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Achievable New Year's resolution: read more poetry

Cover of Make Me Rain: Poems & Pros
A review of Make Me Rain: Poems & Prose by Nikki Giovanni

Resolution lists often include starting a new exercise regime, eating more veggies, and home decluttering. Why not read more poetry? I believe this goal is achievable for all ages.  

Find inspiration in 2021 by reading the seven-time NAACP Image Award-winning poet's latest collection of poems that span topics from the presidency to racism to making Frontier soup. Nikki Giovanni is honest, candid and utterly fascinating. 

The poet and Kiese Laymon, author of the memoir Heavy and the Hubert H. McAlexander Chair of English at the University of Mississippi, participated in Madison Public Library's Wisconsin Book Festival this past October. The two conversed about everything from Black Lives Matter to growing okra on Mars to drinking a daily glass of champagne. I contemplated making that last one my 2021 resolution but it seemed too lofty to achieve during the pandemic. Reading more poetry is definitely the way to go.

Watch the replay of Nikki's Wisconsin Book Festival event here.

Jan 5, 2021