The Dead Poets Society of America

Poet Known As The 'Lioness Of Iran' Dies At 87

One of Iran's most vocal and outspoken poets died this morning in Tehran at the age of 87. Known as the "Lioness of Iran," Simin Behbahani reportedly had been in a coma for more than two weeks.

For millions of Iranians all over the world, Behbahani represented the invincible power of the Iranian psyche. Her words were piercing and fierce, lamenting on the lack of freedom of expression through the ages. For six decades, many Iranians found refuge in her poetry as a way to nurture their hunger for dialogue, peace, human rights and equality.

2nd Half of Grand Tour Also a Big Success!

Words can't describe what a fantastic time my film crew and I had on the second leg of the Western States Grand Tour! We met more wonderful living poets and family members who spoke to us on camera, AND each day the surrounding beauty (see pictures) was really quite breathtaking.

1st Half of Grand Tour a Great Success

Along with Dedgar the Poemobile and my son, Simon, we traversed through nine Western States in 40 days of amazing sights and sounds and the Great Western Tour. Along the journey we documented 57 poets' graves and met so many tremendous people and poets. Thank you to all who met us along the way. Dedgar is parked and ready in Denver to begin the 2nd half of the tour on June 20th.

Jack Agüeros, a Champion of El Barrio, Dies at 79

From the NYT: "Books and reading were encouraged in their small apartment, as Mr. Agüeros recalled in “Halfway to Dick and Jane,” an essay he contributed to “The Immigrant Experience,” an anthology that came out in 1971.

“As I became a good reader they bought books for me and never refused me money for their purchase,” he wrote. “My father once built a bookcase for me. It was an important moment, for I had always believed that my father was not too happy about my being a bookworm.”

The "Iron Lung" Poet added to the Tour

Have just come across the remarkable story of poet Mark O'Brien, who lived in the BayArea and had two films made about his life. At the age of 6 he was stricken with polio and he wrote his poetry even though he needed an "iron lung" to stay alive.

Seems as though he has one of the most unique burial places, as he loved baseball and horses, so it is reported that he was buried at Golden Gate Fields, a racetrack near Oakland.

Announcing the Great Western States Grand Tour 2014!

March 15th -- The Dead Poets Society of America has announced the Dead Poets Western States Grand Tour 2014.

The historic 80-grave journey (see map) will start April 14th, in Colorado Springs and end in Montana in mid July. Along the way Dedgar The Poemobile will be meeting many LIVE poets as well who will meet us at the graves to read and reflect.

Final dates and details of the itinerary will be announced soon. Hop on board the Dead Poets Train and be a part of making literary history. Po'ward! 

Article Highlights National Dead Poets Project!

Here's a great front page article that highlights the Dead Poets Society of America, and the search for poet's graves. You can Download Appreciating poets — past and present | www.timesrecord.com | The Times Record.pdf (462.4K)

Daniel Hoffman Memorial Video Now Online

"A Love Story In Stone", the memorial video for Daniel Hoffman, is now online. We had the privilege of showing this at the Swarthmore Quaker Meeting House for the October memorial for former US Poet Laureate, Daniel Hoffman.

The Cat at the Persian Poet's Grave

But I see a cat (!) She is sleeping.

Otherwise, the place is empty.

Now, a man enters. He walks into the poet’s grave chamber. He joins his palms and murmurs a… prayer perhaps. He sits down on the marble floor and arranges the flowers on Ghalib’s grave. He holds the tombstone in his arms and sings a verse by… Ghalib, perhaps.

A few minutes pass.

Now, he gets up and leaves.

The place is again empty. Except for the cat. She is still asleep. It is a beautiful moment.

(A found poem; found here)

 

Ned O’Gorman Dies; Founded Innovative Harlem School

(Posted March 8, 2014) From the NYTimes, 3/7/14:

Mr. O’Gorman said he was inspired to open his school, in 1966, by reading radical education theorists like Paul Goodman. But the reality was simpler. “I was merely a fool poet,” he said, “with nothing but poetry in his bag, hoping the energy and joy that brought poems from chaos would carry me to the children.”