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Kentucky Kernel

The Student News Site of University of Kentucky

Kentucky Kernel

The Student News Site of University of Kentucky

Kentucky Kernel

Ada Limon poses for a portrait on Monday, May 16, 2022, at Limons house in Lexington, Kentucky. Photo provided by Michael Clubb | Lexington Herald-Leader

We are humans: Ada Limón and the necessity of poetry

Karrington Garland, Opinions Editor December 5, 2022

Current U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón returned to her home of Lexington, Kentucky, Thursday, Nov. 10, to read from three books she wrote during her 12 year stay here. She read, “Bright Dead Things”...

Illustration by Allie Hall

The 2023 Grammy’s new spoken word category brings visibility, but is it enough?

Karrington Garland, Opinions Editor December 2, 2022

As an avid lover of spoken word and poetry, I am excited for but critical of the 2023 Grammy nominations for the Spoken word category for this upcoming awards show. Officially titled “Best Spoken Word...

Ada Limon poses for a portrait on Monday, May 16, 2022, at Limons house in Lexington, Kentucky. Photo provided by Michael Clubb | Lexington Herald-Leader

An appreciation for U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón ahead of her visit to Lexington

Karrington Garland, Reporter October 21, 2022

In preparation for the current U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón’s upcoming reading at Transylvania University on Thursday, Nov. 10, I bought three of her most recent poetry books, “The Carrying” (2018),...

Poetry collection by Safia Elhillo addresses black girlhood and the beauty in bluntness

Poetry collection by Safia Elhillo addresses black girlhood and the beauty in bluntness

Karrington Garland, Reporter September 26, 2022

It is always refreshing for me to read from a poet of color who comes from a different cultural background than I do. Mostly because when I read work from poets who come from different parts of the black...

Crystal Wilkinson sits in her office on UKs campus in Lexington, Kentucky, on Feb. 3, 2020.

UK professor inaugurated as Kentucky poet laureate

Hannah Stanley April 23, 2021

Crystal Wilkinson, an English professor in UK’s College of Arts and Sciences, was inducted as the state's poet laureate on April 24, 2021 as part of the Kentucky Writers Day celebration. The celebration...

University of Kentucky English professor Frank X Walker poses for a portrait in his office on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, at the Patterson office tower in Lexington, Kentucky. Photo by Michael Clubb | Staff

‘We’re here’: Affrilachian Poets make visible the African Americans in Appalachia

Akhira Umar March 17, 2020

In 1991, South Carolina native Nikky Finney came to Lexington to perform at a poetry reading titled, “The Best of Southern Writing.”Before Finney, who is black, was added to the list of performers,...

Joy Priest, a 2012 UK alumna, was recently award the Donald Hall Prize for Poetry for her manuscript, Horsepower. Photo provided by Joy Priest. 

UK alumna, Louisville native wins Donald Hall Prize for Poetry

Bailey Vandiver July 18, 2019

Joy Priest had a folder full of poems but didn’t know she could be a poet. Priest had been a writer for as long as she could remember, but as an undergraduate student at UK, she hadn’t yet thought...

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‘A Real Good Kid’ is heartfelt guide through grief, sadness, recovery

Autumn Miller February 7, 2019

Michael (Mike) Posner has been in the music world for quite some time now. He was featured on Big Sean’s first mixtape, a series of studio and poetry albums, an album under the name Mansionz with duo...

Editor-in-chief Bailey Vandivers personal bookshelf with decorative state of Kentucky.

Kentucky is my land— and my literature, too

Bailey Vandiver October 19, 2018

When I was about 8 years old, my great-grandparents gave me a copy of The Thread That Runs SoTrue by Jesse Stuart for Christmas. I already loved to read, but for some reason that book didn’t appeal...

Poetry in Motion is Lexingtons longest open mic set. Any and all audience members are encouraged to share.

This is America: Poetry in Motion celebrates diversity in Lexington and beyond

Hailey Peters September 12, 2018

What is America? That was the question addressed at Creaux’s event, Poetry in Motion, on Sept. 11.Poetry in Motion is an open-mic poetry slam night hosted at Creaux, a bar in downtown Lexington, one...

Emma Collins, a member of the LEXengaged LLP, searches her phone for a second poem to share after her first moved herself and audience members to tears.

Poetry slam allows students to share their stories, identities

Akhira Umar April 12, 2018

The scene was set: shades pulled, lights off, fairy lights on. About 40 students filled the room, all cozy in their chairs, waiting for brave poets to “bare their souls” through spoken word. Each pair...

SAB, poet spread creativity at poetry workshop

Taylon Baker September 8, 2017

Student Activities Board hosted its first ever slam poetry workshop Thursday night.SAB has held poetry events before, but the workshop in Holmes Hall was the first of its kind.Graham Hackett, a professional...

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