As citizens we demonstrate, write letters, and make known our discontent

and outrage at government policies. As writers we constantly interact

with different audiences in various contexts. We perform, read, teach,

get interviewed, and curate public programs. But as more and more people

are ready to commit acts of civil disobedience, we cannot continue

appearing in public and pretend nothing is happening.

POETRY IS NEWS, a forming coalition of poets, proposes to disrupt

business as usual, at least within the spheres we have some control

over. Some of us have been long active in various forms of political

work, some of us are inexperienced but eager to find ways to make our

voices heard. The mass public word has been corrupted past constructive

use for political change. As word workers, we are calling an initial

public meeting to find ways to exert our influence and expand our roles

in taking back the word and making it part of public change.

Whether we think of our mandate as a poll tax on poets or a bulletin

board for agitation, our public activities as poets must first break

down the boundaries we set for ourselves. Our goal is to create a body,

a presence, and a point of reference that, if not considered when

thinking of poetry, would simply cause embarrassment.

Is this a good idea? Are there concrete proposals that we can begin

implementing quickly, at readings, performances, in classrooms or public

spaces? Can we form working relationships with each other in order to

transmit different types of expertise, in dealing with the media, in

looking for resources, in organizing events? Let us know what you think.

        Ammiel Alcalay               Anne Waldman

        aaka@earthlink.net           a.waldman@mindspring.com