I hope you will have the opportunity to appoint and announce a new poet laureate for Virginia in the near future. If you need a new copy of the list I'm sure the Poetry Society of Virginia (of which I am a member) would be happy to supply you again with the information you need.
While this may not be an appointment that would appear to have a great impact, in fact, if the new laureate is going to visit schools and community groups, scheduling decision will need to be made as soon as possible.
I also hope you will recognize in some way the outstanding job done by our outgoing laureate Carolyn Foronda. She has done more for poetry in this state than any other appointee since the position was established. She will be a difficult person to replace, though you have been given at least one excellent choice for the new laureate (Claudia Emerson).
Thank you,
Shann Palmer
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Frank O'Hara on TV?
The title grabbed me- a film of one of my favorite poets, something discovered in Grandpa's vault?
No, but still an interesting article
but if you have a copy of Meditations in an Emergency, you might want to dust it off so you can converse with the other twelve people in Richmond who watch MadMen.
Frank O'Hara. Yeah, on TV.
No, but still an interesting article
but if you have a copy of Meditations in an Emergency, you might want to dust it off so you can converse with the other twelve people in Richmond who watch MadMen.
Frank O'Hara. Yeah, on TV.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Levis Prize announced! Matthew Donovan/Vellum
Here's the official skittle
The reading will be September 18th at VCU at 8pm in the Commonwealth ballroom.
here's the book
here's a poem
and another
long, wordy stuff, huh.
here's a poem I really like from Sandra Beasley and another and another
and I noticed Kelly Link will be at VCU in April. On Maundy Thursday (April 9th). I'll be working, playing a service. As usual. They always have the best people on Maundy Thursday.
She writes really great short stories BTW.
Still no news from the governor on the Virginia poet laureate appointment. C'mon, dude. Just pick Claudia and announce it.
The reading will be September 18th at VCU at 8pm in the Commonwealth ballroom.
here's the book
here's a poem
and another
long, wordy stuff, huh.
here's a poem I really like from Sandra Beasley and another and another
and I noticed Kelly Link will be at VCU in April. On Maundy Thursday (April 9th). I'll be working, playing a service. As usual. They always have the best people on Maundy Thursday.
She writes really great short stories BTW.
Still no news from the governor on the Virginia poet laureate appointment. C'mon, dude. Just pick Claudia and announce it.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Poet Interview & I'm Back!!!
from West Virginia Writer's Workshop and I have to say Denise Duhamel ROCKS!! (as does her hubby Nick Carbo, Richmond's own Brian Henry and my FAVORITE novelist Sheri Reynolds!!!)
More later-
here's an interview with Mary Jo Salter reading at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in 2009!!
(I got to read a proof copy of Sheri's new novel out this November- it is her best yet!- more about that later)
More later-
here's an interview with Mary Jo Salter reading at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in 2009!!
(I got to read a proof copy of Sheri's new novel out this November- it is her best yet!- more about that later)
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Off to a Writer's Workshop at WVU
Starts tomorrow- workshopping with Denise Duhamel!
She's well known for book Kinky from Orchises Press in Alexandria.
I am VERY excited! As usual I have barely enough money, but I have peanut butter, a loaf of bread, and granola bars. I'll be fine- and they have a 'breakfast' thing each morning and snacks during the afternoon sessions.
Oh yeah, I have my poem packets and some notebooks.
See ya next week.
(I love being off and leaving the guys behind to fend for themselves!)
She's well known for book Kinky from Orchises Press in Alexandria.
I am VERY excited! As usual I have barely enough money, but I have peanut butter, a loaf of bread, and granola bars. I'll be fine- and they have a 'breakfast' thing each morning and snacks during the afternoon sessions.
Oh yeah, I have my poem packets and some notebooks.
See ya next week.
(I love being off and leaving the guys behind to fend for themselves!)
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Four Famous Women Poets on the way to Richmond
Are you ready for AMAZING poetry???
Put the Poetic Principle Series at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on your agenda for the 2008-2009 season!
Betty Adcock
Claudia Emerson
Beth Ann Fennelly
Peter Orner (fiction writer rescheduled from last year)
Mary Jo Salter
The four women poets who will be reading are at the top of their poetic game and we are more than fortunate to have them coming to Richmond this year! These events are co-sponsored by the New Virginia Review.
Bookmark the page or join the VMFA email list so you will get notice when the exact dates are posted. The series runs on Wednesdays at 6 PM, the cost is nominal (usually $3- $7)
It's ridiculous more people don't take advantage of these readings! The setting is intimate, the price is right, and in spite of construction parking is plentiful and close.
Do it now!- Bookmark the VMFA page, check FlashPaperPoetry (my calendar page), or my blog for updates and details as they become available.
You'll be glad you did!
Put the Poetic Principle Series at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on your agenda for the 2008-2009 season!
Betty Adcock
Claudia Emerson
Beth Ann Fennelly
Peter Orner (fiction writer rescheduled from last year)
Mary Jo Salter
The four women poets who will be reading are at the top of their poetic game and we are more than fortunate to have them coming to Richmond this year! These events are co-sponsored by the New Virginia Review.
Bookmark the page or join the VMFA email list so you will get notice when the exact dates are posted. The series runs on Wednesdays at 6 PM, the cost is nominal (usually $3- $7)
It's ridiculous more people don't take advantage of these readings! The setting is intimate, the price is right, and in spite of construction parking is plentiful and close.
Do it now!- Bookmark the VMFA page, check FlashPaperPoetry (my calendar page), or my blog for updates and details as they become available.
You'll be glad you did!
Friday, July 11, 2008
The new issue of Terrain.org and the earth
here it is.....
read the whole zine, but if you read only a few things, read the columns and guest editorials.
then go back and read the poetry and the essays and the fiction- this is one of the best webzines around, literary and environmental.
You won't be disappointed.
read the whole zine, but if you read only a few things, read the columns and guest editorials.
then go back and read the poetry and the essays and the fiction- this is one of the best webzines around, literary and environmental.
You won't be disappointed.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Art and music and poetry and art
Look who's making art!
Who do you think of as sexy when you think of poets??
From the guy who asked "Does Poetry Matter? some not terribly interesting poetry...
It's all subjective
I suppose.
Who do you think of as sexy when you think of poets??
From the guy who asked "Does Poetry Matter? some not terribly interesting poetry...
It's all subjective
I suppose.
Poet Laureate Position Open
Gov. Kaine was given a slate last month of candidates for poet laureate for Virginia 2008-2010.
We're ten days in and no fearless leader to get us through!
Poets, rise up and lift your voices! Write the governor!
(news from the news: war is over, all the celebrities are dead, nobody hurts children or animals, and george bush resigned, in case you feel guilty about writing about a trivial thing like a poet laureate)
Carolyn Foronda has done such a wonderful job for the state- she's traveled all over the state bringing poetry to adults and children from the mountains to the sea- I can't say enough kind words about her!
From the choices he has, I hope Claudia Emerson is appointed. Though Nikki Giovanni would be delightful, her health and age would likely make it an honorary appointment, she probably wouldn't be able to do nearly what needs to be done. It is, you know, an unpaid post- at least in England they can get a butt of sack. Seriously. Look it up.
We're ten days in and no fearless leader to get us through!
Poets, rise up and lift your voices! Write the governor!
(news from the news: war is over, all the celebrities are dead, nobody hurts children or animals, and george bush resigned, in case you feel guilty about writing about a trivial thing like a poet laureate)
Carolyn Foronda has done such a wonderful job for the state- she's traveled all over the state bringing poetry to adults and children from the mountains to the sea- I can't say enough kind words about her!
From the choices he has, I hope Claudia Emerson is appointed. Though Nikki Giovanni would be delightful, her health and age would likely make it an honorary appointment, she probably wouldn't be able to do nearly what needs to be done. It is, you know, an unpaid post- at least in England they can get a butt of sack. Seriously. Look it up.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Dim the lights for Liz Marks
from the RTD
I'm so glad I attended her Cabaret at ComedySportz in May- she was fun and all full of herself, walking through the audience with her customary charm.
It was a great show, at the end she whipped off her wig to reveal her bald head (from the chemo, I presume).
Goodbye Liz-
She'll be missed.
I'm so glad I attended her Cabaret at ComedySportz in May- she was fun and all full of herself, walking through the audience with her customary charm.
It was a great show, at the end she whipped off her wig to reveal her bald head (from the chemo, I presume).
Goodbye Liz-
She'll be missed.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
I will not make any more boring art.
I will not make any more boring art.
Compiled by Frances Sjoberg on the occasion of the Conceptual Poetry and Its Others Conference, University of Arizona
CHARLES BERNSTEIN
1. In poetry, they talk about finding your voice, which is too often a way of evading the voices to be found in the writing.
2. Not only do I consider works of official verse culture to be poetry (which is not, for me, an honorific category), but also one of the key features of official verse culture [is] that it could necessarily include some poetry that I like quite a lot.
3. I prefer minerals to insects but I have been working on this with my ontologist.
4. As an alternative to National Poetry Month, I propose that we have an International Anti-Poetry Month. As part of the activities, all verse in public places will be covered over--from the Statue of Liberty to the friezes on many of our government buildings...Parents will be asked not to read Mother Goose...Religious institutions will have to forego reading verse passages from the liturgy...with hymns strictly banned...No vocal music will be played on the radio or sung in concert halls. Children will have to stop playing all slapping and counting and singing games and stick to board games and football.
5. Oddly, it is a form of dissent these days to hold out that art that doesn't get the market share can actually be as valuable as the art that does....I'm for the ketchup that loses the race.
6. Attention: Write down everything you hear for one hour.
7. There is still a great deal of conceptualizing that leads up to any intuition.
from The Poetry Foundation's blog Harriet
Compiled by Frances Sjoberg on the occasion of the Conceptual Poetry and Its Others Conference, University of Arizona
CHARLES BERNSTEIN
1. In poetry, they talk about finding your voice, which is too often a way of evading the voices to be found in the writing.
2. Not only do I consider works of official verse culture to be poetry (which is not, for me, an honorific category), but also one of the key features of official verse culture [is] that it could necessarily include some poetry that I like quite a lot.
3. I prefer minerals to insects but I have been working on this with my ontologist.
4. As an alternative to National Poetry Month, I propose that we have an International Anti-Poetry Month. As part of the activities, all verse in public places will be covered over--from the Statue of Liberty to the friezes on many of our government buildings...Parents will be asked not to read Mother Goose...Religious institutions will have to forego reading verse passages from the liturgy...with hymns strictly banned...No vocal music will be played on the radio or sung in concert halls. Children will have to stop playing all slapping and counting and singing games and stick to board games and football.
5. Oddly, it is a form of dissent these days to hold out that art that doesn't get the market share can actually be as valuable as the art that does....I'm for the ketchup that loses the race.
6. Attention: Write down everything you hear for one hour.
7. There is still a great deal of conceptualizing that leads up to any intuition.
from The Poetry Foundation's blog Harriet
June Poetry Calendar up at FlashPaperPoetry
I have posted a new calendar from Tom Prunier (actually a revival of the old calendar) for Richmond Poetry Events over at FlashPaperPoetry. This supplements the Day by Day page on the site and highlights spoken word events. These events are all current and happening!
(doesn't mention my reading 11 am Saturday at the Norge library in Williamsburg)
On my regular calendar, I usually highlight academic/bookstore/gallery poetry events and readings, with a few open mikes thrown in rather than much of the 'spoken word' and 'slam' events.
Some of these events tend to run or start late at night, often in bars, and being neither a smoker nor drinker I don't get to many of them (I actually saw a blog that said 'come get drunk at so-and-so poetry slam- I'm guessing the poetry isn't the major attraction). Also, the events seem to come and go at random and I don't like to send people to events that may not happen.
While there is some crossover (not as much as I'd like to see) the truth is there is a divided community of poets in Richmond, the university set, the slam/spoken word set, and the rest of us [shmocks]. I don't know how to bring the groups together, though I'd like to think I've been trying for about fifteen years.
(doesn't mention my reading 11 am Saturday at the Norge library in Williamsburg)
On my regular calendar, I usually highlight academic/bookstore/gallery poetry events and readings, with a few open mikes thrown in rather than much of the 'spoken word' and 'slam' events.
Some of these events tend to run or start late at night, often in bars, and being neither a smoker nor drinker I don't get to many of them (I actually saw a blog that said 'come get drunk at so-and-so poetry slam- I'm guessing the poetry isn't the major attraction). Also, the events seem to come and go at random and I don't like to send people to events that may not happen.
While there is some crossover (not as much as I'd like to see) the truth is there is a divided community of poets in Richmond, the university set, the slam/spoken word set, and the rest of us [shmocks]. I don't know how to bring the groups together, though I'd like to think I've been trying for about fifteen years.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
George Garrett has died
I had no idea until I read it just now over at Ron Silliman's blog- guess that's what I get fot not reading the RTD anymore (also being incredibly busy last week).
He was poet laureate of Virginia from 2002-2006 (actually I thought it was only two years but I could be wrong.
George Garrett was a wonderful, kind man. I am grateful to have met him.
from the Washington Post
from the NY TImes
from the RTD
his funeral is Saturday at 11am in Charlottesville.
I'll be in Williamsburg reading poetry then.
He was poet laureate of Virginia from 2002-2006 (actually I thought it was only two years but I could be wrong.
George Garrett was a wonderful, kind man. I am grateful to have met him.
from the Washington Post
from the NY TImes
from the RTD
his funeral is Saturday at 11am in Charlottesville.
I'll be in Williamsburg reading poetry then.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Some ideas about poetry
After the great program by James River Writers last Thursday- here are some additional thoughts:
ways to read a book of poems
a book to read (Girly Man by Charles Bernstein)
and another (Rain Through High Windows by Edward Haworth Hoeppner)
Shakespeare was a WHA-WHA-WHAAAAATTT??
Have a great weekend! Go to the RIF (I'm playing at 10pm Friday and Midnight Saturday), go to art 6 and see some great dancing at 7pm ($10)
Read a poem, write a poem!
ways to read a book of poems
a book to read (Girly Man by Charles Bernstein)
and another (Rain Through High Windows by Edward Haworth Hoeppner)
Shakespeare was a WHA-WHA-WHAAAAATTT??
Have a great weekend! Go to the RIF (I'm playing at 10pm Friday and Midnight Saturday), go to art 6 and see some great dancing at 7pm ($10)
Read a poem, write a poem!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
James Center- noonish- be there!
I can't tell you why, but if you're downtown anyway, or have always wanted to eat lunch downtown outside- the James Center on Cary Street will be a great place to be tomorrow around 12:15.
Seriously- BE THERE!
AND check out STYLE and Mash-up on May 23rd and WTVR 6 Morning News last Friday!!
The Richmond Improv Festival is a great way to spend the weekend!!
Seriously- BE THERE!
AND check out STYLE and Mash-up on May 23rd and WTVR 6 Morning News last Friday!!
The Richmond Improv Festival is a great way to spend the weekend!!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Going to the 'burg for some poetry
Going to Williamsburg for the annual poetry festival
presented by the Poetry Society of Virginia.
be back late Saturday night after the Slam-
should be fun!!
presented by the Poetry Society of Virginia.
be back late Saturday night after the Slam-
should be fun!!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Poetry Month Poems/drafts
They're gone.
You missed them.
Gone to be reworked, reformatted, retooled for submission to hoity-toity lit mags and webzines all over the place (except for the two already accepted by Skipping Stones 2008)
Some will no doubt appear in a very limited-run chapbook at art6, others will be featured in a book of art and words from myself and artists at the gallery (David Bromley, others yet to be chosen).
You snooze, you looze.....LOL
You missed them.
Gone to be reworked, reformatted, retooled for submission to hoity-toity lit mags and webzines all over the place (except for the two already accepted by Skipping Stones 2008)
Some will no doubt appear in a very limited-run chapbook at art6, others will be featured in a book of art and words from myself and artists at the gallery (David Bromley, others yet to be chosen).
You snooze, you looze.....LOL
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