UE professor publishes anthology on Taylor Swift inspired poems

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Officials say University of Evansville (UE) Professor Kristie Frederick Daugherty has turned the music of Taylor Swift into poetic inspiration, recently publishing a new anthology of poems influenced by Swift’s songs.

UE says “Invisible Strings” includes a collection that features contributions from 113 contemporary poets and brings together a group of Pulitzer-prize winning laureates, including the likes of Kate Baer, Maggie Smith, Joy Harjo and UE Associate Professor of Creative Writing Katie Mullins to celebrate and explore the “lyrical genius” of Taylor Swift.

Officials say in the book, each poet offers an original poem that responds to a specific Taylor Swift song. The anthology invites readers to decode the poems, as each piece alludes to a song without using direct lyrics. The anthology includes works from a “diverse and accomplished array” of writers.

UE says Daugherty also plans to speak on July 31 at Poet and Professor Stephanie Burt’s Harvard summer poetry class, sharing her insights on poetry and her work on Invisible Strings. In February, Daugherty presented at Swiftposium, the first international academic conference hosted by scholars from 78 academic institutions worldwide, dedicated to the cultural phenomenon that is Taylor Swift.

“Taylor Swift has captivated millions with her songwriting and Invisible Strings allows Swifties to experience the profundity and nuance of her lyrics through the lens of contemporary poetry,” said Daugherty. “This anthology offers a one-of-a-kind experience, inviting fans to match the poems to songs from all of Swift’s eras, including vault tracks. For poetry lovers, it presents an unparalleled collection of new work from today’s most lauded and revered poets.”

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