Ed Roberts
Encyclopedia
Ed Roberts is an American
poet, writer and publisher.
heritage as well as by national and international topics including cultural, political, and social issues. Different organizations refer people to his poetry web site http://poetrypoem.com/cgi-bin/index.pl?sitename=apoetslaststand&item=poetry&password= to fight alcoholism, drug abuse, and terrorism.
Several poems and articles were published by The Poetic Voices Magazine, The Poetry Sharings Journal and on the internet. In answer to it Roberts was asked to read his poems and talk about poetry in schools, universities, and at poetry festivals. In 2005 Roberts was awarded to represent the United States
with 9 other writers at the Odyssey International Festival in Amman
, Jordan
.
Roberts is a member of the Academy of American Poets
and the Poetry Society of Oklahoma
http://www.angelfire.com/poetry/pso/.
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 abuse in family, suicide, and the loss of loved ones. The third book A Walk Through Time is a collection of historical and political poems. The project closed 6/25/10
His latest work is "Whispers, Tears, Prayers and Hope" from 2008. Again, his work strongly encounters political and social themes, such as the war in Dafur (Whispers, Tears, Prayers and Hope), the death of Benazir Bhutto
(A Flame Lost), or modern slavery
(Slavery). Robert's work presents everyday life mirrored in poetry that does not hesitate to show how life in Kenya
and Wisconsin
, though worlds apart, suffers from the same inhumanity.
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." (The Oklahoman
, August 21 2005) The focus of his work is rather its critical content. Therefore, social topics such as drinking and driving, rape, political, and historic issues such as the Oklahoma City bombing
, Iraq
, hunger and poverty, and cultural discussions about poetry
, art and science build the content of this modernist poetry
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
poet, writer and publisher.
Biography
After a life-threatening illness in the year 2000 Roberts decided to publicly share his work. His writing is influenced both by his long Oklahoman and Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
heritage as well as by national and international topics including cultural, political, and social issues. Different organizations refer people to his poetry web site http://poetrypoem.com/cgi-bin/index.pl?sitename=apoetslaststand&item=poetry&password= to fight alcoholism, drug abuse, and terrorism.
Several poems and articles were published by The Poetic Voices Magazine, The Poetry Sharings Journal and on the internet. In answer to it Roberts was asked to read his poems and talk about poetry in schools, universities, and at poetry festivals. In 2005 Roberts was awarded to represent the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with 9 other writers at the Odyssey International Festival in Amman
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
, Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
.
Roberts is a member of the Academy of American Poets
Academy of American Poets
The Academy of American Poets is a non-profit organization dedicated to the art of poetry. The Academy was incorporated as a "membership corporation" in New York State in 1934...
and the Poetry Society of Oklahoma
http://www.angelfire.com/poetry/pso/.
Works
His debut A Poet's Last Stand from 2002 is a collection of 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 abuse in family, suicide, and the loss of loved ones. The third book A Walk Through Time is a collection of historical and political poems. The project closed 6/25/10
His latest work is "Whispers, Tears, Prayers and Hope" from 2008. Again, his work strongly encounters political and social themes, such as the war in Dafur (Whispers, Tears, Prayers and Hope), the death of Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
(A Flame Lost), or modern slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
(Slavery). Robert's work presents everyday life mirrored in poetry that does not hesitate to show how life in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, though worlds apart, suffers from the same inhumanity.
Style and content
His poems are mainly written in free verseFree verse
Free verse is a form of poetry that refrains from consistent meter patterns, rhyme, or any other musical pattern.Poets have explained that free verse, despite its freedom, is not free. Free Verse displays some elements of form...
ignoring traditional rules such as regular meter, rhyme
Rhyme
A rhyme is a repetition of similar sounds in two or more words and is most often used in poetry and songs. The word "rhyme" may also refer to a short poem, such as a rhyming couplet or other brief rhyming poem such as nursery rhymes.-Etymology:...
, and alliteration
Alliteration
In language, alliteration refers to the repetition of a particular sound in the first syllables of Three or more words or phrases. Alliteration has historically developed largely through poetry, in which it more narrowly refers to the repetition of a consonant in any syllables that, according to...
. According to Roberts these characteristics of poetry "would not translate the same in other languages." (The Oklahoman
The Oklahoman
The Oklahoman is the largest daily newspaper in Oklahoma and is the only daily newspaper that covers the entire Oklahoma City area.-Ownership:...
, August 21 2005) The focus of his work is rather its critical content. Therefore, social topics such as drinking and driving, rape, political, and historic issues such as the Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, hunger and poverty, and cultural discussions about poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, art and science build the content of this modernist poetry
Modernist poetry
Modernist poetry refers to poetry written between 1890 and 1950 in the tradition of modernist literature in the English language, but the dates of the term depend upon a number of factors, including the nation of origin, the particular school in question, and the biases of the critic setting the...
.