lundi 16 juin 2014

Poets In New Mexico: How They Came To Be

By Ina Hunt


Poetry has developed to a great level over the years. Various institutions and individuals have done so much in developing poetry in this state. Poets in New Mexico have been developing what has been done by poets who preceded them all in the spirit of taking poetry to another level. The most notable in promoting poetry are the New Mexico Poetry Society and the Poetry Loud campaign which is a national movement organized by high school teachers for high school students.

Alice Briley formed the state Poetry Society in 1969. Ever since, they have done a commendable job in promoting poetry. They are faithful supporters of the welfare of cultures of different people. Their poems are, therefore, composed of cultural elements. They do not support political, social or religious movements, hence, discourage their members from getting involved in such movements and claim to be representing the society.

This society boasts of a number of poets. Among them are; Jim Applegate, Joe Shaffer, Jeanette Oestermeyer, Ann Applegarth and Lynn Baldwin among many other renowned poets. This organization has been in operation for all this while despite most of its founding members moving out of the state. In recent years, they have formed a strong partnership with the Eastern University. The partnership has helped organize student competitions which receive a lot of competitors and viewers.

The RGV poets are a branch of this society that specializes in nurturing young poets. This group collaborates with the University of Mexico. The group presents lectures and poetic guidance to poets. The knowledge gained from this group of poets is later imparted in students who are admitted into poetry classes by the university. The RGV also gives scholarships to students from needy families.

Poetry loud association organizes competitions for students. The students compete in reciting poems. This is followed by organized national and state prizes. The competitions are held in all the states and not this one alone. Major prizes include $ 200 as personal prizes for the winners, $ 500 renovating their libraries, $100 number twos and $200 renovating their school libraries. All requirements during the entire trip are catered for. National contests have greater prizes for participants. Several good writers have come out of such competitions.

Other earlier poets from this state included Dana Levin, D. H Lawrence; who had moved from Britain and Pat Mora. All these are poets whose works were widely appreciated by people of this state and many others in different parts of the world. They were among the earliest poets from this region.

These poets addressed varied themes as dictated by the issues during their times. Among the topics they discussed included the negative effects of industrialization, the French and American Revolutions, effects of modernization and love among others. They were very well received by their readers.

Apart from their themes, the writing styles were also determined by the times when they wrote their works. The literary movements; romanticism, symbolism, naturalism and realism, were very crucial in determining their writing styles. Each of these movements had its own styles that arose from the needs at the time.




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