Cornelius Eady Headlines Flower City Poetry Festival in Rochester

“It is fun to come back and read for my hometown,” Eady remarked during the event.

Eady participated in evening performances at the Highland Bowl, which featured a variety of poets from diverse backgrounds, each sharing their unique experiences and celebrating their communities. Among the notable participants were Youth Poetry Contest winners, Kimiko Hahn, Amanda Eke, and the duo TYES, consisting of voice and cello.

With a 46-year literary career, Eady has earned several accolades, including the Academy of American Poets’ Wallace Stevens Award in 2025. His 2001 poetry collection, "Brutal Imagination," was a finalist for the National Book Award.

Recently, Eady read his poem titled “Proof” at the inauguration of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The poem pays tribute to those who helped pave the way for the city's first Muslim mayor. Eady expressed the significance of this moment: “For the people who never thought this could happen and now it (has) happened and they are now in the front of the room.”

Growing up in the Corn Hill neighborhood during the 1960s, Eady was initially drawn to music rather than poetry, aspiring to be a musician and songwriter due to the popularity of rock ’n’ roll and jazz. However, he was encouraged by his teacher, Johcenn Mason, during his senior year at John Marshall High School to explore poetry.

Inspired by various writers and poets, Eady experimented with different poetic styles and traditions, influenced by notable Rochester poet Bobby Johnson as well as jazz and Spanish poetry. He reflected, “As a baby poet, I wouldn’t have thought this could happen as an inner city kid.”

Eady views poetry as a means of community representation, emphasizing the poet's role in voicing social movements, including the civil rights movement. His poem “A Small Moment” encapsulates this idea, highlighting the importance of a poet's voice: “Some days, I feel my duty, some days I love my work.”

He noted that during his formative years, poetry played a crucial role in allowing Black culture to reclaim its narrative and foster discussions about lived experiences. Eady's works remain connected to Rochester and are deeply rooted in his experiences in the city.

In 1996, he co-founded the Cave Canem Foundation, which aims to support Black poets through fellowships, prizes, and workshops. Eady remarked on the progress the foundation has made since its inception, noting that historically, Black poets have struggled to create pathways for future artists to be recognized and heard.

He encourages aspiring artists, particularly those in Rochester, to persist and recognize the value of their voices. “It’s important you know your voice is important, and your voice is allowed,” he stated, reminding them that their creations are valued even if they don’t always feel their impact.

The Flower City Poetry Festival, hosted by Writers & Books and the Highland Park Conservancy, runs through Friday evening, with Eady scheduled to read from his work. The festival is supported by the New York State Council on the Arts, the governor’s office, and the state Legislature.