Canon & Chorus: Black Poets in Prose requests submissions

Not enough texts examine how language, form and other concepts inform a poetic worldview for the Black poet. Canon & Chorus: Black Poets in Prose is a collection of essays focusing on what we as Black poets write, that which gives us the impetus to write and our larger job as poets. Essays might consider themes such as the poet’s purpose in the world philosophically; how a poet’s culture, gender, class or sexual identity influences his/her approach to language and how this influence fits into the larger poetic landscape. An essay may explore the spiritual aspects of form, or consider written or unwritten “texts” that provide a metaphor for our lives as poets.

The collection will be proposed to publishers, and will include work by poets such as: Kwame Dawes, Marilyn Nelson, Carl Phillips, Carolyn Beard Whitlow, and Afaa Michael Weaver. Canon & Chorus is accepting essays from Black poets, emerging or established, living in the US or abroad.

Limit essays to 5000 words. Work not previously published is encouraged. Format essay and bio in Times New Roman, 12 point, as a Microsoft Word document and send as an email attachment to: Niki Herd at canonandchorus@aol.com.

Deadline: March 31, 2007.

Niki Herd’s work has been published or is forthcoming in forums such as Xcp: Streetnotes Biannual Electronic Exhibition Space, pms: poemmemoirstory, Autumnal, Kalliope, and The Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South. She is a Cave Canem Fellow.