ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) – Western North Carolina has a rich literary tradition, including in poetry. Shaped by the soaring Appalachian Mountains and the cultural heritage in the valleys below, poets have found many forms of inspiration in the region. Institutions like Black Mountain College and the University of North Carolina Asheville have proved to be breeding grounds for rich authorship.
To celebrate National Poetry Month this April, consider reading one of these W.N.C. poets.
Kay Byer – Former North Carolina Poet Laureate from 2005-2009, Byer’s poetry collections included titles like “The Girl in the Midst of the Harvest,” “Wake” and “Descent.” She died in 2017.
Wayne Caldwell – Born and raised in Asheville, Caldwell’s poetry collection “Woodsmoke” (2021) delves into themes of nature, loneliness and Appalachian heritage.
Michael McFee – A poet and essayist from Asheville, McFee’s work often reflects his homeland in the North Carolina mountains. In 2006, his poetry collection “Shinemaster” won the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award from the Western North Carolina Historical Association.
Charles Olson – An advocate of open verse, Olson upended tradition and moved the medium forward with his essays. Author of “The Maximus Poems,” he was a central figure in the Black Mountain poets avant-garde movement while serving as the rector of Black Mountain College.
Scott Owens – Based in Hickory, Owens has published 22 collections of poems, exploring themes like mindfulness, country life and shared human experiences. His recent works include “Eventually: Haiku” and “An Augury of Birds.”