He's writes difficult poetry, only available through translation.
He's 80.
He's not Bob Dylan, or American.
"Transtromer, whose subtle, multi-layered work often deals with the relation between man and nature or the conscious and unconscious, is a regular on the list of favourites to win the prize." Simon Johnson, Reuters
What do I think? Dunno, really. I'm not a huge fan of The Poet With the Name That Sounds Like a Sci-Fi Movie. (or should I say Syfy?)
HERE be some useful links
Thursday, October 06, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Poets coming to town!!
Lotsa Poets! Put on yer underwear and get ready to go!
Nick Lantz Sept 28
Norge Library reading Oct 1
Megan Martin and Kristi Maxwell Oct 3
Richmond Secrets reading art6 October 14
Carolyn Forche Oct 14 UR
more coming
Nick Lantz Sept 28
Norge Library reading Oct 1
Megan Martin and Kristi Maxwell Oct 3
Richmond Secrets reading art6 October 14
Carolyn Forche Oct 14 UR
more coming
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Forgotten poem from 2004
Sequence
All my poems scamble in shrimp nets, full
and fishy, tossed across the deck of boats
where lazy afternoons sway honky-tonk music.
Sometimes in the middle of a dream I'll hear
a Cajun tune I can't remember when I'm awake.
Makes me wonder what else I've forgotten, who sang.
When I shut my eyes I see grainy 8mm movies,
stop-action black and white flashbacks in wonky angles,
smooth pine floors, a single bed in a back room;
somewhere there's a party in progress.
Thinking about it arouses me, and I don't know why.
It was Tucson in the spring or an East Texas summer.
Some men wear the smell of their work: creosote,
wet peat, fresh cut wood, motor oil and sweat—
I'm in line at the movies when I torque into a faded Polaroid
and try to inch my way closer to the guy in front of me.
His smell snaps me back into the arms of that mechanic.
We fucked all night in a rollaway bed a million years ago.
The rug was olive green, the wine was fruity and dark,
words are vivid colors and fais-dodo lovers who wait
dancing on the other side of a closed door,
at the end of the dock, in an elevator going up.
April/May 2004 Eclectica
All my poems scamble in shrimp nets, full
and fishy, tossed across the deck of boats
where lazy afternoons sway honky-tonk music.
Sometimes in the middle of a dream I'll hear
a Cajun tune I can't remember when I'm awake.
Makes me wonder what else I've forgotten, who sang.
When I shut my eyes I see grainy 8mm movies,
stop-action black and white flashbacks in wonky angles,
smooth pine floors, a single bed in a back room;
somewhere there's a party in progress.
Thinking about it arouses me, and I don't know why.
It was Tucson in the spring or an East Texas summer.
Some men wear the smell of their work: creosote,
wet peat, fresh cut wood, motor oil and sweat—
I'm in line at the movies when I torque into a faded Polaroid
and try to inch my way closer to the guy in front of me.
His smell snaps me back into the arms of that mechanic.
We fucked all night in a rollaway bed a million years ago.
The rug was olive green, the wine was fruity and dark,
words are vivid colors and fais-dodo lovers who wait
dancing on the other side of a closed door,
at the end of the dock, in an elevator going up.
April/May 2004 Eclectica
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Poetry tonight 9-6 at the University of Richmond
It's been awhile- earthquakes, hurricanes, 5 day power outages, but I'm back and ready to go with news and such:
Tonight at UR:
Honor Moore, Distinguished Writer in Residence
Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 7 p.m.
Brown-Alley Room, Weinstein Hall
Honor Moore has published a memoir, The Bishop’s Daughter, and a biography, The White Blackbird, A Life of the Painter Margarett Sargent by Her Granddaughter. The Bishop’s Daughter was named an Editor’s Choice by the New York Times and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. In 2009 the Library of America published Poems from the Women’s Movement, an anthology edited by Moore, and in 2010 the Feminist Press published her translation of Taslima Nasrin’s Revenge. She is also the author of three collections of poetry—Memoir, Darling, and Red Shoes—and her play, Mourning Pictures, was produced on Broadway. Moore has received awards in poetry and playwriting from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council for the Arts, and the Connecticut Commission for the Arts, and in 2004 was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in non-fiction.
HERE is the link to the rest of the year - STEVE ALMOND is coming!!!!
Tonight at UR:
Honor Moore, Distinguished Writer in Residence
Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 7 p.m.
Brown-Alley Room, Weinstein Hall
Honor Moore has published a memoir, The Bishop’s Daughter, and a biography, The White Blackbird, A Life of the Painter Margarett Sargent by Her Granddaughter. The Bishop’s Daughter was named an Editor’s Choice by the New York Times and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. In 2009 the Library of America published Poems from the Women’s Movement, an anthology edited by Moore, and in 2010 the Feminist Press published her translation of Taslima Nasrin’s Revenge. She is also the author of three collections of poetry—Memoir, Darling, and Red Shoes—and her play, Mourning Pictures, was produced on Broadway. Moore has received awards in poetry and playwriting from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council for the Arts, and the Connecticut Commission for the Arts, and in 2004 was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in non-fiction.
HERE is the link to the rest of the year - STEVE ALMOND is coming!!!!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
No posts due to earthquake ennui!
I can't sleep- I hate this- I am behind on everything!
Poetry workshop again at Grace Church Wednesday, August 31 at 2pm and 7:30pm
scroll down the page for more info- Please come!
my personal earthquake damage.
At least the Waterford (colleen) tumbler didn't break.
Poetry workshop again at Grace Church Wednesday, August 31 at 2pm and 7:30pm
scroll down the page for more info- Please come!
At least the Waterford (colleen) tumbler didn't break.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
top ten "best of" poets?
It;'s a new world out there, children.
They can cast Philip Levine as the Studs Terkel of poetry, but they can't make a single baby boomer young again- and double that when you judge it poetry. (Okay, I got a little lost on the good ship trope but I'm not rewritting this- it's not a poem).
ANYWAY, Click here to get some interesting opinions- and click on the specific poetry links.
Tell me what you think- I'm not sure yet what I think.
I've never heard of ANY of these poets, that I can remember (and that worries me).
They can cast Philip Levine as the Studs Terkel of poetry, but they can't make a single baby boomer young again- and double that when you judge it poetry. (Okay, I got a little lost on the good ship trope but I'm not rewritting this- it's not a poem).
ANYWAY, Click here to get some interesting opinions- and click on the specific poetry links.
Tell me what you think- I'm not sure yet what I think.
I've never heard of ANY of these poets, that I can remember (and that worries me).
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
So yeah, this made me almost cry
Poetry can do that, if it's the right poem (by Cate Peebles) at the right moment of chaos in my day
Read it and weep
Maybe it's because I window shopped at a couple of little odd-shops on Lakeside Ave today (across the street from Consignment Corner, where we also shopped).
There's something about the sight of objects someone doesn't need anymore that makes me happy - they are relieving themselves of the burden of "things".
but what if they have died or lost everything because of difficult circumstances?
Conflict. That's what makes poets. Conflicts. That's what makes poems.
Read it and weep
Maybe it's because I window shopped at a couple of little odd-shops on Lakeside Ave today (across the street from Consignment Corner, where we also shopped).
There's something about the sight of objects someone doesn't need anymore that makes me happy - they are relieving themselves of the burden of "things".
but what if they have died or lost everything because of difficult circumstances?
Conflict. That's what makes poets. Conflicts. That's what makes poems.
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
New National Poet Laureate
Head wordy fella
And so it's the personable curmudgeon Philip Levine as our new poet laureate.
A "working man" because he grew up in Detroit. A "common" man because he isn't an elite New Yorker.
I happen to like his poems. A lot. But there is a certain cynicism attached to the decision to offer up a "commoner" to the people, when the middle class is under such pressure.
At least that would be the case if anyone really cared- except a handful of poets sprinkled across the country.
Another drop in the ocean, A sweet one.
And so it's the personable curmudgeon Philip Levine as our new poet laureate.
A "working man" because he grew up in Detroit. A "common" man because he isn't an elite New Yorker.
I happen to like his poems. A lot. But there is a certain cynicism attached to the decision to offer up a "commoner" to the people, when the middle class is under such pressure.
At least that would be the case if anyone really cared- except a handful of poets sprinkled across the country.
Another drop in the ocean, A sweet one.
Thursday, August 04, 2011
Wanna Free Book? Do you like Dead Penguins?
Check this out:
an ebook promo from MelvilleHouse Publishing
AND
you can get it right here in Richmond at The Fountain Bookstore!!
It's free if you do it in the next four days!!
I got mine.
an ebook promo from MelvilleHouse Publishing
AND
you can get it right here in Richmond at The Fountain Bookstore!!
It's free if you do it in the next four days!!
I got mine.
A summer poem...by Tony Hoagland
Summer is tough for poetry- it's hot, other things call (barbecue, watermelon, naps) and general folderoling around.
So I got nothin'
But here's a poem by Tony Hoagland you might like
Summer
mmm, yeah.
So I got nothin'
But here's a poem by Tony Hoagland you might like
Summer
mmm, yeah.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Hanging out with old poems (by old poets)
eleven years ago on PIF
Interstate
nine years ago at the Melic Review
(I wanted to) Dance on Your Grave
if they had been published in print journals, these poems would be lost.
I love the internet!!
Interstate
nine years ago at the Melic Review
(I wanted to) Dance on Your Grave
if they had been published in print journals, these poems would be lost.
I love the internet!!
Poet Laureate of Virginia
To all concerned:
There is NO List at this time for nominations for Virginia Poet Laureate!
Kelly Cherry is the current laureate and will serve until her term expires in Fall of 2012.
When the time comes, probably early spring, the newsletter for the Poetry Society of Virginia will contain a ballot where interested parties can submit names. Ten names will go forward to the MEMBERSHIP of the poetry society for a vote which will then be reduced to 5 names (three from the committee, two from at-large candidates). Up until that time, no names or candidates will be considered and it does not make me very happy to receive all these letters of support in my email, since I have one vote and one vote only, just like every other member of the society.
If you want to be eligible to vote, join the poetry society. We have been appointed by the legislature to suggest names to the governor.
Your candidate may be the most qualified, may receive enough votes to be on the final list, but all of this is more than six months away. This is NOT a popularity contest. Letters of support hold no sway and will not be considered. Someone needs to nominate your candidate when the time comes.
There will be many wonderful and well-qualified candidates. The poet laureate spends the two years traveling all over the state presenting programs and readings. It is not an award to be given as a tribute, it is a difficult, expensive, and time-consuming job.
Please go to http://www.poetrysocietyofvirginia.org/ for more information and to join the society, if you wish.
There is NO List at this time for nominations for Virginia Poet Laureate!
Kelly Cherry is the current laureate and will serve until her term expires in Fall of 2012.
When the time comes, probably early spring, the newsletter for the Poetry Society of Virginia will contain a ballot where interested parties can submit names. Ten names will go forward to the MEMBERSHIP of the poetry society for a vote which will then be reduced to 5 names (three from the committee, two from at-large candidates). Up until that time, no names or candidates will be considered and it does not make me very happy to receive all these letters of support in my email, since I have one vote and one vote only, just like every other member of the society.
If you want to be eligible to vote, join the poetry society. We have been appointed by the legislature to suggest names to the governor.
Your candidate may be the most qualified, may receive enough votes to be on the final list, but all of this is more than six months away. This is NOT a popularity contest. Letters of support hold no sway and will not be considered. Someone needs to nominate your candidate when the time comes.
There will be many wonderful and well-qualified candidates. The poet laureate spends the two years traveling all over the state presenting programs and readings. It is not an award to be given as a tribute, it is a difficult, expensive, and time-consuming job.
Please go to http://www.poetrysocietyofvirginia.org/ for more information and to join the society, if you wish.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
So far behind! So much poetry!!!
Poem accepted for Scissors & Spackle for the 1/11 Equinox issue (out September 30th)
Submitting like crazy-
leaving tomorrow for West Virgina for the Writers Workshop at WVU with Denise Duhamel-
I hope the family doesn't stop up the sink or the toilet while I'm gone!
More poems after that- still working on my "Assassin" series.........
Submitting like crazy-
leaving tomorrow for West Virgina for the Writers Workshop at WVU with Denise Duhamel-
I hope the family doesn't stop up the sink or the toilet while I'm gone!
More poems after that- still working on my "Assassin" series.........
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
Saturday, July 02, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
I'm from the FDA and I'm here to kill you...
Watch this movie free thru Sunday night-
seriously- watch it!!!
http://healthimpactnews.com/2011/the-proven-cancer-cure-the-fda-has-tried-to-surpress/
I'm from the FDA and I'm here to kill you...oh- and to get rich from your money while I do it!
seriously- watch it!!!
http://healthimpactnews.com/2011/the-proven-cancer-cure-the-fda-has-tried-to-surpress/
I'm from the FDA and I'm here to kill you...oh- and to get rich from your money while I do it!
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