Poet Sam Corfman launches Poetry and Social Justice Event Series

Author: Shannon Rao

The Poetry & Social Justice Event Series began its Fall programming with poet Sam Corfman reading from their new book My Daily Actions, or The Meteorites and answering questions via Zoom on Wednesday, September 16. During the reading Corfman gave the audience insight into images and words used in their poems. They explained the poems were written a few years ago but issues the work touches, such as climate change, global racial capitalism, and gender based violence, feel even more relevant now. While they are resistant to the idea of poetry as activism they are also deeply invested in issues of social justice.

In Corfman’s writing, the associative power of the imagination fills each moment with meaning and meets journalistic recording practices in the prose poem. Their book was recently published by the Fordham Press after being selected by Cathy Park Hong for the 2018–2019 Poets out Loud Prize. Hong has also written an introduction to the book. 

The Social Justice and Poetry Event Series is funded by the English Department, a faculty challenge grant from the university, and is linked to Professor Elisabeth Frost’s poetry workshop, "To Bear Witness: Poetry & Social Justice." Five guest poets, Sam Corfman, Jillian Weise, Roger Reeves, José Alvergue, and Deborah Paredez, whose books the class is reading, will read their work and take questions.

While the events themselves are open to the public, Professor Frost’s students delve deep into the poet's works and workshop the questions they'd like to pose in advance of each event. The five poets taking part vary a great deal in terms of their styles and aesthetics but are all focused on social justice. This mix allows attendees to talk about poetry and writing process but also about the issues the poets engage with--race, gender identity, disability rights, im/migration, trauma, and the lasting effects of war on survivors and their families. 

The format of the events has been planned to maximize access and exchange. As the poets read out loud, an access copy of their reading will be made available in printed form via the chat function. Closed captioning will be provided. And the readings themselves are 15 minutes to allow time for at least 30 minutes of discussion.

A calendar of Fall events is available on the English News website.