Poet Richard Blanco returns to Boston Public Radio for an episode of the "Village Voice," to celebrate poet January Gill O’Neil’s latest collection *Glitter Road*, and to retroactively honor Black History Month and Women’s History Month. 

O’Neil is a professor at Salem State University and the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Poetry Festival. Her latest collection reflects on “Marriage, loss, and a new relationship, with the backdrop of a Mississippi season. She explores the legacy of Emmitt Till and how his legacy is braided with hers; how race blights us all.” Said Blanco.

He begins with a poem of empowerment, “WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?” 

“Poetry is everywhere, you just have to look for it,” said Blanco when referring to Tina Turner’s song lyric as the poem’s title. He goes on to read "AFTER DAUNTE WRIGHT'S MURDER, I TEACH A POETRY CLASS TO HIGH SCHOOL SCHOOLERS ON ZOOM" and "BLACK WOMEN.” 

Tune in to enjoy the poems as they are read and discussed.  

This episode first aired on Boston Public Radio on March 4th, 2024.

Village Voice: Poet Richard Blanco Spotlights *Glitter Road* by January Gill O’Neil

Chloe Firetto-Toomey's "Tranny Cat" for Reading Queer/O, Miami's "O, Hi There!" event.

Chloe Firetto-Toomey published a collection of poems in 2001, by, Loebertas Publishing, in her hometown, Bristol, England. She graduated from the University of Surrey, London, in 2003 with a Bachelor of the Arts in Creative Writing and moved to Miami in 2008. She is currently a first year MFA candidate of poetry at Florida International University and has recently been published in online literary journals, Every Writer’s Resource, Fish Food Magazine and Penumbra Review. 

Tranny Cat

Hedwig the cat 
is Transgendered.
Hungry in the hollow 
hall I hear the thin 
desolate 
cry.

A reoccurring 
urinary tract infection
left no option 
but Sex Reassignment Surgery,
having the smallest 
bladder the vet had ever 
seen.

Watching, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
the Cat comes out the closet 
overweight in his dinner 
jacket 
high on Prozac

& rocking 
socks that are too small
proud on the prowl  

flirtatious, once the meds 
kick in.
In that 
tragedy/comedy 
mask
like he’s just had 
the cream.

He waits for 
David Bowie with 
his Ziggy Stardust 
face, 

in catnip clouds. 
Hedwig, is Queen 
of the Cat-baret show. 



Village Voice: Poet Richard Blanco Spotlights Glitter Road by January Gill O’Neil

Richard Blanco Poetry

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