Babs Gons was the poet laureate of the Netherlands from 2023 to 2025 and the author of Doe het toch maar. Babs Gons is a Dutch writer, spoken word performer, and host. For decades, she has been a driving force behind numerous poetry stage initiatives. Gons made her debut in 2021 with her poetry collection and has since published several books and won several prizes for her work. She has been presenting her work for years at festivals, in museums, debate centers, on radio an

In this special joint feature, literary powerhouses and best friends Lynne Thompson and Patricia Smith talk about sisterhood. Lynne Thompson served as Los Angeles’ 4th Poet Laureate and is the author of four collections of poetry: Beg No Pardon; Start With A Small Guitar; Fretwork; and, Blue on a Blue Palette. A lawyer by training, Thompson serves on the Boards of The Poetry Foundation, Los Angeles Review of Books, her alma mater, Scripps College, and is the current President