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Official Obituary of Anthony Thomas Swann →

A tribute to Anthony will be broadcast on Jazz On America Avenue on KAXE radio  on Sunday, March 10 from 6-8 pm.

Anthony Swann was a long time Watermark (Bemidji Community Art Center – BCAC) Board Member from 2008 until 2013.  He joined the Exhibit Committee in 2008 and actively participated until 2018. Along with Lorie Yourd and Linda Thiem, Anthony was instrumental as one of the Charter members of the Spoken Word Committee. He was also an active member from 2010 to 2021.

The information that follows on this page refers to his 2009 presentation, a reading from his CD “The Kali Yuga Rag”,
for what became the Spoken Word Series beginning in 2010.

2009 July First Friday with Anthony Swann Poetry Reading. Mr. Swann speaking and looking at his notes, with two paintings in background.2009 July First Friday with Anthony Swann Poetry Reading. Three women and two men seated, listening to speaker. Art pieces in the background and woman's ponytail in lower right corner.2009 July First Friday with Anthony Swann Poetry Reading. Man in black shirt and white pants talking with two women, one in patterned black shirt and other in blue top, all standing. Man in black shirt and woman in white shirt conversing on the right, refreshment table behind them.2009 July First Friday with Anthony Swann Poetry Reading. Woman in blue shawl and hand on head speaking with a man and woman seated in the gallery, with partial depiction of man in background.2009 July First Friday with Anthony Swann Poetry Reading. Nine people sitting in a semi-circle listening to presentation, with various art pieces on the wall behind them.2009 July First Friday with Anthony Swann Poetry Reading. Two women sitting in white plastic chairs visiting, with two men partially depicted on the right side, refreshment table in the background.2009 July First Friday with Anthony Swann Poetry Reading. Mr. Swann speaking with tall man in denim shorts and printed shirt, in front of 4 pottery plates in front of podium.2009 July First Friday with Anthony Swann Poetry Reading. Mr. Swann wearing black shirt with white designs, speaking near a podium in front of two colorful paintings.2009 July First Friday with Anthony Swann Poetry Reading. Mr. Swann speaking with man in light blue shirt holding coffee cup in front of two colorful paintings.2009 July First Friday with Anthony Swann Poetry Reading. Mr. Swann speaking with man holding camera in front of two large paintings and 3 pottery plates.
The Kali Yuga Rag CD Cover, Anthony Swann poetry readings, 24 poems listed with cover art figure with 4 arms, skull necklace and bloody head, flower, sickle and scissors.
The Kali Yuga Rag CD Cover

Anthony Swann’s Biography as presented in July 2009

Anthony Swann began writing poetry and articles for the school paper during high school. At Bemidji State Teachers College, his 1962 poem, “Oh Soul You will Never See,” appeared in Birches and Pines and was later published under the name of “Wild Rice, Wild Roses” with three other pieces in the 2002 anthology, 33 Minnesota Poets.

In 2006, he won third place in the national Dancing Poetry Contest and was invited to read at the San Francisco, California Palace of the Legion of Honor.

In 2007, he was honored as the first featured poet of Rivers Meeting, the annual literary magazine of Bemidji State University.

His poems have appeared in Loonfeather, North Coast Review, Talking Stick, The Minnesota Poetry Calendar, Fire Ring Voices, Rivers Meeting and various other reviews and newspapers. He has read his poems at open mics and other public venues in California, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Bemidji, Minnesota.

In the 70’s, he was a member of The Lake Street Writers’ Group and is currently a long-standing member of Riters Anonamis, a Bemidji writers’ group.  He also maintains a membership in The Academy of American Poets.