Furious Flower

The nation’s first academic center for Black poetry. Established in honor of Gwendolyn Brooks to preserve, celebrate, and support the Black poetic tradition.

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

Are you a JMU student with a passion for poetry, Black culture, and arts administration? Support the nation's first academic center for Black Poetry and apply to the Carmen R. Gillespie Fellowship!

Head over to the link in our bio for more info!

#JMU27 #JMU28 #JMU29 #JMU30

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

The Fight & The Fiddle just dropped!

The Spring 2026 Issue features Krista Franklin and includes:
- an exclusive interview
- a critical review of her work
- new poems
- a prompt to spark your experimentation

Link in our bio.

#LiteraryJournal #BlackPoetry #Poetry

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

Congratulations to Wes Matthews, winner of the 2026 Furious Flower Poetry Prize, & honorable mention, Sherina Rodriguez Sharpe!

Both will read at the Poetry Prize Reading in Sept. & their work will feature in Obsidian with the finalists.

#PoetryPrize #BlackPoetry #Poetry

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

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!

We are so proud of you, Lauren!

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

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

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

#ThingstoDoHarrisonburg #JMU26 #JMU27 #JMU28 #JMU29

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

TODAY!!

Join us for an evening of live poetry with Kadija George Sesay.

Come for the snacks and stay for the live poetry!

All are welcome!

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

#HarrisonburgEvents #PoetryReading #JMU

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

It's just TWO DAYS AWAY! Catch these thought-provoking panels featuring an incredible line-up of poets!

This symposium is FREE to attend. Head to the link in our bio and register to reserve your spot!

#BlackPoetry #LiteraryTranslation #PoetsofInstagram #BlackPoetsofInstagram

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

Furious Flower Executive Director Lauren K. Alleyne read a dedicated piece at the inauguration of James Madison University's 7th President, James C. Schmidt, last Wednesday, April 8th, 2026.

Photo courtesy of James Madison University

#JMU #BlackPoetry

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

It's Student Employee Appreciation Week at JMU! This brilliant bunch contributes so much to the Furious Flower team and mission, all while balancing their respective graduate and undergraduate senior studies! Join us in giving flowers to our student employees!

#JMU #JMU26

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

National Book Award Winner John Keene is the Keynote Speaker for Black in Multiple Languages!

Just a few days left to secure your spot in this free virtual symposium.

Link in our bio!

#BlackPoetry #LiteraryTranslation #PoetsofInstagram #BlackPoetsofInstagram

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

We’re taking poetry outside.

Get a breath of fresh air with this Furious Flower × University Recreation collaboration.

Space is limited, and registration is required. Find the link in our bio.

#BlackPoetry #CreativeWriting #HarrisonburgEvents #JMU #NatureWriting

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

Come for the snacks, stay for the live poetry, and leave with a signed book. We can’t wait to see you there!

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

No prior experience with poetry is necessary. All are welcome.

#HarrisonburgEvents #PoetryReading #JMU

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

Deadline extended! Apply by April 10 - acceptances go out early next week.

Not ready for a workshop? The rest of the symposium is free and open to the public!

Registration Required. Link in bio.

#TranslationWork #LiteraryTranslation #Polyglot #Bilingual #Multilingual

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

Missed last week’s National Poetry Month workshops? There’s still time to join us!

Saturday, April 11 | 1–3 PM | @massanuttenregionallibrary

Registration is required; sign up through the link in our bio.

#JMU #ThingsToDoHarrisonburg #ThingsToDoShenandoah #PoetryWorkshop

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

The next issue of The Fight & The Fiddle is almost here, and we can’t wait to share it with you later this month.

Until then, you can explore our back issues on The Fight & The Fiddle site, link in bio!

#LiteraryJournal #BlackPoetry #BlackPoets #PoetryCraft #Poetry

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

Immerse yourself in Our Stories | Our Lives at the Furious Flower Broadside Gallery reception, curated by cultural leader, Kadija George Sesay, who will be in attendance!

#HarrisonburgVA #ThingstoDoShenandoahValley #FirstFridayHarrisonburg #BlackPoetry #JMU #ThingstodoJMU

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

1 week left to apply for a workshop at the virtual Black in Multiple Languages Translation Symposium.

Applications close April 8 at midnight.

Find full details in the link in our bio.

#BlackTranslators #BlackPoetry #NationalPoetryMonth #VirtualSymposium #BlackDiaspora

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

Join us this National Poetry Month for Family, Grief, and Intimate Ghosts, a generative writing workshop series with poet & scholar Gbenga Adesina.

Walk-ins welcome

#NationalPoetryMonth #JMU #HarrisonburgVA #PoetryCommunity #CreativeWriting #BlackPoets #PoetryWorkshop

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

Giving Day has come to a close, but the work continues.

Thank you for investing in Furious Flower and in the future of Black poetry!

#JMUGivingDay #BlackPoetry #SupportBlackArt #BlackLiterature #Poetrylovers #SupportTheArts

[Furious Flower @FuriousFlowerPC]

Furious Flower IV: The Worlds of Black Poetry.

Moments like these are only made possible by people who believe in the work.

Help us continue creating spaces like this.

Donation link in bio.

#JMUGivingDay #BlackPoetry #SupportBlackArt #BlackLiterature #SupportTheArts