Catherine Pierce is the 2021 poet laureate of Mississippi. She has written four books of poetry. Pierce is an English professor at Mississippi State University where she codirects the creative writing program. She firmly believes that poetry is for everybody. This morning this planet is covered by winds and blue. This morning this planet glows with dustless perfect light, enought that I can see one million sharp leaves from where I stand. I walk on this planet, its hard-packed dirt and prickling grass, and I don't fall off. I come down soft if I choose, hard if I choose. I never float away. Sometimes I want to be weightless on…

Sheenagh Pugh is a British poet, novelist, and translator. She has published a number of volumes of poetry, two novels, as well of translations of poetry mainly from German. Pugh’s poetry employs a “beguiling simplicity of language” and is devoted to storytelling. She says “I have been accused of being “populist” and “too accessible”, both of which I hope are true.” What if this road, that has held no surprises these many years, decided not to go home after all; what if it could turn left or right with no more ado than a kite-tail? What if its tarry skin were like a long, supple bolt of cloth, that is…

At work the other day, I was sorting book donations for the Friends of the Library book sale. Let’s take a minute to appreciate that my job put me in a room absolutely filled with boxes and shelves of books and told me to sort through them. That was a good day. I came across a lot of books I wanted and, since I tend to like older books, the ones I wanted to buy were the ones my coworker thought wouldn’t sell well. It worked out for everyone. I have a box of books on the shelf at work and I slowly carry a few home with me when…