Sarah Stern

Stern interrogates the intersections of family, memory, and cultural identity through her poetry, weaving her personal history into broader narratives. Her work delves into the intricacies of love, loss, and the familial bonds that shape identity, often reflecting on her upbringing as the youngest of seven siblings and her family's escape from Nazi Germany. This deep personal connection imbues her poetry with authenticity, as she juxtaposes vivid imagery with themes of cultural Jewishness and intergenerational memory. Her attention to the angle of light and the passage of time in her imagery underscores the transient nature of these themes.\n\nIn her role as an educator, Stern extends her commitment to poetry and storytelling by teaching workshops at various institutions like Poets House and the New York Writers Workshop. This parallel engagement in both consulting and education allows her to influence a diverse audience, ranging from aspiring poets to professional organizations. Her founding of SDGS Solutions exemplifies her dedication to communication, highlighting her belief in the power of language to shape and convey complex ideas.\n\nHer body of work, including books like "Another Word for Love" and "But Today Is Different", has earned significant recognition, such as the Bronx Council on the Arts' BRIO Award for Poetry, which she has won multiple times. For readers, her poetry offers a profound exploration of how personal and collective histories intertwine, making her an impactful figure in contemporary American literature. Through her narrative style, readers can engage deeply with the nuanced interplay of past and present, personal and cultural, individual and collective.