Wikipedia

Lee Meitzen Grue

Lee Meitzen Grue (February 8, 1934 – April 3, 2021)[1][2] was an American poet and educator. She was the founder and director of the New Orleans Poetry Forum, and has been referred to as that city's unofficial poet laureate.[3] She was editor of the literary journal The New Laurel Review.

Lee Meitzen Grue
Born(1934-02-08)February 8, 1934
Plaquemine, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedApril 3, 2021(2021-04-03) (aged 87)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
EducationUniversity of New Orleans (BA)
Warren Wilson College (MFA)
Occupation(s)Poet, novelist
Years active1972–2021
SpouseRonald David Grue (married 1963–2000)
Children3

Early life

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She was born in Plaquemine, Louisiana[1][4] and lived most of her life in New Orleans. At a young age, Grue fell in love with books and poetry, particularly The Golden Treasury by Louis Untermeyer, which featured female poets.[5] Inspired by the poetry, Grue decided to become a poet herself.[5] She graduated from Sophie B. Wright High School in 1951.[1] She received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of New Orleans in 1963 and a Master of Fine Arts from Warren Wilson College in 1982.[5]

Career

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In the early 1960s, Grue began reading her poetry at The Quorum Club, the first non-segregated coffee house in the South.[4] During her time at the club, she met Eluard Burt, who she collaborated with over many years, including on the CD of jazz poetry titled Live! on Frenchmen Street.[6] Ms. Grue founded the New Orleans Poetry Forum in 1972, where she was director until 1990.[5] For many years she promoted poetry readings at her home, establishing there the Backyard Poetry Theater.[7] Starting in 1982, she edited the international independent literary journal, The New Laurel Review[7] which is still published today.[8]

Grue was a visiting writer at Tulane University from 1993 to 1998.[9] Following Hurricane Katrina, she began teaching fiction and poetry at the Alvar Branch of the New Orleans Public Library.[7]

Grue was co-owner of BJ's Lounge in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans with her son, Teal Grue. The bar regularly hosts readings by local poets.[10][11]

Personal life

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Lee Meitzen married Ronald David Grue on October 28, 1963, and they were divorced on September 5, 2000.[9] The couple had three children: Celeste, Ian, and Teal.[1]

Grue died on April 3, 2021, at her home in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans. She is survived by her children and four grandchildren.[1]

Awards and honors

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  • Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award (2018)[12]
  • Poetry and Short Story Award from the Deep South Writer Association (1994)[12]
  • Short Story Award (second place) from Deep South Writer's Conference (1989)[13]
  • Syndicated Fiction Award from PEN (1984)[12]

Fellowships

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  • Visiting scholar, Newcomb Center for Research on Women (2003– )[9]
  • Ledig House (1998)[5][12]
  • Virginia Center of Creative Arts (1986, 1988, 1991)[12]
  • Senior Fellow,[14] National Education Association (1984–85)[12]

Works

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  • Mending for Memory: Sewing in Louisiana (edited by Lee Meitzen Grue and Susan Tucker, 2017)[15]
  • Blood at the Root: A Novel (2015)[16]
  • Downtown (2011)[17]
  • Three Poets in New Orleans (in collaboration with Biljana D. Obradović and Patricia A. Ward, 2000)[18]
  • Live!: On Frenchman Street (sound recording with Eluard Burt, as the New Orleans Jazz and Poetry Ensemble, 2000)[19]
  • Goodbye Silver, Silver Cloud (1994)[20]
  • In the Sweet Balance of the Flesh (1990)[21]
  • French Quarter Poems (1979)[22]
  • Trains and Other Intrusions: A Chapbook of Poetry (1974)[23]

Notable poems

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  • "In the Garden" (04 Sep 2012)[8]
  • "Snug Harbor" (04 Oct 2011)[8]
  • "The Old Ice House on Chartres Street" (2 May 2011)[8]
  • "The Catahoula Hound Visits the Dream of Jean Pierre" (10 Jan 2011)[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Pope, John (April 4, 2021). "Grue, poet, editor and fixture in N.O. writing scene, dies at 87". The New Orleans Advocate. p. 2B. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  2. ^ Stanton, John (April 9, 2021). "The life and legacy of Lee Meitzen Grue". Gambit. New Orleans, Louisiana. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  3. ^ Buncombe, Andrew (August 25, 2015). "Hurricane Katrina's legacy 10 years on - a whiter, more gentrified New Orleans; Black and poor people lose out - and new white residents 'complain about the music'". The Independent. London, England.
  4. ^ a b "Lee Meitzen Grue". Octavia Books. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Lee Meitzen Grue". Who's Who of Professional Women. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  6. ^ "Lee Meitzen Grue Tribute". Black Academy Press, Inc. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  7. ^ a b c "Grue, Lee Meitzger 1995-013". Newcomb Archives. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d e "About Lee Grue". Louisiana Poetry Project. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c "(Ann) Lee Grue". Who's Who of American Women (25th, 2006–2007 ed.). Marquis Who's Who. 2005.
  10. ^ Stanton, John (April 9, 2020). "The Bars of New Orleans Are Closed. They're Still Getting the City Through This". Slate Magazine. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  11. ^ Alsup, Allison (April 20, 2016). "In a storied town, New Orleans bars create new literary links with readings, events and classes". NOLA.com. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  12. ^ a b c d e f "Lee Meitzen Grue". Who's Who Lifetime Achievement. December 28, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  13. ^ Goldsmith, Sarah Sue (October 15, 1989). "Cat show to feature Educated Cat author". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. p. 11-MAG.
  14. ^ Guillaud, Betty (May 5, 1992). "JazzFest Action and Actors Move to Storyville". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans, Louisiana. p. Living section, E3.
  15. ^ Grue, Lee Meitzen; Tucker, Susan, eds. (2017). Mending for Memory: Sewing in Louisiana: Essays, Stories, and Poems. New Orleans, Louisiana: New Laurel Review Press. ISBN 9780692811467. OCLC 986241518.
  16. ^ Grue, Lee Meitzen (2015). Blood at the Root: A Novel. Austin, Texas: Alamo Bay Press. ISBN 9780990863236. OCLC 908649458.
  17. ^ Grue, Lee Meitzen (2011). Downtown. New Orleans, Louisiana: Trembling Pillow Press. ISBN 9780979070242. OCLC 754714433.
  18. ^ Grue, Lee Meitzen; Obradovic, Biljana D.; Ward, Patricia A (2000). Three Poets in New Orleans: Lee Meitzen Grue, Biljana D. Obradovic, Patricia A. Ward. Xavier Review Press occasional publication, no. 10. New Orleans, Louisiana: Xavier Review Press. ISBN 9781883275099. OCLC 43383561.
  19. ^ Lee Meitzen Grue and Eluard Burt (2000). Live!: On Frenchman Street (CD). New Orleans, Louisiana: Big Easy Cyber Studio. OCLC 71781558. LMG7872.
  20. ^ Grue, Lee Meitzen (1994). Goodbye, Silver, Silver Cloud. Austin, Texas: Plain View Press. ISBN 9780911051728. OCLC 30465121.
  21. ^ Grue, Lee Meitzen (1990). In the Sweet Balance of the Flesh. Austin, Texas: Plain View Press. ISBN 9780911051551. OCLC 23672044.
  22. ^ Grue, Lee Meitzen (1979). French Quarter Poems. Long Measure Press. OCLC 4883972.
  23. ^ Grue, Lee Meitzen (1974). Trains and Other Intrusions: A Chapbook of Poetry (Limited ed.). New Orleans, Louisiana: N.O. Poetry Forum. OCLC 10070498.
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