WEDNESDAY -
UR Writers Series: Marjorie Perloff — The American poetry critic and author in program at 7 p.m. in the Brown-Alley Room, Weinstein Hall, University of Richmond. Free.
THURSDAY -
Art After Hours at the Virginia Museum- Tarfia Faizullah
Maybe the snow will be gone enough to get a place to park!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Art After Hours at the Virginia Museum- poetry and more
January 28
MUSIC: Crown Vic - Alt-Country Rock
6:30 & 7 pm ART OF POETRY: Caroline Cahill
7 & 7:30 pm TOPIC TOUR: Art a la carte
for more info go HERE
MUSIC: Crown Vic - Alt-Country Rock
6:30 & 7 pm ART OF POETRY: Caroline Cahill
7 & 7:30 pm TOPIC TOUR: Art a la carte
for more info go HERE
Friday, January 22, 2010
What He Said...
read about the supposed demise of poetry readers here
Dream On:
James Tate
Some people go their whole lives
without ever writing a single poem.
Extraordinary people who don't hesitate
to cut somebody's heart or skull open.
They go to baseball games with the greatest of ease.
and play a few rounds of golf as if it were nothing.
These same people stroll into a church
as if that were a natural part of life.
Investing money is second nature to them.
They contribute to political campaigns
that have absolutely no poetry in them
and promise none for the future.
They sit around the dinner table at night
and pretend as though nothing is missing.
Their children get caught shoplifting at the mall
and no one admits that it is poetry they are missing.
The family dog howls all night,
lonely and starving for more poetry in his life.
Why is it so difficult for them to see
that, without poetry, their lives are effluvial.
Sure, they have their banquets, their celebrations,
croquet, fox hunts, their sea shores and sunsets,
their cocktails on the balcony, dog races,
and all that kissing and hugging, and don't
forget the good deeds, the charity work,
nursing the baby squirrels all through the night,
filling the birdfeeders all winter,
helping the stranger change her tire.
Still, there's that disagreeable exhalation
from decaying matter, subtle but everpresent.
They walk around erect like champions.
They are smooth-spoken and witty.
When alone, rare occasion, they stare
into the mirror for hours, bewildered.
There was something they meant to say, but didn't:
"And if we put the statue of the rhinoceros
next to the tweezers, and walk around the room three times,
learn to yodel, shave our heads, call
our ancestors back from the dead--"
poetrywise it's still a bust, bankrupt.
You haven't scribbled a syllable of it.
You're a nowhere man misfiring
the very essence of your life, flustering
nothing from nothing and back again.
The hereafter may not last all that long.
Radiant childhood sweetheart,
secret code of everlasting joy and sorrow,
fanciful pen strokes beneath the eyelids:
all day, all night meditation, knot of hope,
kernel of desire, pure ordinariness of life
seeking, through poetry, a benediction
or a bed to lie down on, to connect, reveal,
explore, to imbue meaning on the day's extravagant labor.
And yet it's cruel to expect too much.
It's a rare species of bird
that refuses to be categorized.
Its song is barely audible.
It is like a dragonfly in a dream--
here, then there, then here again,
low-flying amber-wing darting upward
then out of sight.
And the dream has a pain in its heart
the wonders of which are manifold,
or so the story is told.
(article pointed out by poet Sam Rasnake)
Dream On:
James Tate
Some people go their whole lives
without ever writing a single poem.
Extraordinary people who don't hesitate
to cut somebody's heart or skull open.
They go to baseball games with the greatest of ease.
and play a few rounds of golf as if it were nothing.
These same people stroll into a church
as if that were a natural part of life.
Investing money is second nature to them.
They contribute to political campaigns
that have absolutely no poetry in them
and promise none for the future.
They sit around the dinner table at night
and pretend as though nothing is missing.
Their children get caught shoplifting at the mall
and no one admits that it is poetry they are missing.
The family dog howls all night,
lonely and starving for more poetry in his life.
Why is it so difficult for them to see
that, without poetry, their lives are effluvial.
Sure, they have their banquets, their celebrations,
croquet, fox hunts, their sea shores and sunsets,
their cocktails on the balcony, dog races,
and all that kissing and hugging, and don't
forget the good deeds, the charity work,
nursing the baby squirrels all through the night,
filling the birdfeeders all winter,
helping the stranger change her tire.
Still, there's that disagreeable exhalation
from decaying matter, subtle but everpresent.
They walk around erect like champions.
They are smooth-spoken and witty.
When alone, rare occasion, they stare
into the mirror for hours, bewildered.
There was something they meant to say, but didn't:
"And if we put the statue of the rhinoceros
next to the tweezers, and walk around the room three times,
learn to yodel, shave our heads, call
our ancestors back from the dead--"
poetrywise it's still a bust, bankrupt.
You haven't scribbled a syllable of it.
You're a nowhere man misfiring
the very essence of your life, flustering
nothing from nothing and back again.
The hereafter may not last all that long.
Radiant childhood sweetheart,
secret code of everlasting joy and sorrow,
fanciful pen strokes beneath the eyelids:
all day, all night meditation, knot of hope,
kernel of desire, pure ordinariness of life
seeking, through poetry, a benediction
or a bed to lie down on, to connect, reveal,
explore, to imbue meaning on the day's extravagant labor.
And yet it's cruel to expect too much.
It's a rare species of bird
that refuses to be categorized.
Its song is barely audible.
It is like a dragonfly in a dream--
here, then there, then here again,
low-flying amber-wing darting upward
then out of sight.
And the dream has a pain in its heart
the wonders of which are manifold,
or so the story is told.
(article pointed out by poet Sam Rasnake)
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Art After Hours- Tonight!! Poet Sandra Beasley! MoDebree!!
serious fun will be had by all at the Virginia Museum!
6-9pm
poetry 6:30 & 7:30
come out of the cold rain!!
$10, cash bar, cash for food or just dance and party down!
6-9pm
poetry 6:30 & 7:30
come out of the cold rain!!
$10, cash bar, cash for food or just dance and party down!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Contemporary poetry tricks (and tips)
This is a great post over at HTML blog-
moves in contemporary poetry
I do many of these- hmmm- good to know.
moves in contemporary poetry
I do many of these- hmmm- good to know.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Shann Palmer reading poetry for First Friday
Come to the Richmond Public Library and hear Shann Palmer read her poetry along with Tom Prunier in their acclaimed show "Big Man, Little Woman."
"We begin at 7pm and go until they throw us out. We will have chapbooks and other items for sale." Shann Palmer (in an interview for her blog page.)
"The lightning round had me rolling in laughter- these two really know how to sling words!" William Talcott, The Dead Poets Literary Journal, San Francisco.
"Why isn't Shann Palmer famous?" Stephanie Scott, La Porte Herald (Texas)
Part of the First Friday venue, Shann Palmer is coordinator at art6 gallery, one of the Style Magazine Richmonders of the Year. Tom Prunier is a nationally known Slam Poet.
"We begin at 7pm and go until they throw us out. We will have chapbooks and other items for sale." Shann Palmer (in an interview for her blog page.)
"The lightning round had me rolling in laughter- these two really know how to sling words!" William Talcott, The Dead Poets Literary Journal, San Francisco.
"Why isn't Shann Palmer famous?" Stephanie Scott, La Porte Herald (Texas)
Part of the First Friday venue, Shann Palmer is coordinator at art6 gallery, one of the Style Magazine Richmonders of the Year. Tom Prunier is a nationally known Slam Poet.
Friday, January 01, 2010
Happy new year- here's a poem for today!
Psalm 103
Bless the Lord, O My Soul
103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children's children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Bless the Lord, O My Soul
103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children's children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Come to the Richmond Public Library, downtown branch, for First Friday on January 8th!!
At 7pm, Tom Prunier and Shann Palmer will be reprising (and revising) their show:
BIG MAN/Little Woman
We read our original poetry, have a little poem lightning round, and tell you what's what in our inimitable ways.
and yes, I know January 1st is First Friday, but the downtown arts community decided that was just not a good idea- so we moved it!
At 7pm, Tom Prunier and Shann Palmer will be reprising (and revising) their show:
BIG MAN/Little Woman
We read our original poetry, have a little poem lightning round, and tell you what's what in our inimitable ways.
and yes, I know January 1st is First Friday, but the downtown arts community decided that was just not a good idea- so we moved it!
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
An interview with Tony Hoagland, my favorite poet!
Check out this page- bookmark if you love poetry!
Tony Hoagland will be reading at the Library of Congress this Thursday at 6:45pm.
Would anyone like to go? I can pay for gas.
Tony Hoagland will be reading at the Library of Congress this Thursday at 6:45pm.
Would anyone like to go? I can pay for gas.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
FIRST FRIDAY Fundraiser PREVIEW TONIGHT at art6 and Artspace
FIRST FRIDAY PREVIEW TONIGHT at art6 and Artspace
6-10 pm, tickets reserved by phone (343-1406) are $25 (pay at will-call) $30 at the door.
There will be donated platters from local restaurants, a free drink at each gallery, cash bar, and a chance to see the THINKsmall5 show before anyone else in Richmond.
It's also a fundraiser and we need the funds. Grants have been cut, fewer people can afford art, rent is up and revenue is down.
We need you. Please come and see the art, It will be a smaller crowd than First Friday and a lot of great art sells tonight, you'll miss your chance if you wait.
Every two years, THINKsmall happens! This year we have over 300 artists involved from Short Pump to Budapest.
Come support local art, we won't be here long if you don't!
6-10 pm, tickets reserved by phone (343-1406) are $25 (pay at will-call) $30 at the door.
There will be donated platters from local restaurants, a free drink at each gallery, cash bar, and a chance to see the THINKsmall5 show before anyone else in Richmond.
It's also a fundraiser and we need the funds. Grants have been cut, fewer people can afford art, rent is up and revenue is down.
We need you. Please come and see the art, It will be a smaller crowd than First Friday and a lot of great art sells tonight, you'll miss your chance if you wait.
Every two years, THINKsmall happens! This year we have over 300 artists involved from Short Pump to Budapest.
Come support local art, we won't be here long if you don't!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
An interview with Shann Palmer
Check this out over at Poetic Asides.
Are you ready to commit to writing a Poem a Day in November???
Are you ready to commit to writing a Poem a Day in November???
Saturday, October 17, 2009
work in progress
I'm busy working on the new tiny book material for the Richmond Zine Fest at Gallery 5, THINKsmall at art6 and ARTSPACE, and whatever else comes along.
I love the rainy days, but I could use a little more heat!
When I moved to Richmond in 1971 from Tucson, Arizona I didn't own a winter coat. I don't remember if it was this dreary and cold or not (probably not since we set a record low high yesterday) but I was so cold I went to Thalhimer's and bought a winter coat at full price! It was a brown houndstooth wool maxi-coat with a hood. I loved that coat- it was warm and very fashionable at the time.
Sassoon haircut and new coat, black short boots- I was adorable!!
yeah.
I love the rainy days, but I could use a little more heat!
When I moved to Richmond in 1971 from Tucson, Arizona I didn't own a winter coat. I don't remember if it was this dreary and cold or not (probably not since we set a record low high yesterday) but I was so cold I went to Thalhimer's and bought a winter coat at full price! It was a brown houndstooth wool maxi-coat with a hood. I loved that coat- it was warm and very fashionable at the time.
Sassoon haircut and new coat, black short boots- I was adorable!!
yeah.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Submissions close next Sunday October 18th!!
Submit to Tiny Books new zine
Tiny Books is a new publishing venture from FlashPaperPublications in Richmond, Virginia.
We are starting a new quarterly zine for small poems.
Submit 1-6 poems (no bizarro formatting)
- 16 lines or less plus title
- 50 characters or less per line counting spaces
Issue #1 will appear around October 30, 2009.
Submission Guidelines
Say what you need in 16 lines or less. Submit one to six poems with a brief cover letter in the body of an email- NO ATTACHMENTS. No previously published work or simultaneous submissions. All rights revert to the author upon publication. Pays three copies.
Electronic submissions only to: flashpaperpoetry@gmail.com
Small books, not much room- don't take it personal!
Tiny Books is a new publishing venture from FlashPaperPublications in Richmond, Virginia.
We are starting a new quarterly zine for small poems.
Submit 1-6 poems (no bizarro formatting)
- 16 lines or less plus title
- 50 characters or less per line counting spaces
Issue #1 will appear around October 30, 2009.
Submission Guidelines
Say what you need in 16 lines or less. Submit one to six poems with a brief cover letter in the body of an email- NO ATTACHMENTS. No previously published work or simultaneous submissions. All rights revert to the author upon publication. Pays three copies.
Electronic submissions only to: flashpaperpoetry@gmail.com
Small books, not much room- don't take it personal!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Wright and Taylor win the Weinstein Poetry Prize for 2009
Charles Wright and Eleanor Ross Taylor have won the Carole Weinstein Poetry Prize ($10,000 each) for 2009.
School of Quietude, another victory! Poetry will stroll its way into the woods, check for owls and deer, dead mules, and back porch meditations. To be somewhat fair (ha!) I like her stuff far better than his, but not being from Virginia originally or caring much for 'nature', I can't say this makes much difference to me.
School of Quietude, another victory! Poetry will stroll its way into the woods, check for owls and deer, dead mules, and back porch meditations. To be somewhat fair (ha!) I like her stuff far better than his, but not being from Virginia originally or caring much for 'nature', I can't say this makes much difference to me.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Poets at the Library of Virginia Tuesday at 6pm
Virginia in Verse: The Poetry of Michelle Boisseau and John Casteen.
Michelle Boisseau, author of A Sunday in God-Years, and John Casteen, author of Free Union: Poems, will discuss and sign their books of poetry. A Sunday in God-Years is centered on the long poem "A Reckoning," made up of 15 shorter poems/sections (some sections are documents like wills and runaway slave notices). The poems in Free Union revolve around physical work, the Appalachian landscape, and family relationships. Casteen, for ten years a designer and builder of custom furniture, covers subjects ranging from the farm to the shop floor, from the rivers of the Piedmont to the wooded shoulders of the Blue Ridge, and from the hyper-attentiveness of childhood through the anxieties and joys of fatherhood.
Michelle Boisseau, author of A Sunday in God-Years, and John Casteen, author of Free Union: Poems, will discuss and sign their books of poetry. A Sunday in God-Years is centered on the long poem "A Reckoning," made up of 15 shorter poems/sections (some sections are documents like wills and runaway slave notices). The poems in Free Union revolve around physical work, the Appalachian landscape, and family relationships. Casteen, for ten years a designer and builder of custom furniture, covers subjects ranging from the farm to the shop floor, from the rivers of the Piedmont to the wooded shoulders of the Blue Ridge, and from the hyper-attentiveness of childhood through the anxieties and joys of fatherhood.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
James River Writers Conference sold out!!
JRWC
is completely full!! If you didn't reserve a spot, you can't come! There is a waiting list sign-up though- every year I've noticed badges that weren't picked up so if you really want to go there might be a chance (things happern).
Thomas Lux will be there representing the poets.
I'll be there, volunteering (representing the poets).
is completely full!! If you didn't reserve a spot, you can't come! There is a waiting list sign-up though- every year I've noticed badges that weren't picked up so if you really want to go there might be a chance (things happern).
Thomas Lux will be there representing the poets.
I'll be there, volunteering (representing the poets).
Friday, September 25, 2009
Five Pet Peeves about Poetry
Check this blog out for fun.
from Gary Sullivan
In the meantime, Poetry at VCU in the form of the Levis Prize Winner Katie Ford was quite enjoyable.
from Gary Sullivan
In the meantime, Poetry at VCU in the form of the Levis Prize Winner Katie Ford was quite enjoyable.
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