Lenard Moore facts for kids

Lenard Duane Moore was born on February 13, 1958, in Jacksonville, North Carolina. He is a talented writer who creates many types of poetry, plays, and essays. He has been writing and publishing haiku poems for over 20 years.

In 2008, Lenard Moore made history. He became the first person from the Southern United States and the first African American to be chosen as president of the Haiku Society of America. He also leads the North Carolina Haiku Society. He started the Carolina African American Writers' Collective. He also helped create the Washington Street Writers' Group. Lenard Moore has won the Sam Ragan Fine Arts Award for his important work in the arts in North Carolina.

Growing Up and Finding His Passion

Lenard Moore grew up in a home filled with books. His parents made sure books were always around. He was very close to his parents, two sisters, and four brothers. As a child, he helped his great-grandmother on her farm.

His grandfather told him many fascinating stories. These stories still inspire Lenard's poetry today. Lenard's love for writing began when he was in elementary school. On long bus rides to school, he read many books. These books helped his imagination grow. They made him feel like he could go anywhere.

He loved words and took part in plays. He even wrote a play himself. In 10th grade, he got to write short stories. This was very exciting and encouraged him to write more. When he was in his 20s, his life changed. He joined the army. This is when he truly started writing poems. He practiced writing the best poems for his girlfriend back home. He has lived in different places like South Carolina, Virginia, California, and Germany.

What is Haiku?

Lenard Moore is one of the most important Haiku poets in the United States. He has been writing Haiku for over 40 years. Haiku is a special type of short poem. It often focuses on nature and moments in time.

Lenard has written eight collections of poetry. He has won many major awards for his work. These include three awards from the Museum of Haiku Literature in Tokyo. He was the first African American chosen to be president of the Haiku Society of America. Lenard has spent a lot of time studying, reading, and writing Haiku. He once said, "Haiku is a way of life for me."

Education and Teaching

Lenard Moore studied at several universities. He earned his Master's degree in English from North Carolina A&T State University. He also received his Bachelor's degree with high honors from Shaw University. He also attended Coastal Carolina Community College and the University of Maryland.

Moore has shared his knowledge by teaching. He was an assistant professor of English at Mount Olive College. He also taught at Shaw University. He has taught at North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University. He even taught at Enloe High School. He used to be a writer-in-residence for the United Arts Council of Raleigh & Wake County. This means he was a writer who worked with the community.

Published Poetry

Lenard Moore's poetry has been translated into many different languages. This means people all over the world can read his work. He is the author of several poetry books, including:

• Poems of Love & Understanding (1982)
• The Open Eye (1985)
• Forever Home (1992)
• Desert Storm: A Brief History (1993)

He has also led many writing workshops. He has been part of literary discussions. He has given hundreds of poetry readings. These readings have taken place at schools, festivals, colleges, and universities. Some famous places include the National Black Arts Festival and The Library of Congress.

Awards and Honors

Lenard Moore has received many awards for his writing:

• 1983, 1994, 2003 Tokyo Museum of Haiku Literature Award
• 1987-1988 Japan Air Lines Haiku Contest finalist (out of 40,000 entries)
• 1992 First prize winner in traditional style haiku, Mainichi Daily News: Tokyo, Japan
• 1992 Third prize, Harold G. Henderson Award, Haiku Society of America
• 1996 Indies Arts Award
• 1997 Margaret Walker Creative Writing Award
• 1998 Tar Heel of the Week Award
• 1998-2000 Cave Canem Fellow
• 2000 Alumni Achievement Award
• 2001 The Heron's Nest Award, first runner-up for his poem "summer moon-"
• 2006 Sam Ragan Fine Arts Award for contributing to the fine arts of North Carolina

Images for kids

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  Lenard D. Moore