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Once a Student, Always a Student: Medbh McGuckian’s Love of Learning
Our poet Medbh McGuckian was born Maeve McCaughan in Belfast in 1950, the third of six children. McGuckian attributes her mother, whom she describes as very artistic, for sparking her initial interest in poetry. McGuckian began writing poetry as a child and continued through her adolescence, eventually enrolling at Queens University, Belfast to study English….
Continue ReadingPoem of the Week: “Spells for the Embalmers” by Medbh McGuckian
Spells for the Embalmers I believe that you left the heart in place, fringed with locks of gold wire. That the blue tissue of the hands was separately wrapped in beaded net. That the unprepared harmony of palm wine and cedar oil pealed at the same moment. And a flimsy, waxed sail that grew more…
Continue ReadingA Lil’ Bit of Lit. Crit.: The Vocal Landscapes of Vona Groarke
In the Spring 2010 issue of Poetry London, W.N. Herbert of Newcastle University wrote an article on “Approaching Simplicity” in which he compares the works of poets Billy Collins and Don Paterson to our very own Vona Groarke. Looking at Groarke’s most recent publication with the Press, Spindrift, Herbert writes: Vona Groarke’s work finds itself…
Continue ReadingBut who is Captain Lemass?
Currently at the press, we are looking forward to releasing Harry Clifton’s new book The Winter Sleep of Captain Lemass. When first hearing this title, the name Captain Lemass seems so lyrical that many assume it must be a fictional name. However, some researched revealed that Clifton is actually referring to Captain Noel Lemass, the…
Continue ReadingPoem of the Week: “Ceist na Teangan / The Language Issue” by Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill
This week has been a pretty exciting one for everyone involved in publishing and literary studies here at Wake Forest. After two years of planning, the University is finally hosting its “Words Awake!” celebration of Wake Forest writers! The three day event will focus on recognizing the achievements of Wake Forest writers past and present while also…
Continue ReadingA Lil’ Bit of Lit Crit: “Wake Forest Series of Irish Poetry”
Our latest project at the Press has been drafting permissions letters for our upcoming anthology. The Wake Forest Series of Irish Poetry, Volume III features the works of five Irish poets and will come out early next year. This week we will be contacting the publishers of these poets’ various works and requesting their permission to use…
Continue ReadingPoem of the Week: “Pollen” by Moya Cannon
We felt this poem about pollen by Moya Cannon was incredibly appropriate this week as the season changes from winter to spring. You can read more of her poetry in our anthology The Wake Forest Series of Irish Poetry, Volume II. Pollen And this dust survives through the death of ages. It sleeps in deep…
Continue Reading“The Wild Dog Rose” – A Collaboration of Arts Nearly Fifty Years in the Making
In 1962, a group of Irish musicians formed a band called The Chieftains that would specialize in traditional music. Now fifty years later, The Chieftains are a six-time Grammy award winning group that has popularized traditional Irish music around the world. The band’s name came from the book Death of a Chieftain, written by our…
Continue ReadingPoem of the Week: “Oscar” by Ciaran Carson
Ever wish you could experience winning an Oscar? In light of last weekend’s Academy Awards, today we present you that opportunity, courtesy of one of our most popular poets, Ciaran Carson. Oscar I held the figurine aloft, revelling in my actor’s gravestone smile; I boldly faced an orchestra of flash, as paparazzi packed the aisle. I thanked everyone: all…
Continue ReadingA Lil’ Bit of Lit. Crit.
As promised last week, we at the Press would like to take a moment to dive a little deeper into Boston College’s recent review of Medbh McGuckian’s My Love Has Fared Inland. As previously mentioned, it was nice to see BC’s reviewer, Heather Bryant Jordan, point out the same elements of movement in My Love…
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