April is a month of renewal and rebirth — with showers watering what springs in May. It’s also National Poetry Month — a time to celebrate those who can turn feelings into words that cause us to reflect. 

This month, Torch is celebrating National Poetry Month by pouring into our community. Just like the April showers, we know that watering others with resources and support brings the growth and representation that marginalized voices need to thrive. 

We’re starting off celebrating National Poetry Month by highlighting our April Feature, Yona Harvey. Yona Harvey is an acclaimed poet and professor. Winner of the 2014 Kate Tufts Discovery Award, her poetry collections include Hemming the Water and You Don’t Have to Go to Mars for Love. She is also an author of Marvel Comics' World of Wakanda, becoming one of the first two black women to write for Marvel. You can check out her poems and interview with our editor, Jae Nichelle, here. 

April is also very special for Torch because we are celebrating the fact that our own executive director, Amanda Johnston, is the 2024 Texas Poet Laureate. She is making Texas and poetry history as the first Black woman to be the state’s laureate. Torch celebrates her accomplishments all year, but especially this month. 

You can celebrate National Poetry Month with Torch and join us in watering our community by attending our events, sharing our work on social media, and donating to our organization. 

Check out a few of our events this Poetry Month:

Events 

• April 15th - Writing Circle

• April 24th - The Salon

Torch Magazine 

• Read our April 2024 Feature, Yona Harvey

• Read the poetry Friday Features by Isha Camara and Lor Clincy 

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About Torch Literary Arts

Torch Literary Arts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit established with love and intention in 2006 to publish and promote creative writing by Black women. We publish contemporary writing by experienced and emerging writers alike. Torch has featured work by Toi Derricotte, Tayari Jones, Sharon Bridgforth, Crystal Wilkinson, Patricia Smith, Natasha Trethewey, Elizabeth Alexander, and others. Programs include the Wildfire Reading Series, workshops, an annual retreat, and special events. 

Help Torch continue to publish and promote Black women writers by donating today.

Media Contact Information:

Brittany Heckard

Communications Associate

bheckard@torchliteraryarts.org 

(512) 641-9251