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Pegasus: Spring 2025 is One Week Away + Kentucky Humanities Needs Your Help!

It’s that time of year again! We are just one week away from unveiling Pegasus: Spring 2025, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you. This upcoming issue promises to be a celebration of the beauty and complexity of poetry, and we’re sure it will resonate with everyone who has ever felt the power of a well-placed word.

Before we dive into the pages of Pegasus, let’s take a moment to reflect on something truly special: our new editorial voice, Suz Spearman (she/they).

Introducing Suz Spearman: A New Editorial Voice

We’re thrilled to introduce Suz Spearman as the new editorial voice of Pegasus. Suz is a queer, Appalachian poet and the Secretary of the Kentucky State Poetry Society (KSPS). She teaches ESL and English at Bluegrass Technical and Community College, and is a beloved member of Kentucky’s poetry community. When she’s not writing or teaching, Suz can be found surrounded by green things and delighting in the joy of words like petrichor and defenestrate. We are so excited for you to read her thoughtful perspective in the upcoming issue, and we know she’ll bring a fresh and engaging voice to the journal.

A Teaser from the Editor’s Note

In her Editor’s Note for Pegasus: Spring 2025, Suz reflects on the deeper connections between the effort of poetry and the labor of the garden. She writes:

“Spring brings in the awful burden of the garden, the torturous labor of the yard, the row, the line of verse, and the volta. A generous reminder of the effort required to produce creative fruit, the back-curling endeavor of staying honest. Poetry, like cultivating nightshades, can keep us oddly tender and calloused. Spring renders us abundant and tired together.”

We love how Suz captures the delicate balance between effort and reward, labor and creation. It’s a sentiment that will resonate with poets and non-poets alike. Be sure to check out her full Editor’s Note when the issue drops!

Open Mic Opportunities This Month

As if all of this isn’t enough, we have two exciting open mics this month that you won’t want to miss! Whether you’re looking to share your own work or simply enjoy the creative energy, these events are the perfect way to connect with fellow poetry lovers.

  • Virtual Open Mic on Zoom – April 15 at 8 PM EST
    Join us from the comfort of your home for a virtual open mic. It’s a chance to share your poems, hear others’ work, and be part of our vibrant literary community. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or a first-timer, we welcome you to step up to the mic.
  • In-Person Open Mic at Loudoun House – April 28 at 6 PM EST
    In celebration of LEX250, we’re hosting a special in-person open mic at Loudoun House. If you’re in the area, come out and join us for a night of poetry, music, and community in one of Lexington’s most iconic venues.

A Call to Action for Kentucky Humanities

While we celebrate the upcoming release of Pegasus: Spring 2025 and our exciting events, we also want to take a moment to address an important issue. This week, Kentucky Humanities received notice that our federal funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has been terminated effective immediately. This news is deeply concerning, as it threatens the vital programs Kentucky Humanities offers across the Commonwealth, including cultural events, educational initiatives, and resources for libraries, schools, and community centers.

We urgently need your support. Please contact your Congress members and advocate for the restoration of NEH funding. Kentucky Humanities has sponsored nearly 2,500 events from 2020 to 2024, reaching over 3 million Kentuckians and awarding more than $1.6 million in grant funds. These programs are essential to the cultural fabric of our state, and we cannot afford to lose them.

Take action today to ensure that Kentucky Humanities can continue its important work in our communities.

Looking Ahead

We can’t wait to share Pegasus: Spring 2025 with you in just one week. In the meantime, don’t forget to join us for our open mics, and keep advocating for the humanities in Kentucky. Poetry and the arts have the power to transform communities, and with your help, we can keep that momentum going.

Until next week, keep writing, keep reading, and keep supporting Kentucky’s poetry community!

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Exciting April Events: Pegasus Release, Zoom Open Mic, and In-Person Open Mic at Loudoun House!

April is shaping up to be an exciting month at KSPS, with several events that you won’t want to miss! From the highly anticipated release of Pegasus to our virtual and in-person open mics, there’s something for everyone. Here’s a breakdown of what we have in store for you.

Pegasus Release: Coming April 15!

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming release of Pegasus, our spring edition, on April 15! This latest volume is filled with creative works from our talented community, including art, poetry, stories, and more. The hard work of our contributors and editorial team has resulted in a collection that’s sure to inspire and captivate. Whether you’re a long-time supporter or new to Pegasus, this edition offers a chance to experience the diverse voices that make our community special. Keep an eye out for more details and get ready to dive into this fresh release!

Zoom Open Mic: April 18

Our Zoom Open Mic on April 18 is the perfect opportunity for creatives to share their work from the comfort of their own space. Whether you’re a poet, musician, storyteller, or any other type of artist, this virtual open mic offers a supportive and welcoming environment to showcase your talent. It’s also a great way to connect with other creatives and enjoy performances from across the community.

If you’d like to perform, make sure to sign up ahead of time to secure your spot. Whether you’re participating or just watching, we encourage everyone to join in for a fun and creative evening!

In-Person Open Mic at Loudoun House: April 28

For those who prefer an in-person experience, we have something special lined up at Loudoun House on April 28—our In-Person Open Mic! This event will take place in a relaxed and supportive environment where you can share your work live with a community of artists and enthusiasts. Whether you’re reading poetry, performing music, or telling a story, we welcome all forms of creative expression.

Loudoun House is a beautiful venue that has long supported the arts, and we’re excited to host this event there. If you’ve missed the energy of performing in front of an audience, this open mic is the perfect chance to connect with others and celebrate your creativity in person.

Get Involved!

With so many exciting events this month, there’s no reason not to get involved! Whether you’re looking to share your work virtually on Zoom or perform live at Loudoun House, KSPS offers a space for artists of all kinds. And don’t forget to check out the release of Pegasus—our community’s creativity is always worth celebrating.

Mark your calendars, and we look forward to seeing you at these fantastic events this April!

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Reviving Your Poetry Writing in the Spring

Spring brings a sense of renewal—a perfect time to breathe new life into your poetry. The season invites us to step outside, embrace change, and rediscover the inspiration around us. Whether you’re a seasoned poet or just getting started, spring offers countless opportunities to reignite your creative spark. Here are a few ways to revive your poetry writing this season, brought to you by the Kentucky State Poetry Society (KSPS).

1. Step Outside and Observe the World Around You

Spring is a feast for the senses. The sound of birdsong, the scent of blooming flowers, the sight of green buds on trees—it’s all brimming with potential for poetry. Take a walk in the park, sit by a creek, or just observe the change in your own backyard. The more you allow yourself to absorb, the more you’ll have to write about.

Prompt: Write a poem inspired by the first flower you see this spring. Describe it in detail, but focus on what it makes you feel or remember.

2. Start a Poetry Journal for the Season

Journaling is a great way to track your creative thoughts and build new poems over time. Spring is a perfect season to start this habit. Keep a small notebook with you and jot down everything that catches your attention. You may find unexpected inspiration in your daily life or from new encounters during the season. Review your journal at the end of the month and pick out your favorite bits to turn into full poems.

Prompt: Write about a moment from your day that made you smile, whether big or small. Let your words bloom as you reflect on it.

3. Experiment with New Forms

Spring is all about growth, so why not try something new with your writing? If you usually write free verse, try experimenting with forms like haiku, sonnets, or villanelles. The constraints of these forms can be challenging, but they also push you to think outside the box. Plus, you might discover a new favorite way to write.

Prompt: Choose a form you’ve never tried before and write a poem using that structure. For example, try a haiku inspired by the spring weather.

4. Read More Poetry

Reading the work of others is an excellent way to reignite your own writing. You’ll gain new insights into different styles and techniques, and sometimes reading another poet’s words can spark your own creativity. You can anticipate our new issue of Pegasus on April 15, but for now, maybe dive into our fall 2024 issue.

Prompt: Read a poem that speaks to you, and then write a poem that responds to it. It can be a direct conversation, a reinterpretation, or simply a poem inspired by the feelings the piece evokes.

5. Join a Writing Group or Workshop

If you’re looking for motivation, community can help. Sharing your work with others can encourage you to keep writing, and constructive feedback will help you grow as a poet. KSPS offers opportunities for poets to connect, and getting involved with the community is a great way to reinvigorate your writing practice. This April, we have two open mic nights: a virtual one on April 15 and an in-person one on April 28 at Loudoun House.

Prompt: Attend a local poetry event or virtual workshop. Afterward, write a poem reflecting on the experience and how it made you feel.

6. Celebrate the Natural World

Spring is the season of growth, and that extends beyond plants and trees. It’s a time to reflect on personal growth and renewal as well. Incorporate themes of growth, transformation, and nature into your work. Let the season inspire you to explore new emotional depths in your writing.

Prompt: Write a poem that compares your growth as a poet to the growth of something in nature. How do you bloom, just like a flower?

7. Break Away from Perfection

Sometimes the hardest part of writing is the pressure to make each poem perfect. Spring is about letting go of what no longer serves you—don’t let the idea of perfection hold you back. Write freely, without worrying about whether it’s “good” or “bad.” The more you write, the easier it will be to refine your work.

Prompt: Write a poem in a single sitting, allowing your thoughts to flow freely without editing. Focus on letting go and trusting the process.

8. Find Inspiration in Spring Holidays

Holidays like Easter, Earth Day, and May Day can offer unique prompts for creativity. Think about how these occasions make you feel, or write about the traditions and celebrations associated with them. Use these moments to explore deeper meanings or simply reflect on their significance.

Prompt: Write a poem about your favorite spring holiday, focusing on the sensory details or emotions it evokes.

We encourage you to share your spring-inspired poems with us! Submit your work to Pegasus, send them to our Instagram, and don’t forget to join KSPS to stay connected with the vibrant Kentucky poetry community.

Happy writing, and may your poetry bloom this season!

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Upcoming Craft Talks and Virtual Open Mic New Sign Up – Don’t Miss Out!

Spring is here, and so are exciting opportunities to engage with the world of poetry at KSPS!

We’re thrilled about our three upcoming free craft talks, which are exclusively for our members. These workshops will dive deep into unique aspects of poetry writing, offering both a creative space and practical insights to help you hone your craft.

Craft Your Words: A Multi-Modal Approach to Poetry Writing
Hosted by Lucy Oquaye

In this dynamic workshop, we’ll explore how poems can be like marionettes or musical chords—seamlessly weaving together voices and moments that might seem unconnected at first glance. Through tactile exercises like collages, blackout poems, and zines, we’ll use materials like old magazines, paper, glue, and markers to create poetry that embraces absence and negation. The goal? To craft poems that are unexpected, real, and rich in meaning. Absence isn’t just a void—it’s a tool for creation. Dates to be announced!

String Theory: An Exploration of Poetry that Employs Multiple Threads
Hosted by Clay Matthews

Poetry often contains hidden strings—threads that connect disparate voices, ideas, and moments. In this workshop, we’ll unpack how some poems create seamless connections between seemingly unrelated elements, like marionettes and musical chords, or tapestries and trapezes. With examples and discussions, we’ll explore how these connections work and then apply the concept by creating poems using provided prompts and “strings.” This is your chance to weave your own creative threads into a poem that resonates. Dates to be announced!

One of These Things Is/Isn’t True: Negation in Poetry
Hosted by Trish Jaggers

“There is no glass in the bathwater.”
Absence—what’s not said—can be just as powerful as what is. In this workshop, we’ll examine how poets use negation—juxtaposition, rejection, and even lies—to add depth, ambiguity, and richness to their poems. We’ll explore poems that “tell all the truth but tell it slant” and then create our own works from what is left unsaid. Expect a session where we intentionally leave gaps, and from those gaps, create something unexpected and real. Dates to be announced!

Virtual Open Mic: April 15

We’re also excited to host our April 15 Virtual Open Mic, a fantastic opportunity for KSPS members to share their poetry with fellow creatives. This event will be hosted via Google Forms registration, a new system we’re using to streamline sign-ups. Here’s how it works:

  • Registration Process: When you register, you’ll select whether you’re a reader or an audience member. If you select “reader,” you’ll be asked to provide your name and email address. If you’re attending as an audience member, you’ll also provide your details to complete the registration.
  • Limited Reading Slots: In our hour-long open mic, we only have time for a 15 readers. These slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to sign up early!
  • Reminder: Reading slots are exclusive to KSPS members. If you’re not a member yet, this is a great time to join and participate in this event.

The virtual open mic is a wonderful way to share your voice, hear from others, and engage with the vibrant KSPS community. Mark your calendar for April 15, and don’t forget to register as soon as the sign-up forms are live!

In-Person Open Mic: April 28 at Loudon House

If you’re looking for a more personal connection, we’re still hosting our in-person open mic at Loudon House on April 28 from 6-8 PM. This is a wonderful chance to connect face-to-face with fellow poets and share your work in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re reading or simply enjoying the performance of others, it’s sure to be a memorable evening. We hope to see you there!

Stay tuned for more details on the craft talk dates, and be sure to mark your calendars for both the virtual open mic on April 15 and the in-person open mic at Loudon House on April 28. We can’t wait to see you there—whether you’re reading, listening, or both!

Kentucky Voices Poetry Reading with Tom C. Hunley: March 18, 8 PM (Zoom)

Don’t miss our upcoming Kentucky Voices Poetry Reading with Tom C. Hunley on March 18 at 8 PM on Zoom. Registration is still open, and we’d love for you to join us for this exciting event! Tom C. Hunley will be sharing his poetry and engaging in a discussion about his work. Be sure to register now to reserve your spot and be part of this enriching experience!