Poet and Professor
“I am done telling the kinder story. I am a myth of my own making.”
From “Woman Swallowed by Python in Her Cornfield”
Awards and Recognition
Glitter Road (2024)
Winner: 2024 Poetry by the Sea Best Book Award
Winner: Julia Ward Howe Prize in poetry, Boston Authors Club
Finalist: New England Book Award
Finalist: Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Award
Finalist: Julie Suk Award
Finalist: Massachusetts Book Award
Finalist: Library of Virginia's 2025 Virginia Literary Awards
Other Recognition:
2022 Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award for "At the Rededication of the Emmett Till Memorial"
Fellowships: Massachusetts Cultural Council, Cave Canem, Barbara Deming Memorial Fund
2019–2020 John and Renée Grisham Writer-in-Residence at the University of Mississippi
Glitter Road: A Poet’s Journey
“Glitter Road: A Poet’s Journey" is a short-form documentary that delves into the life and work of acclaimed poet January O’Neil. As an associate professor, mother, and author, January’s journey is one of transformation, resilience, and the power of community. Through personal reflections and vivid storytelling, January shares her experiences navigating the complexities of life as a Black woman and artist. Watch the full version here.
Special thanks to Peabody TV and Creative Collective.
Praise for Glitter Road
“These stunning and striking poems are intimate, honest, and always engaging. Glitter Road sparkles and dazzles me, then wrings out my heart in the very best way.”
—Aimee Nezhukumatathil
“O’Neil’s ruminative fourth collection explores the triumphs and traumas of daily life. These poems memorably navigate the braiding of love, tragedy, resilience, and parenthood.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Glitter Road is a gentle, intimate way of writing how to embrace change in an unfamiliar land—and perhaps even how to leave the door open for more.”
—NewPages
“These poems tell the story of a speaker entering new chapters after loss—transforming solitude into celebration, and memory into myth.”
—North American Review
“We learn through these poems the sheer joy of Black woman creativity—and the power of women speaking out against injustice and evil.”
—Green Linden Press
“A book of great tenderness and strength—where heartbreak and new love coexist, and the poet’s voice rises with hard-won clarity.”
—Rosanna Young Oh, RHINO Poetry
“Glitter Road is about change, but not just any change—it’s about the kind that remakes you, line by luminous line.”
—Lauren Crawford, NewPages
“Rich with history and herstory, these stunning and striking poems are intimate, honest, and always engaging. I cannot recommend this collection enough; Glitter Road is O’Neil’s most powerful book yet.”
—Kelli Russell Agodon, author of Dialogues with Rising Tides
