There were these poets...
A bit of explanation
Hello, everyone. A hundred years ago, a group of poets formed the beginnings of the Poetry Society of South Carolina. We’re still here, and working on our second hundred years with a new twist. We’ve learned a lot, and our eyes are wide with anticipation and vision. I’ll be telling you about the board and about our members. As the current president, I’ve created an initiative called Every Corner, Every County because although the PSSC has accomplished so much over the decades, we’ve been known as primarily serving the Lowcountry. So… I’ve been on the road, going from county to county, looking for poets on porches and benches and barstools. I’ve visited many libraries, and hosted some events. I’d like to tell you all about it, and share my videos as a kind of documentary project. I’m also building relationships, hoping to work together to advance the causes of not only our society but of other meaningful organizations such as Ellen Naomi Zisholtz’s Center for Creative Partnerships, “a 501(c)3 non-profit multidisciplinary educational organization, based in South Carolina that uses the Arts and humanities to engage audiences to advocate for greater Social Justice, including Civil and Human Rights.” I had the pleasure of meeting Ellen recently, along with other brilliant minds of the Orangeburg County and Richland County regions: Janet Kozachek, Tom Cassidy, Nat Wallace, Al Black, and Seitu Amenwahsu. This meeting was organized by Janet, an artist and author of A Book of Bothersome Cats and other works with Finishing Line Press. Ellen told us about the Center and her other important work with All Star Bowling/Justice Center and Art with a Conscience, and we imagined ways all of us could make poetry grow in South Carolina.
The PSSC also wants to grow our relationships with local bookstores including Buxton Books (Charleston), All Good Books (Columbia), Books on Broad (Camden), M. Judson Booksellers (Greenville), and others around the state. Buxton Books has been supporting the Society at all of our Charleston readings by setting up shop for our guest poets on site at the Charleston Library Society and at Gage Hall, and we are so grateful!
On April 22, All Good Books hosted Poetry Society readings with Nikki Finney, Ann Chadwell Humphries, musician Lang Owen, and myself, and it was an extraordinary pleasure. In the crowd were several members including Susan Craig, whose chapbook, Hush, arrived in my mail just the other day. She had kindly sent me a copy because the chapbook was sold out on the Seven Kitchens Press site. It was selected in 2022 for publication in the “Summer Kitchens” series along with four other poets — a short-run, hand-sewn piece. I can’t wait to dive in.
So… I’ll be sharing about my travels and interactions, and I’d love for you to join me here to revel in it all.
See you soon,
Tamara Miles