Freeport, ME. – Now that the taxes are done, it’s time to get out an enjoy life’s other inevitability: death.
After visiting 258 graves, the Dead Poet Guy has released the long-awaited list of top 15 poets' graves in the USA.
"National Poetry Month is a great time to make a literary pilgrimage to a poet’s grave,” says Walter Skold, a poet and filmmaker from Maine, “And these really are the best examples of how moving, exquisite and fascinating many poet's graves are.”
A photo collection of the 15 gravesites, along with descriptions of what makes them so unique and important, can be found at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gravelight/sets/72157627056349762/
Skold, who was given the moniker "Dead Poet Guy by literary fans, and is making a documentary about his travels, says that visiting the graves of poets is a fun way to learn about history, literature, architecture, and love.
“I have driven up mountains at midnight, been locked in cemeteries, and slept next to over a dozen dead poets in Dedgar The Poemobile,” said Skold. “And in my 5 years and 40,000 miles of travel I’ve discovered that there is an abiding interest in poet’s graves in all regions of the USA.”
The Maine-based poet, who started the Dead Poets Society of America several years ago, admits to a certain amount of bias in the rankings, but says the top 15 were chosen based on a combination historical importance, uniqueness, beauty of design, and overall surroundings.
“If I had to narrow it down to my top 5, I would have to say John Boyle O’Reilly (Boston), Kenneth Rexroth (Santa Barbara, CA), Carl Sandburg (Galesburg, IN), Nicholas Virgilio (Camden, NJ), and John Updike (Plowville, PA)” he said.
“There are still over 200 past American poets, of all time periods, whose graves remain hidden” said Skold. “It would make a great arts or history project for students to work on.”
In order to help people locate poets’ graves nationwide, the Dead Poets Society of America’s website has regional maps and links (See: http://deadpoes.org/Maps1.html)
“We need more people to help us dig up more dead poets," quips Skold, who says the cultural mission of the Dead Poets Society of America is about resurrecting dead poets back into the nation's literary imagination.
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Promotional Video for Visiting Poet’s Grave during National Poetry Month
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gravelight/8644682600/in/set-72157627056349762
DPSA Press Page