Joanne the Poet - The Poetry of Joanne M. Clarkson

Poetry Envelope, A Personal Anthology

For more than ten years I have kept a computer file labeled “Poems I Admire.” Whenever I come across a poem I consider truly inspiring, I save it into this…Read More »

Moments That Have to Be Poems

How do poems come to us? The theme, the details, the words, the images, the channel into enlightenment? How do we become our art? When I consider my life, I…Read More »

What I Learned from Writing Sonnets

It’s hard. Not just a little difficult, but seriously challenging to craft a good poem in a specific, time-tested, venerated form. One that doesn’t sound forced or stilted. One that…Read More »

Gwendolyn

Most poets can point to one famous, accomplished poet who truly taught them the art of poetry. Mine didn’t come through a degree program or workshop, but through children, specifically…Read More »