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Book Launch: "Convergence"

Poetry on Environmental Impacts of War

Poets featured in the book appear in person and virtually to present readings of their work, offering a groundbreaking and vital perspective on war’s destruction of the natural world.

No registration is required for in person attendance. Register for the Zoom livestream.

About "Convergence: Poetry on Environmental Impacts of War"
Edited by Anne Coray, J.C. Todd, and Teresa Mei Chuc
Forewords by Scott McVay and Rick Steiner

"Convergence: Poetry on Environmental Impacts of War" offers a groundbreaking and vital perspective on war’s destruction of the natural world—the creatures, plants, soil, water, and atmosphere of Earth. In poems and contextual comments, 61 contemporary poets focus on military damages to the ecosystems on six continents and the moon. Framed by a cogent introduction and a pair of forewords, one on the poetry and the other on global consequences, the poems are accompanied by a tally of ecological costs and a set of thought-provoking discussion and writing prompts for teens and adults. This compelling anthology alerts readers to environmental degradation of our planet while affirming nature’s resilience and regeneration.

Contributors: Ninety poems, each paired with an Author’s Note, by U.S. and international poets, including John Balaban, Gillian Clarke, Camille T. Dungy, Ferida Duraković, W.D. Ehrhart, William Heyen, Cynthia Hogue, Denise Low, Craig Santos Perez, Vivian Faith Prescott,  Eric Paul Shaffer, Jillian Sullivan, Brian Turner, Pamela Uschuk, and Mai Der Vang.

Featured readers:

J. C. Todd,  co-editor of "Convergence: Poetry on Environmental Impacts of War." Her most recent books are "Beyond Repair" (Able Muse Press, 2021) and the bilingual English–Lithuanian "What Kept Me Awake? / Kas neleido užmigti?" (PDR, 2024). A former Fellow of the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, she has poems in American Poetry Review, The Paris Review, Pedestal, Prairie Schooner.

Headshot credit: Mark Hillringhouse

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Richard Levine is the author of "Taming the Hours: An Almanac with Marginalia" (forthcoming), "Now in Contest, Selected Poems," "Contiguous States," and five chapbooks.  A Vietnam veteran, he co-edited “Invasion of Ukraine 2022: Poems,” is Associate Editor of BigCityLit.com, and the recipient of the 2021 Connecticut Poetry Society Award.

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MaryAnn L. Miller is a poet, printmaker, and book artist, she has four published collections of poetry. Miller has been thrice nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her work has appeared in the anthologies "Illness as a Form of Existence," "Welcome to the Resistance," and "Stained." Her poem "Petrarch’s Map" is part of a collaboration with Steamroller Printers.

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Alexander Essien Timothy is a professor of Language Arts Education at the University
of Calabar, Nigeria. His research interest is in innovative strategies for teaching English
and Literature-in-English. He loves storytelling, especially with Tortoise as main
character. He writes poems, and short stories as a hobby.

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Jaylan Salah is an Egyptian poet, translator, destination manager at Trip500, and film critic for Geek Vibes Nation and InSession Film. She has published two poetry collections, translated eleven books into Arabic, and her poem “You Can’t Dress Me Up, Auntie A” inspired the short film "The Bride."

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Lavinia Kumar’s latest prose book is "Spirited American Women: Early Writers, Artists, & Activists." She’s published three poetry books and four chapbooks. Her poems and flash fiction are in a variety of poetry journals & three anthologies.  She’s received four Pushcart and one Best of Net nominations. Her website: laviniakumar.net

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Sean Mclain Brown is a combat disabled Marine Corps veteran. His writing is heavily influenced by his experience in combat and living with consequences of war. His writing has appeared in more than 50 journals and is featured in "An Introduction to the Prose Poem" and "Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace."

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For more poetry programming, see the digital brochure for "Verse and Voice: A Festival of Poetry" taking place April 18 to May 4 at the library. 

Public Humanities programs are presented with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this programming do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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