Furious Flower Poetry Center

05/29/2026

In case you haven’t heard by now, we’re giving another HUGE round of applause for our Executive Director, Lauren K. Alleyne, who received the Joseph Brodsky Rome Prize for Literature!

In an interview, Lauren stated that this was “unspeakably rewarding—to have a jury of renowned writers select me, and my work, for this amazing opportunity.”

Alongside the prestige that comes with the prize, she will also be awarded several months of residency in a multidisciplinary community at the American Academy of Rome.

The Dean of JMU's College of Arts and Letters, which houses the Furious Flower Poetry Center, commented, “This honor reflects not only her individual excellence but also the vibrant creative community she has helped cultivate through the Furious Flower Poetry Center.”

Words cannot express the pride we feel about Lauren’s success!

To read the JMU announcement, follow the link in our bio.

05/27/2026

It's not too late for JMU students to apply for the 2026 Carmen R. Gillespie Fellowship! Still on the fence? Check out three of our favorite perks of being on the team:

1) Be in community with and take workshops from amazing, award-winning, and internationally renowned poets!

2) Attend regional and national literary conferences as a part of the Furious Flower Team!

3) GET PAID TO READ AND STUDY BLACK POETRY!

Piqued your interest now? Applications close Tuesday, June 30th, at 11:59 PM. See the link in our bio for fellowship requirements and application details. We can't wait to work with you!

05/13/2026

The shelves are empty, and the walls bear the outlines of the frames they once held. It's obvious now: our time at Cardinal House is winding down. In the words of our Office and Communications Coordinator, Tara Dolen, "We are just 24 working days away from our big move to Carrier Library!"

This house has held so much. It welcomed poets such as Ross Gay, Danez Smith, and Safia Elhillo. It held the launch of our Fellow, Dr. Gbenga Adesina's award-winning book, "Death Does Not End at the Sea". It witnessed the passing of the torch from Executive Founding Director, Dr. Joanne V. Gabbin, to our current Executive Director, Lauren K. Alleyne. We are in the midst of the end and beginning of something powerful here.

As the semester wraps up and we enter the final stages of this chapter, we offer our gratitude to all of the students, faculty, community members, visiting poets, and so many others who have graced the walls of Cardinal House since we arrived here in 2013. It is because of you that this house felt like a home.

We'll have more updates to share as the summer progresses, and we can hardly wait to welcome you to the Furious Flower SUITE next fall!

Do you have a favorite memory at Cardinal House? We would love to hear about it in the comments below!

05/04/2026

Are you a JMU student with a passion for poetry, Black culture, and arts administration? Apply to the Carmen R. Gillespie Fellowship!

In this semester-long fellowship, students gain hands-on experience working at the center, immersed in Black Poetry while supporting the nation's first academic center for Black Poetry. Fellows receive $1,500 (with the option to renew in the spring for a total of $3,000).

Responsibilities include:
- 6 hours of work weekly at the Center
- Serving as a liaison between Furious Flower and the JMU community
- Developing and implementing a project related to Black Poetry.

Sound like you or someone you know? Head over to the link in our bio for more information!

05/01/2026

A new issue of The Fight & The Fiddle just dropped!

The Spring 2026 Issue dives into poetic experimentation with multimedia artist Krista Franklin. This issue features:

- an exclusive interview
- a critical review of her work
- new poems
- a creative prompt to spark your own experimentation

Take a leap! Read the latest issue at the link in our bio.

04/30/2026

It is the last day of National Poetry Month, and we’ve got big news to close it out!

Congratulations to Wes Matthews, winner of the 2026 Furious Flower Poetry Prize, and honorable mention, Sherina Rodriguez Sharpe! We also want to extend our deepest appreciation to our prize judge, Major Jackson.

Both Wes and Sherina will read alongside Major Jackson at the Poetry Prize Reading at James Madison University in September. They will also have their work featured in Obsidian alongside the finalists.

04/28/2026

Furious Flower staff is on fire for National Poetry Month!

We are excited to share that our Executive Director, Lauren K. Alleyne, is the recipient of the Joseph Brodsky Rome Prize in Literature from the American Academy in Rome! As an awardee, Lauren receives dedicated time and space to work on her writing within a transdisciplinary community in Rome, Italy.

We are so proud of you, Lauren!

04/27/2026

As we prepare for our move to Carrier Library, it’s time to say goodbye to our home at Cardinal House. Whether you’ve visited Furious Flower many times or this is your first time walking through our doors, we invite you to help us celebrate the close of this chapter at our Farewell to Cardinal House Picnic!

Friday, May 1st | 5:00 PM | 500 Cardinal Drive

This will be your final opportunity to experience our last exhibit in the space, Our Stories | Our Lives, while enjoying pizza, snacks, poetry, and community as we wrap up the semester together.

Do not miss this moment. Come be part of Furious Flower history!

04/23/2026

04/23/2026

TODAY!!

Don't miss this opportunity to step away from the end-of-semester rush and join us for an evening of live poetry with cultural leader and poet Kadija George Sesay.

Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 5 PM
Taylor Hall, Room 405

Come for the snacks and stay for the live poetry!

All are welcome regardless of experience.

Can’t make it in person? This reading will be livestreamed on our page.