Poet Laureate of Michigan's

Upper Peninsula

Beverly Matherne
Occupation
  • Poet
  • Translator
  • Editor
NationalityAmerican
GenrePoetry

Beverly Matherne (born March 15, 1946) is an American poet, translator, and editor, specializing in free verse poetry, prose poetry, short short fiction, and lyric essay.

She grew up in Grand Point, near New Orleans, Louisiana, surrounded by a story telling tradition in French and English and the music of the area: Cajun, blues, and jazz. From writing in French to performing blues poetry, these influences have shaped her work. In turn, her blues poetry has inspired artists, including Italian painter Giampiero Actis.

A graduate of Lutcher High School, she received a bachelor of arts degree in English and a master of arts degree in English from the University of Louisiana, at Lafayette, as well as a doctor of philosophy degree in Drama from Saint Louis University. A defender of French language and literature in Louisiana, she did extensive work in French at the University of California, at Berkeley. She taught English and creative writing at the University of Louisiana, at Lafayette, Kansas State University, and Northern Michigan University, where she served as director of the Masters of Fine Arts program in English and poetry editor of Passages North literary magazine. Professor Emerita of English at Northern Michigan University, and the 2023-24 Poet Laureate of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, she resides in Ishpeming, Michigan.

The author of seven bilingual books of poetry, her latest title is Potions d'amour, thés, incantations / Love Potions, Teas, Incantations. She has won seven first place prizes, including the Hackney Literary Award for Poetry. Widely published, she has work in anthologies, such as Universal Oneness: An Anthology of Magnum Opus Poems from Around the World, and journals, such as Metamorphoses, Plat Valley Review, and Verse, plus French language publications such as Ancrages, Eloizes, and Feux chalins. She has received four Pushcart Prize nominations and has done over 360 readings across Michigan, the United States, Canada, France, and elsewhere abroad.

Homage to Beverly Matherne's poem The Blues Cryin', painting by Gianpiero Actis, Italy.

Books

  • Potions d’amour, thés, incantations / Love Potions, Teas, Incantations (Harvard Square Press, 2023).
  • Bayou des Acadiens / Blind River (Les Éditions Perce-Neige, 2015).
  • Lamothe-Cadillac: sa jeunesse en France / Lamothe-Cadillac: His Early Days in France (Les Éditions Tintamarres, 2009).
  • Le blues braillant / The Blues Cryin’ (Cross-Cultural Communications,1999).
  • La Grande Pointe / Grand Point (Cross-Cultural Communications, 1995).
  • Je me souviens de la Louisiane / I Remember Louisiana (March Street Press, 1994).
  • Images cadiennes / Cajun Images (Ridgeway Press, 1994).

Translation

  • The Artist / L'Artiste, portfolio edition of poetry by two-time United States Poet Laureate Stanley Kunitz, translated from English to French, with Nicole J.M. Kennedy (Cross-Cultural Communications, 2006).

Anthologies

  • Contes Merveilleux de la Louisiane (Les Éditions Tintamarres, 2023).
  • Universal Oneness: An Anthology of Magnum Opus Poems from Around the World, 360 poems by 360 poets from 60 countries (Authors Press, 2020).
  • Far Out: Poems of the ‘60s (Wings Press, 2016).
  • Here: Women Writing on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (Michigan State University Press, 2015).
  • The Way North, poems and stories (Wayne State University Press, 2013).
  • Voices Israel Anthology: Poetry from Israel & Abroad (Voices Israel Group, 2012).
  • Cadence of Hooves: A Celebration of Horses (Yarrow Mountain Press, 2008).
  • French Connections: A Gathering of Franco-American Poets (Louisiana Literature, 2007).
  • Louisiana in Words: A Book of Hours (Pelican Publishing, 2006).
  • Trois siècles de vie française au pays de Cadillac (Les Éditions Sivori, 2002).
  • Resurrecting Grace (Beacon Press, 2001).
  • Uncommonplace, a collection of poetry (Louisiana State University Press, 1998).
  • Two Worlds Walking, short stories, essays, and poetry (New Rivers Press, 1993).

Journals

  • Ancrages
  • Cardinalis
  • Cottonwood Review
  • The Dexter Review
  • The Driftwood Review
  • Eloizes
  • Feux chalins
  • Feux follets
  • Francographies
  • Great River Review
  • Haight-Ashbury Literary Journal
  • Interdisciplinary Humanities
  • Kansas Quarterly
  • Korean Expatriate Literature
  • Langage et Créativité
  • Lips
  • Louisiana Cultural Vistas
  • Louisiana English Journal
  • Metamorphoses
  • New Laurel Review
  • Oberon
  • Paterson Literary Review
  • Phenomenal Literature
  • Plat Valley Review
  • Poets On
  • Port Acadie
  • 2000 Regards
  • Résonances
  • Revue de Louisiane
  • Runes
  • Seventh Quarry Magazine
  • Shabdaguchha
  • Sojourn
  • Spillway
  • The Squaw Review
  • Verbal Art
  • Verse

References

  • Kristi Evans, “English Professor Emerita Named U.P. Poet Laureate,” Northern Today, Official News Source of Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan, 22 Mar. 2023.
  • “Beverly Matherne Selected as 2023-24 Poet Laureate of The Upper Peninsula,” The News Examiner, weekly newspaper, Lutcher, Louisiana, 30 March, 2023: 1B.
  • Darius A. Spieth, “L’Actualité des Fables dans la Louisianae d’aujourd’hui,” Mythologies Louisianaises, Arthur Roger Gallery Catalogue (2018): 9-10.
  • Darius A. Spieth, “How Fables Matter in Today’s Louisiana,” Mythologies Louisianaises, Arthur Roger Gallery Catalogue (2018): 63.
  • Nathan Rabelais, Book Review, Bayou des Acadiens / Blind River, in Metamorphoses, 24.1 (2017): 192-194.
  • Josh Armstrong, Book E-Review, Lamothe-Cadillac, Sa Jeunesse en France, in Rattle. June 15, 2011.
  • Clint Bruce, Book Review, Lamothe-Cadillac: Sa jeunesse en France, in The French Review 81.1 (2010): 203-204.
  • Pierre Dairon, Book Review, Lamothe-Cadillac: Sa jeunesse en France, inMetamorphoses, 18.1 (2010): 234-237.
  • Angélique Marimaridou, L’Autotraduction: cas particulier du processus traductif (Doctoral dissertation, the Sorbonne Nouvelle, University of Paris III) 2004.
  • Constance Gosselin Schick, Book Review, La Grande Pointe / Grand Point, in Études francophones. 12.2 (1997): 267-270.
  • David Ball, Book Review, La Grande Pointe, in Metamorphoses, Amherst, MA. 4.1 (1995): 113-114.
  • Jean-Louis Pautrot, Book Review, Le blues braillant, in Etudes Francophones. 14.2 (2000): 276-280.
  • M.L. Liebler, Book Review, "The Blue Cajun Muse: On the Blues Poetry of Beverly Matherne,” in Poetrybay (Autumn 2000). Poetrybay
  • Jacqueline Chamberland Blesso, Book Review, La Grande Pointe /Grand Point, in The French Review (Winter 2000): 593-594.
  • Bertille Beaulieu, Le blues braillant, “Bien vivante, la Poésie cadienne et créole,” in Spirale, septembre-octobre (2000): 15.
  • Jacqueline Chamberland Blesso, “Poésie et musique cadiennes: la sensualité ‘braillante’ de Beverly Matherne.” France-Amérique (international edition of Le Figaro) 29 janvier – 4 février 2000: 20.
  • David Lonergan, “Le blues de l’espérance.” L’Acadie Nouvelle. Le quotidien des francophones du N.-B. 19 février 2000: 6.
  • Cole Williams, “Beverly Matherne: CD Showcases New Work by Cajun Poet.” Sauce Piquante Magazine 2.5 Aug. 1999: 14-16.
  • Angela Simoneaux, “Long Journey Home: Travels of Acadians Recreated with Poetry.” The Morning Advocate 14 Aug. 1999, Metro/State section: B1-B2.
  • Bertille Bouleau, “Littérature louisianaise en français : ça existe? Une nouvelle littérature qui répond à un besoin.” Vent d’est 82 janvier 1999: 26-27.
  • David Lonergan, “Bouki fait Gumbo, lapin manger.” L’Acadie Nouvelle: le quotidien des francophones du N.-B 29 mai 1998: 45.
  • Roberta Rainwater, “Cajun Blues!” River Current Magazine March/April, 1997: 10-11.

Documentary

Television Appearance

  • With Robert Dunn. On Poet to Poet [13:39], Manhattan Neighborhood Network / Paragon Cable, New York, October 16, 1997.

Radio Interview

Personal Website








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