June 29, 2020
6:30 PM EST

Event Description:

James P. Wagner (Ishwa) was recently named the United States Beat Poet Laureate 2020-2021. He is also the president of Long Island’s Bards Initiative, founder and operator of Bards Against Hunger and publisher for Local Gems Press.

Event Video Link:  https://youtu.be/HGPJdhbryUs

Traditional Japanese Poetry (Waka) has a rich history of collaborative poetry. When more than one poet comes together it offers a level of creativity that can rarely be achieved individually. James P. Wagner (Ishwa) offers a presentation on some various forms and history of collaborative poetry–such as the Mondo and the Renga, as well as some examples of more contemporary practices. He will give examples from recent collections he has published on the topic, and also present a call for submissions for a new anthology of collaborative poetry with a Walt Whitman theme.

James P. Wagner (Ishwa) was recently named the United States Beat Poet Laureate 2020-2021. He is also the president of Long Island’s Bards Initiative, founder and operator of Bards Against Hunger and publisher for Local Gems Press. A best-selling author and editor, James has edited over 70 poetry anthologies and was co-author of the best-selling “Japanese Poetry Forms.” He hosts book launches and poetry readings up and down the East Coast and is a frequent lecturer at libraries and colleges. His most recent collections of poetry are Everyday Alchemy and A Pathway To Dreams.