Mass Poetry envisions a world where poetry catalyzes understanding & connection.

Getting to Know Mckendy Fils-Aimé

Who inspires you to write?

Young poets and young writers inspire me because I know that it’s so difficult to start out. I have tenure, I have some measure of economic security, I have the summers off, and I have readers, not a lot of readers, but I have enough readers, so I feel that when I publish something, it’ll be read. When you start out, you don’t have any of those things. It’s so precarious. I don’t know if I would have the courage to do it today.

Getting to Know Dan Chiasson

Who inspires you to write?

Young poets and young writers inspire me because I know that it’s so difficult to start out. I have tenure, I have some measure of economic security, I have the summers off, and I have readers, not a lot of readers, but I have enough readers, so I feel that when I publish something, it’ll be read. When you start out, you don’t have any of those things. It’s so precarious. I don’t know if I would have the courage to do it today.

Getting to Know Elizabeth Moore

How did you first get into poetry? I think for me, it probably started in high school, like it does for a lot of poets, with writing really bad epic...

Getting to Know Tru Kwene

How did you first get into poetry? Following my big sisters. I am number four out of five kids, and my big sisters were always my biggest...

Getting to know Rafael Arturo

How did you first get into poetry? I got into poetry at a very young age. My first language is Spanish, and I spent some time in ESL classes. What...

Volunteer

Our amazing community of volunteers helps make Mass Poetry possible; join us and meet other poetry lovers! If you are interested in volunteering in any capacity, please email us at [email protected]. There are opportunities to be involved throughout the year, but...

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Community Programs

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  • Raining Poetry
  • U35 Reading Series

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A lighthouse with the text "Massachusetts Poetry Festival"