Lansana, Quraysh Ali 2003
folk live in ma bones
breathe ma breath
we night like skin
– Quraysh Ali Lansana, “burdens”
Broadside of “Elegy for the Unsaid” by Simone Muench, “Try” by Jennifer Grotz, and “burdens” by Quraysh Ali Lansana
Listen to an interview with Quraysh Ali Lansana from WBEZ:
Quraysh Ali Lansana talks about his work and the ‘Verse Journalism’ project
Chicago’s own Gwendolyn Brooks coined the term “verse journalism.” The idea is turning to news for poetic inspiration. Another gifted local poet, Quraysh Ali Lansana, has been teaching the form, and joined Neighborhood Writing Alliance for a workshop last month. He’s a professor at Chicago State, and a recent nominee for an NAACP Image Award.
dis suit of clothes jus as empty
as a sky wid no stars
two years a workin savin money
den john drop out my heart
– Quraysh Ali Lansana, “hole”
Watch Quraysh Ali Lansana discuss his book of poems, The Walmart Republic, for the Academy of American Poets:
Quraysh Ali Lansana: The Walmart Republic
Quraysh Ali Lansana stops by the Academy of American Poets to discuss his latest book of poems, The Walmart Republic, cowritten by Christopher Stewart. *For highest quality playback, change your view settings using the gear icon to 720p HD.
