Poets Speak Back to Hunger
MEDIA RELEASE
Artwork by Diane Wilbon Parks
May 24, 2021
Contact: Hiram Larew or Aaron R at [email protected]
Publication of POETS SPEAK BACK TO HUNGER
An e-Collection of Poems from Around the World
YES! – Poetry X Hunger is very pleased to announce the release of a first-ever collection of poems about hunger.
Intended as an easy-to-use handbook for teachers, lawmakers, policy leaders and community members, this e-book includes 30+ haunting poems by poets from around the world about the all-too-present scourge of hunger.
FREELY AVAILABLE – The handbook is free, and available at www.PoetryXHunger.com. All poems and the cover artwork are also freely available for use, as long as credit is given to the poet or to Ms. Parks for her visual art. Many of the poems are also included as a recording (audio or video) by the young or adult poet presenting her/his work. And, there are poems in Spanish and in the Cheyenne language.
POETS SPEAK BACK TO HUNGER also contains prompts to help would-be poets get started writing about hunger. And, it includes a suggestion about how to make a donation to The Capital Area Food Bank or another anti-hunger group.
HUNGER is all too prevalent in our neighborhoods, our villages, our countries and the world. While poetry will not end it, poetry surely can Speak Back to Hunger in ways that reach people’s hearts and influence their actions.
For too long, poetry has been largely silent about hunger. This collection is focused on changing that. Our hope is that these poems will be quoted, recited, shared and presented very widely in classrooms, meetings, religious services, political fora, etc. Newsletters, placards, and signs are also a good place to showcase such poems for everyone to read.
Here’s what one reviewer said about the collection --
Many of these poems underscore the importance of collective action, which may be unlocked through sharing, caring, creativity and mobilization.
- Cheryl Morden, Global Food Security Specialist
Thanks!
Click HERE to access POETS SPEAK BACK TO HUNGER
Comments from Readers
Great cheers for this grounding collection of poems of love, caring, helping sisters, brothers and
all species of others and our EARTH ... with sincere gratitude to co-editors Hiram Larew, Aaron
R, and to all of the poets who are Speaking Back to Hunger.
- Edward Mycue, Poet, California, USA
***
What makes this anthology intriguing is that hunger is a universal basic urge which rears its
head for every human being every few hours. And every one of these poems from so many
different writers addresses it in a fresh way, so that the reader thinks anew about it.
For all our intelligence and ingenuity millions still suffer its pangs daily in the poorest of
communities and surprisingly in the richest too. It is not a top priority yet in our greedy uncaring
world, at least not for those who have the power to make it so.
In my country, Ireland, there was the tragedy of the Great Hunger and there is a tradition of
hunger strike as a deliberate action to press for justice, freedom and unity for our country from
its occupying force, Britain. It was most recently used by the 1981 Hunger Strikers led by
Bobby Sands. It is a heroic non-violent weapon, an act of sacrifice which has advanced and
inspired our aspirations.
- Deirdre McGarry, Poet, Ireland
***
This first collection of poems “Poets Speak Back to Hunger” by these awesome poets is worth
the read. The poets are diverse in their ethnicity as well as the poems’…. I really enjoyed
reading the feelings and spirits about “hunger.” Kudos to Hiram Larew and Aaron Whitehead for
their part in bringing the poet’s ideas clearly to the reader! Well done!
- Joyce Williams Graves, Writer, Maryland, USA
***
As a contributor on the website and one who tries to help where I live, I'm moved by the poetic
variety of describing this universal scourge. Of all the metaphoric hungers we speak of in daily
life, the actual fact of it is unfathomable in our time. Yet, these poets speak truth.
- Lynn Axelrod, Poet, California, USA
***
Hunger needs an audience. This anthology is giving it one. A poet's job is to speak the
truth: Teri Cross Davis says, "Shoo away the vulture, whose crime is hers too, hunger...";
Henry Crawford says, "On those nights I made an apple out of sand / and watched it blow
away."
This truthful book speaks about "being gripped by hunger like a fist in his belly";
Listen hard to the hungry people. Let the poets speak.
- Mary Ann Larkin, Poet, Maryland, USA
***
Poets Speak Back to Hunger fulfills its promise, offering a myriad of creative expressions
to illuminate the hunger crisis. The readings are educational, hopeful, and uplifting. Historical
poems of hunger issues teach lessons. Poems with solutions to “food insecurity” keep me
hopeful, and poems about hard work and sacrifice uplift my spirit.
Powerful imagery such as “big stomachs and tearless crying” (A Lady Yells Up and Down
Minnesota Avenue), “the stars seeded the skies” (Fruits of Famine), and “I use my tongue as a
mop” (Dinner for One) make the poems mind-movies. Word-pictures stoke the reader’s
imagination. As a result, one reads, sees, feels, and experiences the poem as the poet did.
Lastly, Poets Speak Back to Hunger offers wisdom and insights. “Hunger has no caste”
(The Wait), “starvation is life insecurity” (The Hunger Dialect), “closed doors hide more than
empty shelves” (The Flyer) are a few examples of writers sharing enlightenment. Research
about hunger, keen observations, and deep concern for food insecurity provided the poets’
“food for thought”. Safe to say, well done.
- Aressa Williams, Poet, Maryland, USA
Great cheers for this grounding collection of poems of love, caring, helping sisters, brothers and
all species of others and our EARTH ... with sincere gratitude to co-editors Hiram Larew, Aaron
R, and to all of the poets who are Speaking Back to Hunger.
- Edward Mycue, Poet, California, USA
***
What makes this anthology intriguing is that hunger is a universal basic urge which rears its
head for every human being every few hours. And every one of these poems from so many
different writers addresses it in a fresh way, so that the reader thinks anew about it.
For all our intelligence and ingenuity millions still suffer its pangs daily in the poorest of
communities and surprisingly in the richest too. It is not a top priority yet in our greedy uncaring
world, at least not for those who have the power to make it so.
In my country, Ireland, there was the tragedy of the Great Hunger and there is a tradition of
hunger strike as a deliberate action to press for justice, freedom and unity for our country from
its occupying force, Britain. It was most recently used by the 1981 Hunger Strikers led by
Bobby Sands. It is a heroic non-violent weapon, an act of sacrifice which has advanced and
inspired our aspirations.
- Deirdre McGarry, Poet, Ireland
***
This first collection of poems “Poets Speak Back to Hunger” by these awesome poets is worth
the read. The poets are diverse in their ethnicity as well as the poems’…. I really enjoyed
reading the feelings and spirits about “hunger.” Kudos to Hiram Larew and Aaron Whitehead for
their part in bringing the poet’s ideas clearly to the reader! Well done!
- Joyce Williams Graves, Writer, Maryland, USA
***
As a contributor on the website and one who tries to help where I live, I'm moved by the poetic
variety of describing this universal scourge. Of all the metaphoric hungers we speak of in daily
life, the actual fact of it is unfathomable in our time. Yet, these poets speak truth.
- Lynn Axelrod, Poet, California, USA
***
Hunger needs an audience. This anthology is giving it one. A poet's job is to speak the
truth: Teri Cross Davis says, "Shoo away the vulture, whose crime is hers too, hunger...";
Henry Crawford says, "On those nights I made an apple out of sand / and watched it blow
away."
This truthful book speaks about "being gripped by hunger like a fist in his belly";
Listen hard to the hungry people. Let the poets speak.
- Mary Ann Larkin, Poet, Maryland, USA
***
Poets Speak Back to Hunger fulfills its promise, offering a myriad of creative expressions
to illuminate the hunger crisis. The readings are educational, hopeful, and uplifting. Historical
poems of hunger issues teach lessons. Poems with solutions to “food insecurity” keep me
hopeful, and poems about hard work and sacrifice uplift my spirit.
Powerful imagery such as “big stomachs and tearless crying” (A Lady Yells Up and Down
Minnesota Avenue), “the stars seeded the skies” (Fruits of Famine), and “I use my tongue as a
mop” (Dinner for One) make the poems mind-movies. Word-pictures stoke the reader’s
imagination. As a result, one reads, sees, feels, and experiences the poem as the poet did.
Lastly, Poets Speak Back to Hunger offers wisdom and insights. “Hunger has no caste”
(The Wait), “starvation is life insecurity” (The Hunger Dialect), “closed doors hide more than
empty shelves” (The Flyer) are a few examples of writers sharing enlightenment. Research
about hunger, keen observations, and deep concern for food insecurity provided the poets’
“food for thought”. Safe to say, well done.
- Aressa Williams, Poet, Maryland, USA
