Beverly Matherne (born March 15, 1946) is an American poet, translator, and editor, specializing in free verse poetry, prose poetry, short short fiction, and lyric essay.
She grew up in Grand Point, Louisiana, near New Orleans, surrounded by a story telling tradition in French and English and the music of the area: Cajun, blues, and jazz. From writing in French to performing blues poetry, these influences have shaped her work. In turn, her blues poetry has inspired artists, including Italian painter Giampiero Actis.
A graduate of Lutcher High School, she received a bachelor of arts degree in English and a master of arts degree in English from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, as well as a doctor of philosophy degree in Drama from Saint Louis University. A defender of French language and literature in Louisiana, she did extensive work in French at the University of California at Berkeley. She taught English and creative writing at the University of Louisiana, at Lafayette, Kansas State University, and Northern Michigan University, where she served as director of the Masters of Fine Arts program in English and poetry editor of Passages North literary magazine. She served as Professor Emerita of English at Northern Michigan University, and the 2023-24 Poet Laureate of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She resides in Ishpeming, Michigan.
The author of seven bilingual books of poetry, her latest title is Potions d'amour, thés, incantations / Love Potions, Teas, Incantations. She has won seven first place prizes, including the Hackney Literary Award for Poetry. Widely published, she has work in anthologies, such as Universal Oneness: An Anthology of Magnum Opus Poems from Around the World, and journals, such as Metamorphoses, Plat Valley Review, and Verse, plus French language publications such as Ancrages, Éloizes, and Feux chalins. She has received four Pushcart Prize nominations and has done over 360 readings across Michigan, the United States, Canada, France, and elsewhere abroad.
Homage to Beverly Matherne's poem The Blues Cryin', painting by Gianpiero Actis, Italy.
The Artist / L'Artiste, portfolio edition of poetry by two-time United States Poet Laureate Stanley Kunitz, translated from English to French, with Nicole J.M. Kennedy (Cross-Cultural Communications, 2006).
Darius A. Spieth, “L’Actualité des Fables dans la Louisianae d’aujourd’hui,” Mythologies Louisianaises, Arthur Roger Gallery Catalogue (2018): 9-10.
Darius A. Spieth, “How Fables Matter in Today’s Louisiana,” Mythologies Louisianaises, Arthur Roger Gallery Catalogue (2018): 63.
Nathan Rabelais, Book Review, Bayou des Acadiens / Blind River, in Metamorphoses, 24.1 (2017): 192-194.
Josh Armstrong, Book E-Review, Lamothe-Cadillac, Sa Jeunesse en France, in Rattle. June 15, 2011.
Clint Bruce, Book Review, Lamothe-Cadillac: Sa jeunesse en France, in The French Review 81.1 (2010): 203-204.
Pierre Dairon, Book Review, Lamothe-Cadillac: Sa jeunesse en France, inMetamorphoses, 18.1 (2010): 234-237.
Angélique Marimaridou, L’Autotraduction: cas particulier du processus traductif (Doctoral dissertation, the Sorbonne Nouvelle, University of Paris III) 2004.
Constance Gosselin Schick, Book Review, La Grande Pointe / Grand Point, in Études francophones. 12.2 (1997): 267-270.
David Ball, Book Review, La Grande Pointe, in Metamorphoses, Amherst, MA. 4.1 (1995): 113-114.
Jean-Louis Pautrot, Book Review, Le blues braillant, in Etudes Francophones. 14.2 (2000): 276-280.
M.L. Liebler, Book Review, "The Blue Cajun Muse: On the Blues Poetry of Beverly Matherne,” in Poetrybay (Autumn 2000). Poetrybay
Jacqueline Chamberland Blesso, Book Review, La Grande Pointe /Grand Point, in The French Review (Winter 2000): 593-594.
Bertille Beaulieu, Le blues braillant, “Bien vivante, la Poésie cadienne et créole,” in Spirale, septembre-octobre (2000): 15.
Jacqueline Chamberland Blesso, “Poésie et musique cadiennes: la sensualité ‘braillante’ de Beverly Matherne.” France-Amérique (international edition of Le Figaro) 29 janvier – 4 février 2000: 20.
David Lonergan, “Le blues de l’espérance.” L’Acadie Nouvelle. Le quotidien des francophones du N.-B. 19 février 2000: 6.
Cole Williams, “Beverly Matherne: CD Showcases New Work by Cajun Poet.” Sauce Piquante Magazine 2.5 Aug. 1999: 14-16.
Angela Simoneaux, “Long Journey Home: Travels of Acadians Recreated with Poetry.” The Morning Advocate 14 Aug. 1999, Metro/State section: B1-B2.
Bertille Bouleau, “Littérature louisianaise en français : ça existe? Une nouvelle littérature qui répond à un besoin.” Vent d’est 82 janvier 1999: 26-27.
David Lonergan, “Bouki fait Gumbo, lapin manger.” L’Acadie Nouvelle: le quotidien des francophones du N.-B 29 mai 1998: 45.
Roberta Rainwater, “Cajun Blues!” River Current Magazine March/April, 1997: 10-11.
