SAL/ON

A Blog of Seattle Arts & Lectures

Category: Poetry Series

A Triptych on Toi Derricotte

This essay is part of a series in which Seattle Arts & Lectures partners with Poetry Northwest to present reflections on visiting writers from the SAL Poetry Series. On Friday, February 26, Toi Derricotte will read and discuss her work in an online event at 7:30 pm (PST). Tickets are still available! By Bettina Judd […]

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Introductions: Maggie Smith

By Rebecca Hoogs, SAL Associate Director Maggie Smith is the author of three books of poetry and just this fall, a book of micro-essays entitled Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change. You might have first encountered Maggie through the poem, “Good Bones” which—let’s not say, went viral, let’s say, took hold, let’s say, […]

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“I Used to Own a Sky Full of Stars” by Luella Seamans

I am the breeze that hits you on a cold day I am the perfect but imperfect plant you try to grow I am the expected but unexpected snow on a chilling night I am the rain that disturbs a sunny day But I’m not the fresh-baked pie straight from the oven Or the perfect […]

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Still Loving the World: Kathleen Flenniken on Maggie Smith

This essay is part of a series in which Poetry Northwest partners with Seattle Arts & Lectures to present reflections on visiting writers from the SAL Poetry Series. On Friday, January 22, Maggie Smith will read and discuss her work at 7:30 pm PST. Subscriptions and tickets to future events in the Poetry Series can […]

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To Be in the Truth of Us: Dujie Tahat on Claudia Rankine’s “Just Us”

This essay is part of a series in which Poetry Northwest partners with Seattle Arts & Lectures to present reflections on visiting writers from the SAL Poetry Series. On Friday, September 25, Claudia Rankine read and discussed her work in conversation with Douglas Kearney. Listen to a recording of it on KUOW’s Speakers Forum. Tickets […]

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Rebecca Hoogs stands at a lectern looking out at the audience

Introductions: Rick Barot

By Rebecca Hoogs, SAL Associate Director It is bittersweet to introduce Rick Barot to you in this medium. This event was originally scheduled for March 15 to launch his new book, his fourth book, The Galleons, into the world. And though May finds us still floating on our own, we are very glad to deliver […]

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“Convolution,” by Charlotte Calero

Convolution Graphite stains my fingertips. From time spent drawing when I should be thinking. How could I, though? When deep purple stares from beneath my eyes. Time is spent drawing when I should be thinking. Doodles of people, with perfect hair and perfect smiles. Deep purple stares from beneath my eyes. I wish I was […]

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Faith in the Particular

This essay is part of a series in which Seattle Arts & Lectures partners with Poetry Northwest to present reflections on visiting writers from SAL’s Poetry Series. At 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 15, Rick Barot give a virtual reading on lectures.org to celebrate the launch of The Galleons, followed by a 30-minute conversation with Jane […]

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Ross Gay holds a book with left hand and reaches towards audience with right hand

Next on the SAL Podcast: Ross Gay

In our latest episode of SAL/on air, our literary podcast featuring talks from across Seattle Arts & Lectures’ thirty years, we hear from poet Ross Gay. In a time like this, where do you look to for joy? In an episode of Krista Tippett’s podcast, On Being, poet Ross Gay recently said, “It is joy […]

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Paisley Rekdal, in a red satin suit, stands against a wall at Hugo House that is designed to look like the shadows cast by Emily Dickinson's bedroom window.

Paisley Rekdal on Writing the Wrong Thing

Writers, what is your deepest fear about your craft? On February 6, we hosted a reading with Seattle-born poet and current Utah Poet Laureate, Paisley Rekdal. During the Q&A with SAL’s Associate Director, Rebecca Hoogs, Paisley answered questions about her writing process and her new work, Nightingale, but it was this question about fear that followed her home: “What […]

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