The Sangamon River Anthology of Champaign County Poetry

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"This anthology of poetry compiles samples of the work of forty-five poets who claim Champaign County and the region of the Sangamon River in Illinois as their home. Like most poets, they contemplate life, family relationships, holidays, politics, sexuality, parenting, vacations, pets, their careers, and the natural world. They often use poetry to understand the world or to manage trauma. Some are young and in high school, while others are older, and retired. Their careers span education, nursing, journalism, therapy, audiology, art, politics, IT, publishing, and more. More than half are women, fewer than half are members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Nearly half are published in book format, and many are not published in any form--yet. All of these poets are active in community poetry activities, readings, poetry groups, and workshops, which is how I came to know and recruit them for this collection. This is the first anthology of its kind from this community, and I hope it will not be the last."--