Furious Flower is a cornucopia of poetry during National Poetry Month
Notices
National Poetry Month is finally here! Furious Flower has a month packed with events that are sure to help you keep up with your poetry writing (and listening) goals this month!
Furious Flower Broadside Gallery Reception:
Our Stories | Our Lives*
Friday, April 3, 2026| 5:00-7:00 PM | Cardinal House
Curated by poet and scholar Kadija George Sesay, Our Stories | Our Lives invites readers to bask in the rhythm and intimacy of Black existence through the richness of Black life in the everyday. Readers are invited to immerse themselves in ordinary moments that simultaneously serve as sites of memory, presence, and pride.
*This event is a passport event
Family, Grief, and Intimate Ghosts: Creative Writing Workshops with Dr. Gbenga Adesina
Thursday, April 2, 2026 | 5-7 PM | Center for Multicultural Student Success
Saturday, April 4, 2026 | 1-2 PM | Edith J. Carrier Arboretum
Saturday, April 11, 2026 | 1-2 PM | Massanutten Regional Library
No prior experience with poetry is necessary. We welcome the poetry-curious with open arms, and attendees are encouraged to engage at their own comfort level. Walk-ins welcome but registration is encouraged! Follow the links for the workshop location you are interested in.
Black in Multiple Languages: A Translation Symposium
Friday April 17 and Saturday April 18, 2026 | Virtual
The Black in Multiple Languages Symposium is a free two-day virtual gathering of poets, scholars, and translators exploring Black expression across linguistic, cultural, and hemispheric contexts. It will feature a keynote address with Mac Arthur Award winning poet, John Keene, two panels, an into and advanced translation workshop, and a multilingual reading with the featured poets. See the full schedule and register today!
A Poetry Reading with Kadija George Sesay
Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 5-6:30 PM | Taylor 405
Kadija George Sesay is an independent scholar working in literary project management and creative professional development. She is author of the poetry collection, Irki (2013). She recently launched the International Black Speculative Writing Festival and AfriPoeTree, a selective interactive video. In 2026, Dialogue Books will publish Black Radical: The Political Poetry of Black Britain, which Kadija edited with the late Professor Benjamin Zephaniah. Kadija is currently a Fulbright Scholar in residence at Howard University, and curated Furious Flower's April's broadside exhibit.
Nature Poetics: A UREC Hiking Poetry Workshop
Friday April 24, 2026 | 1-5 PM | Meet at UREC
On this adventure trip, participants will ride together in a UREC van out to Hone Quarry for a short 1-mile hike to an overlook called “Lover’s Leap." At the overlook, Furious Flower Program Manager, poet Jazmin Witherspoon, will lead an approximately 45-minute poetry writing/reading session. Participants should bring their own writing utensils and paper/notebook. This trip is designed for participants of all levels. No previous experience is required. Register Here.
