I am going to write a poem a day in January, also submit, submit, submit. It's not a resolution, it's what I'm going to do,
First: Poetry Society of Virginia Contest HERE. I've managed to win and place over the years, cash prizes, so I'm going to start gathering this week.
"Secrets" reading in February 11th. I'm not sure what else I'll be doing but it's time to get some poets together, find a venue and do our thang.
Yup.
Happy New Year coming!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
What a Nice Thing to Say, and at Christmas!
Muriel Rukeyser "If there were no poetry on any day in the world, poetry would be invented that day. For there would be an intolerable hunger."
Muriel Rukeyser
Muriel Rukeyser
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Holiday gifts for poets!!
I'm freezing- I don't care about anything but getting warm.
Busy waiting for packages to arrive so I can wrap them, that kind of thing.
Ordered a number of poetry books (from the poets directly), still trying to get to Fountain Bookstore (favorite bookstore in Richmond) to pick up a few titles.
For your poet friends:
Journals (though some of us like notebooks- what have you seen them use?)
Subscriptions (you can do this online)
Poetry
Poets & Writers
or a million others!
Books
for a list of poet's favorite book's, go here and scroll through the suggestions made by poets
Gift cards to bookstores (like Fountain Bookstore in Richmond or a local independent)
Most of these you can order right from your favorite chair and computer!!
Remember- THINK LOCAL, BUT LOCAL whenever you can!
Busy waiting for packages to arrive so I can wrap them, that kind of thing.
Ordered a number of poetry books (from the poets directly), still trying to get to Fountain Bookstore (favorite bookstore in Richmond) to pick up a few titles.
For your poet friends:
Journals (though some of us like notebooks- what have you seen them use?)
Subscriptions (you can do this online)
Poetry
Poets & Writers
or a million others!
Books
for a list of poet's favorite book's, go here and scroll through the suggestions made by poets
Gift cards to bookstores (like Fountain Bookstore in Richmond or a local independent)
Most of these you can order right from your favorite chair and computer!!
Remember- THINK LOCAL, BUT LOCAL whenever you can!
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Donate for the Holidays- Donate for Life
Are you buying something useless for someone who doesn't need (or want) it? Donate something instead.
Dean Young is one of our finest poets. He needs a heart transplant.
Donate HERE Read the letter by Tony Hoagland.
I did. I know my brother-in-law won't mind.
Some poems by Dean Young:
To those of you alive in the future
Thrown as if Fierce and Wild
Ode to Hangover has audio
If everyone on my friends and email list donated $10- well, let's just say I have a LOT of friends and many (most) are poets and writers.
Dean Young is one of our finest poets. He needs a heart transplant.
Donate HERE Read the letter by Tony Hoagland.
I did. I know my brother-in-law won't mind.
Some poems by Dean Young:
To those of you alive in the future
Thrown as if Fierce and Wild
Ode to Hangover has audio
If everyone on my friends and email list donated $10- well, let's just say I have a LOT of friends and many (most) are poets and writers.
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Such a wonderful life!!
From the Ninth Elegy:
Maybe we're here only to say: house,
bridge, well, gate, jug, olive tree, window —
at most, pillar, tower ...
but to say them, remember,
oh, to say them in a way that the things themselves
never dreamed of existing so intensely.
Rilke
I am surrounded by a community of lovers and doers. It is a beautiful time of year.
When a car cuts me off in traffic, when the frantic mother runs into my ankles with her
shopping cart, when I despair over money or messes or temporary inconveniences,
I will recall this and smile.
And write.
Maybe we're here only to say: house,
bridge, well, gate, jug, olive tree, window —
at most, pillar, tower ...
but to say them, remember,
oh, to say them in a way that the things themselves
never dreamed of existing so intensely.
Rilke
I am surrounded by a community of lovers and doers. It is a beautiful time of year.
When a car cuts me off in traffic, when the frantic mother runs into my ankles with her
shopping cart, when I despair over money or messes or temporary inconveniences,
I will recall this and smile.
And write.
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Tuesday in Goochland!! Music!
December 7th at 7:30pm
the Virginia Benefit Chorale will sing at Grace Episcopal Church in Goochland
to benefit the Goochland Food Pantry and the Christmas Mother.
It's a free concert but we ask you to bring canned food
and/or consider making a donation to the program.
ALL money raised will go directly to
this important cause that has been taken on at Grace Church.
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Hysterical!! A poetaster's birthday!
from the Writer's Almanac by Garrison Keillor (I subscribe and get it by email every day)
It's the birthday of Julia A. Moore born in Plainfield Township, Michigan, on this day in 1847. She grew up on a Michigan farm, dropped out of school at the age of 11, bore 10 children, and is famous for writing really bad poetry — so famous for it, in fact, that Mark Twain modeled a character after her in The Adventures of Huck Finn, and he wrote a parody of Moore's bad poetry for that character, Emmeline Grangerford, to recite.
She's sometimes referred to as a "poetaster," which the Oxford English Dictionary defines as "a petty or paltry poet; a writer of poor or trashy verse; a rimester." This distinction usually entails things like the use of awkward meter, painfully sappy sentimentality, words that rhyme in an unpleasant way, or poor taste in subject matter. Other poetasters famous enough to be anthologized include J. Gordon Coogler, William McGonagall, and James McIntyre.
As for Moore, her favorite topics included abstinence, temperance, sudden death, terrible destruction, obituaries of small children, and big disasters, such as train wrecks or fires. One of her most famous poems is about the Chicago Fire. She wrote:
The great Chicago Fire, friends,
Will never be forgot;
In the history of Chicago
It will remain a darken spot.
It was a dreadful horrid sight
To see that City in flames;
But no human aid could save it,
For all skill was tried in vain.
Her first collection was published locally as The Sentimental Song Book (1876). But then a big Cleveland publisher picked it up, re-titled it The Sweet Singer of Michigan Salutes the Public, and sent out a bunch of copies to newspapers around the nation, along with a review of mock praise he'd written up. In spite of all this bad publicity, or perhaps because of it, Julia Moore's book of verse became a national best-seller, and she began to give public readings.
The readings did not go well. She was jeered off stage, and her husband, a Michigan farmer, made her promise to never publish any more poetry. She waited until her husband died, and then she published some more.
Each year in Michigan, the Flint Public Library holds a Julia A Moore poetry contest, and people have the chance to do their best imitations. In 1997, 150 years after her birth, the governor of Michigan set aside a week in her honor. A new edition of her poems was published a couple years later by Michigan State University Press, edited and introduced by Thomas J. Riedlinger; it's called Mortal Refrains: The Complete Collected Poetry, Prose, and Songs of Julia A. Moore, The Sweet Singer of Michigan (1998). She once said, "Literary is a work very hard to do."
In her poem "Sketch of Lord Byron's Life," she wrote:
"Lord Byron" was an Englishman
A poet I believe,
His first works in old England
Was poorly received.
Perhaps it was "Lord Byron's" fault
And perhaps it was not.
His life was full of misfortunes,
Ah, strange was his lot.
The character of "Lord Byron"
Was of a low degree,
Caused by his reckless conduct,
And bad company.
He sprung from an ancient house,
Noble, but poor, indeed.
His career on earth, was marred
By his own misdeeds.
It's the birthday of Julia A. Moore born in Plainfield Township, Michigan, on this day in 1847. She grew up on a Michigan farm, dropped out of school at the age of 11, bore 10 children, and is famous for writing really bad poetry — so famous for it, in fact, that Mark Twain modeled a character after her in The Adventures of Huck Finn, and he wrote a parody of Moore's bad poetry for that character, Emmeline Grangerford, to recite.
She's sometimes referred to as a "poetaster," which the Oxford English Dictionary defines as "a petty or paltry poet; a writer of poor or trashy verse; a rimester." This distinction usually entails things like the use of awkward meter, painfully sappy sentimentality, words that rhyme in an unpleasant way, or poor taste in subject matter. Other poetasters famous enough to be anthologized include J. Gordon Coogler, William McGonagall, and James McIntyre.
As for Moore, her favorite topics included abstinence, temperance, sudden death, terrible destruction, obituaries of small children, and big disasters, such as train wrecks or fires. One of her most famous poems is about the Chicago Fire. She wrote:
The great Chicago Fire, friends,
Will never be forgot;
In the history of Chicago
It will remain a darken spot.
It was a dreadful horrid sight
To see that City in flames;
But no human aid could save it,
For all skill was tried in vain.
Her first collection was published locally as The Sentimental Song Book (1876). But then a big Cleveland publisher picked it up, re-titled it The Sweet Singer of Michigan Salutes the Public, and sent out a bunch of copies to newspapers around the nation, along with a review of mock praise he'd written up. In spite of all this bad publicity, or perhaps because of it, Julia Moore's book of verse became a national best-seller, and she began to give public readings.
The readings did not go well. She was jeered off stage, and her husband, a Michigan farmer, made her promise to never publish any more poetry. She waited until her husband died, and then she published some more.
Each year in Michigan, the Flint Public Library holds a Julia A Moore poetry contest, and people have the chance to do their best imitations. In 1997, 150 years after her birth, the governor of Michigan set aside a week in her honor. A new edition of her poems was published a couple years later by Michigan State University Press, edited and introduced by Thomas J. Riedlinger; it's called Mortal Refrains: The Complete Collected Poetry, Prose, and Songs of Julia A. Moore, The Sweet Singer of Michigan (1998). She once said, "Literary is a work very hard to do."
In her poem "Sketch of Lord Byron's Life," she wrote:
"Lord Byron" was an Englishman
A poet I believe,
His first works in old England
Was poorly received.
Perhaps it was "Lord Byron's" fault
And perhaps it was not.
His life was full of misfortunes,
Ah, strange was his lot.
The character of "Lord Byron"
Was of a low degree,
Caused by his reckless conduct,
And bad company.
He sprung from an ancient house,
Noble, but poor, indeed.
His career on earth, was marred
By his own misdeeds.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
yes, I have been remiss!
Posting poetry (or otherwise) has not happened much lately.
I did write a poem per day through the 16th or so but my get up and write rode away with a handsome cowboy. Or something like that.
Actually, I've been working, singing, doing the church choir director thing (Sundays plus 2 funerals).
Two events of note:
December 7th at 7:30pm the Virginia Benefit Chorale will sing at Grace Episcopal Church in Goochland to benefit the Goochland Food Pantry and the Christmas Mother. It's a free concert but we ask you to bring canned food and/or consider making a donation to the program. ALL money raised will go directly to this important cause that has been taken on at Grace Church.
As I type this, I am listening to the CD from our first concert last week at St Luke's Lutheran on Southside- it is AMAZING- and not just because I sing 2nd soprano). We open with an arrangement of "Steal Away" by local organist Mike Simpson, then go to Rachmaninoff, Brahms, Poulenc, and so many other songs. Did I mention we sing a cappella??
The other event is a poetry reading at art 6 Gallery on December 10th at 7:30. $5. Put it on your calendar, I'll 'splain more later!!
I did write a poem per day through the 16th or so but my get up and write rode away with a handsome cowboy. Or something like that.
Actually, I've been working, singing, doing the church choir director thing (Sundays plus 2 funerals).
Two events of note:
December 7th at 7:30pm the Virginia Benefit Chorale will sing at Grace Episcopal Church in Goochland to benefit the Goochland Food Pantry and the Christmas Mother. It's a free concert but we ask you to bring canned food and/or consider making a donation to the program. ALL money raised will go directly to this important cause that has been taken on at Grace Church.
As I type this, I am listening to the CD from our first concert last week at St Luke's Lutheran on Southside- it is AMAZING- and not just because I sing 2nd soprano). We open with an arrangement of "Steal Away" by local organist Mike Simpson, then go to Rachmaninoff, Brahms, Poulenc, and so many other songs. Did I mention we sing a cappella??
The other event is a poetry reading at art 6 Gallery on December 10th at 7:30. $5. Put it on your calendar, I'll 'splain more later!!
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Poem a day November 9th
If you slow down
the stars stay longer,
the alarm doesn’t startle,
the milk won’t scald,
the toast can’t burn
because you’re right there
to see the sky lighten,
to slap the snooze alarm,
to turn the burner down,
to rescue breakfast,
then make some scrambled eggs,
watch the cardinals sing,
listen to Joni Mitchell,
sip your hot chocolate,
find the plum preserves,
before the world grabs you
and throws you to the wolves,
and jams up the interstate,
and fills your mail with bills,
and keeps you late at work,
stealing the day in high velocity.
the stars stay longer,
the alarm doesn’t startle,
the milk won’t scald,
the toast can’t burn
because you’re right there
to see the sky lighten,
to slap the snooze alarm,
to turn the burner down,
to rescue breakfast,
then make some scrambled eggs,
watch the cardinals sing,
listen to Joni Mitchell,
sip your hot chocolate,
find the plum preserves,
before the world grabs you
and throws you to the wolves,
and jams up the interstate,
and fills your mail with bills,
and keeps you late at work,
stealing the day in high velocity.
November poem a day for the 8th
Ask Alice
She’s always saying yes when she wants
to say no, doesn’t seem right how folks
take advantage of her good nature, does it?
Then she’ll turn right around and Big Fat No
something that seems interesting, like a party
or dinner at a fancy place she’d never go alone.
Been known to say no to food when she’s hungry,
squeeze her legs tight in the car too prim to answer
in the affirmative to “Anybody need to stop?”
Hard-wired to do for others, deny herself,
she comes from a long line of giving women,
the kind that believes it’s what has to be done,
after all, it’s biblical, right? Dutiful wives,
loving mothers, must learn to abide, sit tight,
give in, walk the extra mile for everybody else.
The ease of Yes, the discomfort of No
needs to be switched around, rethought
before she wears herself out with loving.
Prob’ly have to piss off a few folks, before
the new rules set themselves in stone,
likely have to cry behind the steering wheel
when they play the guilt card, she mustn’t cave.
Truth be trotted out- she never did ‘em a favor
always pulling the wagon without any help.
She’s gonna give it a good No next time,
save the Really Big YES for what she wants.
Maybe dogs and Alice can turn a trick around.
She’s always saying yes when she wants
to say no, doesn’t seem right how folks
take advantage of her good nature, does it?
Then she’ll turn right around and Big Fat No
something that seems interesting, like a party
or dinner at a fancy place she’d never go alone.
Been known to say no to food when she’s hungry,
squeeze her legs tight in the car too prim to answer
in the affirmative to “Anybody need to stop?”
Hard-wired to do for others, deny herself,
she comes from a long line of giving women,
the kind that believes it’s what has to be done,
after all, it’s biblical, right? Dutiful wives,
loving mothers, must learn to abide, sit tight,
give in, walk the extra mile for everybody else.
The ease of Yes, the discomfort of No
needs to be switched around, rethought
before she wears herself out with loving.
Prob’ly have to piss off a few folks, before
the new rules set themselves in stone,
likely have to cry behind the steering wheel
when they play the guilt card, she mustn’t cave.
Truth be trotted out- she never did ‘em a favor
always pulling the wagon without any help.
She’s gonna give it a good No next time,
save the Really Big YES for what she wants.
Maybe dogs and Alice can turn a trick around.
Sunday, November 07, 2010
November poem-a-day here's November 7th
Bamboozled, and on a Sunday
There are always biddies and busybodies
in a congregation - acting as spies for the devil.
It’s celestial intelligence, meddling minions
to insure the message is muddled, called out
before the match catches, Lacryma Christi!
The witnesses stand silent,mouths agape.
The end is nigh, and always has been,
(truth be told we never had a say at all).
You, Lucy? And Ethyl, long suffering,
the same sprinkled dirt now covers both of you.
Those expecting more will be sorely disappointed,
while the rest of us suspected nothing all along.
There are always biddies and busybodies
in a congregation - acting as spies for the devil.
It’s celestial intelligence, meddling minions
to insure the message is muddled, called out
before the match catches, Lacryma Christi!
The witnesses stand silent,mouths agape.
The end is nigh, and always has been,
(truth be told we never had a say at all).
You, Lucy? And Ethyl, long suffering,
the same sprinkled dirt now covers both of you.
Those expecting more will be sorely disappointed,
while the rest of us suspected nothing all along.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
it's First Friday (again)!
and there is sculpture at art6-
and first novels at VCU- (that's Thursday)
and poetry at Chop Suey
and I'm writing a poem-a-day (so far without inspiration)
and it's a dark and dreary day (which I love, actually)
and I'm about to cook stuffed cabbage (with lamb and pine nuts)
life is good!
and first novels at VCU- (that's Thursday)
and poetry at Chop Suey
and I'm writing a poem-a-day (so far without inspiration)
and it's a dark and dreary day (which I love, actually)
and I'm about to cook stuffed cabbage (with lamb and pine nuts)
life is good!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Are you teaching a poetry class?? Taking one??
Here's a text you might consider. At least make it part of your personal collection.
Making Poems
Making Poems
Poets include Jan Beatty, Robin Becker, Fleda Brown, J. L. Conrad, Jim Daniels, Todd Davis, Chris Dombrowski, Dan Gerber, Jeff Gundy, Kimiko Hahn, William Heyen, H. L. Hix, John Hoppenthaler, Ann Hostetler, Julia Spicher Kasdorf, David Kirby, Gerry LaFemina, Mary Linton, Shara McCallum, Dinty W. Moore, Erin Murphy, Mary Rose O’Reilley, Lee Peterson, Greg Rappleye, Keith Ratzlaff, Jack Ridl, Steven Sherrill, David Shumate, Aaron Smith, Lucien Stryk, Mary Swander, Sue Ellen Thompson, Natasha Threthewey, Brian Turner, Lee Upton, G. C. Waldrep, Michael Waters, Patricia Jabbeh Wesley, Katharine Whitcomb, and Robert Wrigley.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Twitter poets
Tonight we had a poet party on twitter- it was a blast!
Some heady names were there.
You missed it.
Some heady names were there.
You missed it.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Voting again! Caption contest!
Go vote for someone- me, for instance, if you like my caption!
CAPTION CONTEST
Serious fun. Read the Project Runway commentary, too- voting is at the bottom of that.
CAPTION CONTEST
Serious fun. Read the Project Runway commentary, too- voting is at the bottom of that.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Poetry Resolutions
Poetry Resolutions 10-17-10
1) To pay attention
2) To revise and reorder poems
3) To organize my time around writing poetry
4) Submit submit submit (contingent on #2)
5) Set aside reading times (poetry first, fiction after)
6) Clear my desk, clear my head
7) Walk everyday (I should probably move that up, it's doable)
8) Continue eating well, and plan meals better for the husband (who is quitting smoking)
9) Keep better contact with friends, near and far
Cooler weather brings more energy- I wish it brought more money (but I can't let that hold me up from doing these resolutions). It's very tempting to huddle under a throw and moan about details- I have certainly done enough of that recently.
Forward. Outward display. Inner Peace.
Poetry.
Shann
1) To pay attention
2) To revise and reorder poems
3) To organize my time around writing poetry
4) Submit submit submit (contingent on #2)
5) Set aside reading times (poetry first, fiction after)
6) Clear my desk, clear my head
7) Walk everyday (I should probably move that up, it's doable)
8) Continue eating well, and plan meals better for the husband (who is quitting smoking)
9) Keep better contact with friends, near and far
Cooler weather brings more energy- I wish it brought more money (but I can't let that hold me up from doing these resolutions). It's very tempting to huddle under a throw and moan about details- I have certainly done enough of that recently.
Forward. Outward display. Inner Peace.
Poetry.
Shann
Monday, October 11, 2010
Caption contest throwdown!! Go vote!!
and I'm in again- but I might be out tonight...
Go vote- go vote for someone!
READ here and scroll down to vote
Go vote- go vote for someone!
READ here and scroll down to vote
Monday, October 04, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
The last poem-a-day for September
September 30th (draft)
She Endures
through rain, then mud,
then all the mold and mildew
in the little house, her closet
full of shoes and purses
on the cracked linoleum floor
beside mice nests, spider parts
she scribbles on the wall behind
her Laura Ashley paisley suit,
her white Rainbow girl formal
she writes: New York City,
San Francisco, London,
any place except home, here
where she lays out places
to see with pink lipstick
carried in her pocket, La Porte
the one city she will say
she hates, the heat, the stink,
the rules about taking Home Ec
instead of geology or Russian
pretending to be Blanche,
or the jester’s other girlfriend
she plots escape, university,
marriage, money, music,
in the meantime, she endures.
She Endures
through rain, then mud,
then all the mold and mildew
in the little house, her closet
full of shoes and purses
on the cracked linoleum floor
beside mice nests, spider parts
she scribbles on the wall behind
her Laura Ashley paisley suit,
her white Rainbow girl formal
she writes: New York City,
San Francisco, London,
any place except home, here
where she lays out places
to see with pink lipstick
carried in her pocket, La Porte
the one city she will say
she hates, the heat, the stink,
the rules about taking Home Ec
instead of geology or Russian
pretending to be Blanche,
or the jester’s other girlfriend
she plots escape, university,
marriage, money, music,
in the meantime, she endures.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Even more poetry- from the Poetry Society of Virginia
If you don't have a job- check this out: (not sure what it costs if you aren't a member)
Come Enjoy!
three October readings by P.S.V. Poets
October 8th Award winning Poems
Joan Mazza, Evelyn Tower, and Rob Arthur
October 15th Published Poetry
Patsy Anne Bickerstaff, Ed Lull, and Norma Richardson
October 22nd Favorite Poets
Shonda Buchanan, Evelyn Tower, and Katie Brydon
at
University of Richmond, North Court Reception Room
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Free for P.S.V. members
Directions:
UR campus map: richmond.edu/visit/maps/index.html
Park behind the Modlin Center (building 50 on map).
Walk through Modlin Center
Cross Keller Road
North Court is building 40 on campus map.
Questions: contact Maria Butler, 285-8302.
PSV members please come and help attract the Osher members to
PSV membership
an hour for each reader????? Skip out for Bob Arthur, he's dreadful IMO
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