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Poetry Archive Now Wordview 2024: Here’s a Toast to the April 8th, 2024 Solar Eclipse I’ll Never See
by Kait Quinn
Poetry Archive Now Wordview 2024: Here’s a Toast to the April 8th, 2024 Solar Eclipse I’ll Never See
through the overcast skies of Minneapolis,
miles from the path of totality, only a crescent
of silhouette left. Here’s a toast to the 2017
solar eclipse I missed because I was working sixty
hours a week at a startup and forgot to get the glasses
anyway. But at least we sold the company and I
paid off that last $13,000 in student loan debt.
At least I see malicious shades of maroon
when I think about my ex now. At least I can wake
up every morning and find poetry defined in the dog
curled into my body like a Shark’s Eye; the gilded
gingko the sun brings out in my partner’s irises, so close
to reptilian. And have you ever stood under a yellow-
leaved maple just before sunset on a bright
October day, plunged in a pool of pollen broth?
Or witnessed golden dawn imprint herself on
downtown’s mirrored limbs?
I feel no shift in energy. I find myself cast out
of an experience of a lifetime, but I won’t collapse
into my grave barren pupiled. I have lived in a dark
sky city; taken the curved, narrow drive to Lowell
Observatory, shared a room with the telescope
that discovered Pluto. I have looked up to witness
a flying squirrel in full glide. These hands have held
a tarantula, rescued a rabbit kit from sure death.
I have seen a shooting star free fall to horizon. I have
tuned my heart to pulse the syllabic sounds of your name.
A special thank you to our WordView 2024 poets.
Hear from two of our winners this year on what the Archive and winning has meant to them:
From William Wyld:
'As a neuro-diverse poet who has struggled to engage with books, reading aloud made literature accessible to me. The Poetry Archive is such a valuable resource and to be included as a winner is a wonderful surprise, giving me validation as an artist, the motivation to keep writing and performing, and the confidence to submit my work widely. I recorded at the last minute, walking by a river through the undergrowth as the light was fading, so my poem could be heard with the movement of the landscape. It was an experiment, but good things happen when we take risks.'
From Sarah Morris:
'I felt that I would enter the PAN competition as my last submission of the year as it is a fun one to do. I enjoy reading out my poems and doing videos and bonus with PAN as they are put up online. I like that these poems are accessible by everyone.
When I got the ' you are a winner' email – I felt super impressed that I had been included for a top 20 selection – I felt validated that my work has been recognised and it has inspired me to keep on writing and re drafting next year.'
From Nuri Rosegg:
'A British friend told me about PAN. I’m grateful to her and to PAN that I could enter this fabulous poetry competition. This year (just like last year when I entered for the first time) I felt grateful, excited and a little bit nervous due to the video-making challenge. However, it was great fun to read out loud my own piece of work. It’s another dimension being able to present my poem to the audience “live” from around the world than just having them read my text. Being one of the winners this year makes me so happy, grateful and proud. Thanks, PAN!'
From Julie-Ann Rowell:
"It is an honour to have my reading of my poem ‘Newsworthy’ chosen for the Poetry Archive Now! WordView 2024 project, representing poets writing in English in 2024. This particular year has been deeply challenging, and I wanted to write about George Orwell for whom the exchange of information and how this can be distorted was of prime significance. His world view is as relevant today as it ever was. Poetry has an important task to do in representing what is happening in the world and the Poetry Archive does a fantastic job of storing recordings of poets at work for future generations. Hearing poets’ voices brings their words into a more personal and lasting frame, and the Archive is free for anyone to listen in and find their favourite poet or discover a new one. I am so proud to be a part of it."
See the collectionWatch the full Wordview 2024 playlist