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.
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 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 lifeedit
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]
"The Old Ice House on Chartres Street" (2 May 2011)[8]
"The Catahoula Hound Visits the Dream of Jean Pierre" (10 Jan 2011)[8]
Referencesedit
^ abcdePope, 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.
^Stanton, John (April 9, 2021). "The life and legacy of Lee Meitzen Grue". Gambit. New Orleans, Louisiana. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
^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.
^ ab"Lee Meitzen Grue". Octavia Books. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
^ abcde"Lee Meitzen Grue". Who's Who of Professional Women. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
^"Lee Meitzen Grue Tribute". Black Academy Press, Inc. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
^ abc"Grue, Lee Meitzger 1995-013". Newcomb Archives. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
^ abcde"About Lee Grue". Louisiana Poetry Project. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
^ abc"(Ann) Lee Grue". Who's Who of American Women (25th, 2006–2007 ed.). Marquis Who's Who. 2005.
^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.
^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.
^ abcdef"Lee Meitzen Grue". Who's Who Lifetime Achievement. December 28, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
^Goldsmith, Sarah Sue (October 15, 1989). "Cat show to feature Educated Cat author". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. p. 11-MAG.
^Guillaud, Betty (May 5, 1992). "JazzFest Action and Actors Move to Storyville". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans, Louisiana. p. Living section, E3.
^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.
^Grue, Lee Meitzen (2015). Blood at the Root: A Novel. Austin, Texas: Alamo Bay Press. ISBN 9780990863236. OCLC 908649458.
^Grue, Lee Meitzen (2011). Downtown. New Orleans, Louisiana: Trembling Pillow Press. ISBN 9780979070242. OCLC 754714433.
^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.
^Lee Meitzen Grue and Eluard Burt (2000). Live!: On Frenchman Street (CD). New Orleans, Louisiana: Big Easy Cyber Studio. OCLC 71781558. LMG7872.
^Grue, Lee Meitzen (1994). Goodbye, Silver, Silver Cloud. Austin, Texas: Plain View Press. ISBN 9780911051728. OCLC 30465121.
^Grue, Lee Meitzen (1990). In the Sweet Balance of the Flesh. Austin, Texas: Plain View Press. ISBN 9780911051551. OCLC 23672044.
^Grue, Lee Meitzen (1979). French Quarter Poems. Long Measure Press. OCLC 4883972.
^Grue, Lee Meitzen (1974). Trains and Other Intrusions: A Chapbook of Poetry (Limited ed.). New Orleans, Louisiana: N.O. Poetry Forum. OCLC 10070498.