“Poetry and the American Dream”

Numerous great American poets from Walt Whitman to Maya Angelo and most recently inaugural poet Amanda Gorman, have written poems that delve into the psyche of America. Their poems reflect the sensibilities of migration and nation building, and the landscapes created from dreams fulfilled or deferred in the wake of apathy, betrayal or war. These poems can elevate, act as warnings or serve as guideposts for reflection. Join poet and teaching artist Linda Joy Burke to read, listen to and discuss poetry that speaks to this topic. Participants will have an opportunity to create personal “American Dream” poems.

Linda Joy Burke is a 2013 Howard County Women’s Hall of Fame inductee, performance poet, writer, photo artist, workshop facilitator, interactive music maker, humanistic co-creator, 1 drop in the ocean. She has presented at BES platforms over the past 15 years, as well as taught BES Sunday school for 4 years. She is currently a contributing editor for the Little Patuxent Review and a co-host of the Wilde Readings Literary Arts series of the Columbia Arts Center and Zoom/Facebook as of April 2020. www.lindajoyburke.com