Spring | Summer 2017 OKLAHOMA HUMANITIES Culture | Issues | Ideas dLearning to love like not hate poetry 2017—A Year of New Initiatives At Oklahoma Humanities, the will explore this challenging period in year 2017 begins with continued our nation’s history. Concurrent with the ANN THOMPSON commitment to serving the public magazine and local programming will Executive Director through inspired and inspiring cultural be the September debut of an 18-hour, experiences. In addition to successful NEH-funded Ken Burns documentary programs like Museum on Main Street; on PBS called The Vietnam War. Our Let’s Talk About it, Oklahoma; Oklahoma objective in focusing on the Vietnam era Humanities magazine; and, of course, is to remind those of us who remember our grants program; we’re working on the war to think critically of lessons special initiatives that we’re proud to learned (and not learned) from the war, bring to our state. and to inform younger generations of First, through a partnership with the challenging issues of that period the Ralph Ellison Foundation, we are that continue to impact our national sponsoring a series of public meetings identity—the civil rights movement, on race relations in Oklahoma. Using the the changing roles of women, student texts of one of Oklahoma’s most esteemed writers and favorite sons, the Foundation activism, how we treat veterans, and the will encourage community conversations roles of music, literature, television, and to foster greater understanding and to the media in forming American opinion. promote the common good. This year promises to be meaningful Second is a multi-faceted look at the and rich in opportunities and, as always, Vietnam era. The Fall 2017 issue of this we approach it with enthusiasm and magazine and supplemental programs dedication to the citizens of our state. 2 SPRING | SUMMER 2017 | POETRY CONTENTS OKLAHOMA POETRY SPRING | SUMMER 2017 | VOL. 10, NO. 1 HUMANITIES 7 APRIL FOOLS’ DAY IN ADA, OKLAHOMA Culture | Issues | Ideas On finding poetry verywhere.e By Naomi Shihab Nye 9 HOW TO READ A POEM An experience to be savored. By Ken Hada 13 WEST WORD HO! COWBOY POEMS AND FRONTIER BALLADS The West, set down in verse. By Kimberly Roblin 19 POETS HATING POETRY Can’t anyone give poetry a break? By Ryan Stuart Lowe 24 THE RULE OF COOL: POETRY OF THE BEAT MOVEMENT They broke the rules and made poetry cool. By Paul Varner 29 THE POET HAS SPOKEN Can words break down social barriers? By Jason Stephenson 34 SIX POETS TO MAKE YOU FALL FOR POETRY Poems for the poetry averse. By Benjamin Myers 39 SPRING RENEWAL A garden of verse from Oklahoma poets. 44 THE POET’S LIFE Thoughts from a poet on his craft. By N. Scott Momaday IN EVERY ISSUE 2 From the Executive Director 4 Post: Mail | Social Media | Messages 6 The Editor’s Desk 46 Noteworthy: New Board Members ON THE COVER: Circa 1968. Diane Levesque is an assistant professor of art at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI. She has exhibited nationally as a professional artist since 1980, garnering numerous grants, fellowships, and awards. She holds an MFA from the University of Chicago. dianelevesque.net. CONTENTS: Flowers on a Window Ledge, John La Farge, circa 1861. National Gallery of Art OKLAHOMA HUMANITIES 3 POST Mail | Social Media | Messages Reader Feedback If ever there was a bipartisan (or I just wanted to send a brief email multi-partisan) document that shows to congratulate you on the redesign how the humanities add value to public of the magazine and your rebranding. and civic life—and in plain English—it is The magazine looks fabulous. I have the Fall/Winter 2016 “Democracy” issue enjoyed receiving it for some time now, of Oklahoma Humanities magazine. but you have really moved it to the next There’s a tradition of excellence in this level. I also think your new logo is very publication, but I do feel it has scaled yet elegant. Congratulations to all of the another height, and reflects so well on Oklahoma Humanities staff. —Stephen Kidd, Executive Director the heart and soul of our work. And at National Humanities Alliance such an important time, too. —Jamil S. Zainaldin, President Congrats on all the awards [2016 Beacon Georgia Humanities Award for Outstanding Nonprofit serving Nonprofits, and seven awards for Okla- A hard copy could only do justice to homa Humanities magazine]. Definitely the experience of reading/viewing the deserved—and so good for others to magazine [Fall/Winter, Democracy acknowledge what a great job you are all I received the Fall/Winter [Democracy] issue]. I found the essays to be very doing. Keep up the good work! well written, informative, moderate yet issue of Oklahoma Humanities. You are to —Luann Sewell Waters be commended for such a fine publication. compelling in getting their points of view across—just how a humanities discussion Since this magazine is, as I understand it, Social Media | Messages aimed at Oklahomans, part of the article should be presented. It was like having a entitled “State of the Vote—Your ‘Right’ conversation with these writers. Social media buzz on the Child Labor Revealed” doesn’t accurately reflect the Disparate points of view expressed in Oklahoma exhibit at the Oklahoma situation in our state. congenially is what this whole country History Center, funded in part by a In Oklahoma it is very easy to receive needs. And it seems to me that grant from Oklahoma Humanities: the necessary ID. When an Oklahoman Oklahoma Humanities carries on that I made it to the exhibit and I am glad registers to vote they are given a free tradition as well as demonstrating I did. The photos were displayed well. Voter Identification Card. They sign the democracy in action in which the First The speakers were informative. Very back of the card and present it when Amendment is used to inform and interesting evening. Thank you. they vote. They do not need a photo ID, educate “we, the people.” I am also —Tom Lehner but certainly may present a government- pleased that Tom Phillips’ artwork is Great exhibit. issued ID if they wish in lieu of the free getting more exposure. As with your —Dale Ingram card. Oklahoma is known as having magazine, the paintings in all their the best system of voting in the United authentic details are very moving and GIVE VOICE TO YOUR IDEAS, opinions, States. I enjoyed Mr. Sellers’ article. impressive to behold. and suggestions. Email the editor, —Jeannine Long —Michael Schaefer [email protected], or comment via Oklahoma precinct worker San Francisco, CA Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. 4 SPRING | SUMMER 2017 | POETRY OKLAHOMA HUMANITIES OKLAHOMA Culture | Issues | Ideas HUMANITIES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Ann Thompson [email protected] EDITOR Carla Walker AT LAST, POETRY [email protected] A New Genre from an Old Friend PROGRAM OFFICER Kelly Burns [email protected] Chances are, if you haven’t attended yourself, you know someone who’s an PROGRAM OFFICER Christopher Carroll enthusiastic follower of Let’s Talk About [email protected] It, Oklahoma (LTAIO). For over 30 years, DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Oklahoma Humanities has distributed Brandi Davis [email protected] this popular reading and discussion ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR program across the state, bringing Robyn Arn communities together to discuss the [email protected] human experience through the lens Oklahoma Humanities magazine is pub- of literature. lished biannually (March and September) by from Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Oklahoma Humanities (OH), 424 Colcord Programs take place in a variety Komunyakaa. Bloomsbury Review calls Dr., Suite E, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, (405) 235-0280, [email protected]. See of venues: local libraries, museums, Komunyakaa’s poetry, “razor-sharp pieces pages 46-48 for information on the OH universities, prison diversion programs organization, board of trustees, grants, and that tell us more about our culture than programs. Our privacy policy is posted on for women with children, state prisons, any news report.” The poems in Neon our website. Oklahoma Humanities magazine is an arts and humanities councils, and a vet- Vernacular reveal the voice of a black award-winning collection of culture, issues, and erans’ hospital. No matter the audience, ideas—a rich mix of humanities scholarship, man, a child of the South, insightful narratives, informed opinions, and exploring the humanities and a soldier using language beautiful images, for a read that is smart, through a common text unites balanced, and entertaining. Subscribe online: to paint a gritty image of life okhumanities.org or call (405) 235-0280. readers, opening doors to new Oklahoma Humanities magazine is free and the Vietnam War. ideas and shared perspectives. of advocacy and advertising. It is supported “Coming and Going in by donors (like you) and distributed free of After decades of reading charge via two-year subscriptions, rotated Oklahoma Indian Country,” biannually to serve as many Oklahomans as series comprised of fiction and nonfic- possible. To continue your print subscription, a series developed by author, poet, and tion, Oklahoma Humanities has three make a gift of support (use enclosed envelope musician Joy Harjo, features the work or visit okhumanities.org/donate) or contact us new themes that include poetry. and request continued mailings. Back issues of Joe Dale Tate Nevaquaya in his book of Oklahoma Humanities are archived on our The “Civil Rights and Equality” series website. Reading group and classroom use are Leaving Holes & Selected New Writings encouraged. Other reproduction requires written includes Native Guard: Poems (Mariner (Mongrel Empire Press, 2011), winner permission. Contact: [email protected]. Books, 2007), the Pulitzer Prize-winning Oklahoma Humanities awards include of the 2012 Oklahoma Book Award for twenty-one Oklahoma Society of Professional book by Natasha Trethewey, nineteenth Journalists awards, including multiple first place Poetry.