Mass Poetry

Ansara drafted a short thought-piece with a summary of potential activities and programs that might be included in an umbrella organization focused on resolving the acknowledged state of poetry in the commonwealth—what would eventually become Mass Poetry, with programs like The Massachusetts Poetry Festival, Student Day of Poetry, Common Threads, and Poetry on the T. The MCC donated the time and help of Charles Coe, and Mass Humanities provided a funding grant to convene roundtables of poets in seven regions of the state in order to discuss and “diagnose” the state of poetry in MA, and to bring poets together from various schools, styles, backgrounds, and generations, bridging gaps that had existed in the community. These roundtables helped to recognize that the Massachusetts Poetry community was fragmented and balkanized. Poetry was distant from the lives of the public, there was little access to accomplished poets, and poetry had retreated mostly to the academy, because it was the only source of revenue for some poets. The overwhelming consensus of the 120 poets in the roundtables—followed by another 150 poets in subsequent meetings—lead to the ultimate creation of Mass Poetry. In 2009, the Mass Poetry Outreach Project was formally incorporated and granted tax-deductible 501c3 status by the IRS. Mass Poetry officially enrolled 55 poetry partners, and 160 poets were asked to be on the (primarily honorary) Advisory Board. The organization also created a website (which you are now visiting) to provide resources for poets, readers of poetry, teachers, librarians, and others.