Muriel Rukeyser
Video: “Poem (I lived during the first century of wars)”
Twenty Five Years
Celebrating National Poetry Month
DateApril 1, 2021
Illustration: Sindha Agha
In 2021, National Poetry Month celebrated its 25th anniversary. To honor the milestone, the Mellon Foundation, in partnership with the Academy of American Poets, invited three contemporary poets to recite a work that helps them find solace in the face of loss, isolation, and social upheaval. Brought to life by their readings and by award-winning artist Sindha Agha’s visual interpretations, these video poems remind us that language and art can connect us to our shared humanity—especially during our most challenging times.
Jennifer Benka
Literary Arts Strategist
Former President and Executive Director, Academy of American Poets
Literary Arts Strategist
Former President and Executive Director, Academy of American Poets
“It is in poetry that we encounter the insights and experiences of others and are called to compassion.”
Explore the video poems—and the voices behind them—in the content below.
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Langston Hughes
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Toyo Suyemoto
Video: “Barracks Home”
