Ed Roberts (poet)

Ed Roberts (born June 27, 1958 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is an American poet, writer and publisher currently based in Yukon, Oklahoma.[1]

For other uses, see Ed Roberts (disambiguation).

Poetry

After a life-threatening illness [2] in the year 2000 Roberts began to publicly share his poetry, and since then Roberts has given readings and speeches about poetry in schools, universities and at poetry festivals. In 2005 Roberts represented the United States with nine other writers at the Odyssey International Festival in Amman, Jordan.[3] [2] Roberts is a member of the Academy of American Poets and the Poetry Society of Oklahoma.

Publications and honors

Roberts is the author of ten poetry collections. His debut collection A Poet's Last Stand published in 2002 contains poems and song lyrics written over a 25-year period. The Poetry For Life Project consisted of three books: The first book Poetry For Life contains poems dealing mainly with drug and alcohol abuse, the second book Save Our Selves deals with domestic abuse, suicide, and the loss of loved ones, and the third book A Walk Through Time is a collection of historical and political poems.

He received his first Pulitzer nomination for his 2008 book Whispers, Tears, Prayers and Hope, which covers political and social themes, such as the war in Darfur (Whispers, Tears, Prayers and Hope), the death of Benazir Bhutto (A Flame Lost), or modern slavery (Slavery). He received his second Pulitzer nomination for the 2014 book When Words Escape You, You Can Use Mine.

Roberts poems have also been published by The Poetic Voices Magazine and The Poetry Sharings Journal.

Style and influences

His poems are mainly written in free verse,[2] ignoring traditional rules such as regular meter, rhyme, and alliteration. According to Roberts these characteristics of poetry "would not translate the same in other languages."[3] However, in 2020, Roberts had a poem translated into Cherokee for inclusion in the anthology Amaravati Poetic Prism 2019. [2]

Roberts writing is influenced by his Oklahoma and Cherokee heritage.[2] He writes topical poetry about national and international cultural, political, and social issues. His work focuses on social issues such as drinking and driving and rape, as well as political and historical topics such as the Oklahoma City bombing, Iraq, hunger and poverty, and cultural discussions about poetry, art and science.

Bibliography
  • Roberts, Ed. A Poet's Last Stand. A Collection of Poems & Song Lyrics. (Virtualbookworm.com Publishing, 2002) ISBN 1-58939-257-4
  • Roberts, Ed. Poetry For Life The Poetry For Life Project, 2006 ISBN 978-1-4243-2597-9
  • Roberts, Ed. Whispers, Tears, Prayers and Hope. Poetry & Song Lyrics. VonChasePublishing Company, 2008. ISBN 978-0-9766787-7-9

Anthologies
  • Iyengar-Paddy, Padmaja, ed. Amaravati Poetic Prism 2019 ISBN 978-9353917920 [2]


References
  1. Ed Roberts (amayhem) | LibraryThing Retrieved 2014-12-02.
  2. Hunter, Chad (14 May 2020). "Poet's work published in Cherokee language". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  3. “City poet to attend Jordan festival”, The Oklahoman, August 21, 2005. Oklahoma City, OK
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