Naomi Lazard facts for kids
Naomi Lazard (born Naomi Katz in Philadelphia on March 17, 1928, died December 22, 2021) was an American writer. She wrote many things, including poems, plays, and books for children. She won two important awards called Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. She was also a past president of the Poetry Society of America. Her translations of poems by Faiz Ahmed Faiz are very well-known.
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About Naomi Lazard
Naomi Lazard wrote three main books of poetry. Her first book was Cry of the Peacocks, published in 1967. Later, she released The Moonlit Upper Deckerina in 1977. Her third poetry collection, Ordinances, came out in 1984.
Her Poetry Style
The poems in Ordinances are special. They have a "dark Orwellian tone." This means they describe life under a huge, faceless system. It's like a world where rules are everywhere and people feel controlled.
Translations and Other Works
Naomi Lazard also helped bring poems from other languages to English readers. She translated The True Subject: Selected Poems of Faiz Ahmed Faiz. This book features poems by Pakistanian poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz. She also translated works by the Romanian poet Nina Cassian.
Besides poetry, Naomi Lazard wrote for younger readers. She is the author of the children’s book, What Amanda Saw. This book has fun pictures by Paul O. Zelinsky. She also wrote a movie script called The White Raven. And she wrote a play for the stage, titled The Elephant and the Dove.
Film Festival Co-founder
In 1992, Naomi Lazard helped start something big. She was a co-founder of the Hamptons International Film Festival. This festival is a place where movies from all over the world are shown.
A Poet's Poet
Even though she was a well-known poet, Naomi Lazard was often called a "poet's poet." This means other poets admired her work greatly. But she wasn't as famous among everyone else. Her poems have been included in important collections. These include Dark Horses: Poets on Overlooked Poems and The Book of Luminous Things. Her poem, To Answer Your Query, was even read on National Public Radio by Garrison Keillor.
