Poetry is color for Carol Lynne Knight.

Knight worked as an arts educator for many years, and paints, draws and sculpts in addition to writing. The combination of these mediums blend seamlessly together on paper. She has exhibited her digital paintings alongside poetry in many City Hall shows over the years and is excited to share her poems as part of the “Poems on Panes” project this spring. 

The project was initiated by COCA in partnership with the Downtown Improvement Authority as a community building initiative that engages local writers and business owners along with readers in discovering poetry in public places. Knight’s selected poem answers the prompt “Tallahassee Proud” with ruminations on her favorite spot in town —her yard. 

“The front of it is tame and the back of it is like a wildlife habitat,” says Knight. “I look out the back window and I see a giant oak, camellias, pecan trees, a fig tree and squirrels. It is also a really great habitat for millions of insects from what I hear.”

Knight’s inspiration stems from lines she picks up throughout her day. It could be the sound of rain when it hums, the drumming of tires on Tharpe Street or the train that runs down by Mission Road. She remains in tune with her environment and says she often resides in her head, bringing up scraps of memory or nostalgia from childhood.

Her first poem in third grade was an ode to the color pink, while another poem in college, “The Revolution” was published in the University of Miami’s paper and followed a rebellious herd of cattle. Knight says she looks up to poet Diane Wakoski for incorporating social bravery and feminist perspectives, and also enjoys the work of E. E. Cummings.

As an editor for Anhinga Press, she is deeply immersed in the poetry culture of the country and just released her second book, “A Fretted Terrain, Like Mars.” 

Read the rest of the story by visiting the Tallahassee Democrat

or read more by downloading the article here