MPA members to republish

Missouri Press, on behalf of the Springfield News-Leader, is making available a weekly column focused on poetry. The columns are available for newspapers to republish online or in print at no charge. The poems can also be published anytime throughout the year.

Below is an excerpt from the News-Leader’s introduction of the column:

By David L. Harrison

As Missouri’s 7th Poet Laureate, I asked Springfield News-Leader Editor-in-Chief Amos Bridges what he thought about establishing a regular weekly column about poetry. He liked the idea, suggested the title, and here we are, launching the new column.

The purpose for this unique new adventure is to remind us all, no matter our age, work, religion, politics, interests, ethnicities, or gender, that poetry is part of our lives. We read it, hear it, sing it, paint it, dance it, act it, and write it. When Ted Kooser was United States Poet Laureate, from 2004-2006, his regular column featuring poems and commentary reached 4.3 million readers. We may not reach that number, but one of our guest columnists is Ted Kooser.

I’ll write the first column but will be followed by at least three dozen other poets across the country who have agreed to write guest columns. Coming up in the six weeks following my opening column are Charles Ghigna (aka Father Goose) with “The Eye of the Poet”; Sandy Asher with “Try a Guided Poem”; Matt Forrest Esenwine with “What If?”; Marilyn Singer with “How to Read a Poem Aloud”; as well as Jane Yolen and Karen Craigo writing on their own chosen subjects.

David L. Harrison is the Missouri Poet Laureate and Drury University Poet Laureate. He has published more than 100 books for young people and educators. You can find more on his website, davidlharrison.com, and reach him by email at davidlharrison1@att.net.

You can also find the full copy of David L. Harrison’s introduction here, to which you should feel free to add your own newspaper’s name if you use it to introduce the column to your own readers.

https://mopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Poetry-from-Daily-Life-.Intro_.docx

Find Word files of all Poetry from Daily Life columns linked below. If you click a link below and your browser does not open the file in a new window, be sure to check your “Downloads” folder.

Poetry from Daily Life 63 – Ken Slesarik

Poetry from Daily Life 62 – Walter Bargen

Poetry From Daily Life 61 – Amos Bridges

Poetry from Daily Life – 60 – David Harrison10

Poetry from Daily Life – 59 – Matt Hoisch

Poetry from Daily Life – 58 – Matt Mason

Poetry from Daily Life 57 – Greg Pincus

Poetry from Daily Life 56 – Sylvia Vardell

Poetry from Daily Life 55 – Georgia Heard

Poetry from Daily Life 54 – Michelle Schaub

Poetry from Daily Life 53 – David Harrison9

Poetry from Daily Life 52 – Lola Haskins