*VMFA “First Fridays” Welcomes Back VCU Poets Please come!!!*

VMFA will host the first event in the new First Fridays performing arts
series on Friday, September 3 with poetry readings from four poets from VCU.

The readings will be held in the museum’s Atrium from 6-8 PM. Admission to each event is free and open to the public. Take advantage of the late Friday evening hours, and view the works of art in the galleries, browse the gift shop or enjoy the casual atmosphere, food and beverages offered in the Best Café before or after the performances

*First Fridays, September 3*
*Poets* (introduced by Shann Palmer)

6:00-6:25 pm Avery Beckendorf
6:30-6:55 Tarfia Faizullah
7:00-7:25 Randy Marshall
7:30-8:00 Cynthia Grier Lotze

*Avery Beckendorf *is a third-year MFA student in poetry at VCU. She earned a BA in creative writing and journalism from the University of Central Florida in 2006. She previously worked as editor of the *Cypress Dome*, a student literary magazine at UCF, and her poetry and fiction have appeared in The *Susquehanna Review* and *Takedown.*
*Cynthia Grier Lotze* earned her MFA in poetry from VCU in 2006. She has taught Literature and Writing at VCU and at the University of Mary Washington and teaches in the English Department at St. Catherine’s School. She is at work on a book-length poem entitled *Baedeker for Comets* and her
shorter poems can be found or are forthcoming in publications like *Harpur Palate, Babel Fruit*, *Opium, Versal* and *Makeout Creek*.
*Randy Marshall* received his MFA in poetry from VCU. His poems, essays, and reviews have appeared in *Richmond Arts Magazine, GSU Review, Cream City Review *and *Blackbird*. Selections of his poetry were named as finalists in the Frank O’Hara Chapbook Competitions. He currently serves as Associate Literary Editor of *Blackbird: an online journal of literature and he arts.*

*Tarfia Faizullah* received her MFA in poetry from VCU. She is a former associate editor of Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts. Her poetry has appeared in Mid-American Review, The Southern Review, Ploughshares, Cimarron Review, Green Mountains Review, Poetry Daily and elsewhere. She was a 2006-07 AWP Intro Journals Award winner, a 2008-09 winner of the Catherine and Joan Byrne Poetry Prize, and the 2009 winner of Ploughshares’ Cohen Award

"Jesus wants you to be a millionaire"

A poem by Robert Bruce from poetry.org (the rest of the poem HERE)

Jesus Wants You to be a Millionaire

We know that he

worked as a carpenter
until
he gave it up to
travel
tell stories
and generally
piss off people like me

Poets you might (or might not) enjoy

Interesting stuff from Jezebel

An odd mix of the sublime and the sleazy- if you like to talk shit, click on some of the videos (I'm sorry- my personal opinion is, if you think talking about blood and vaginas makes you a better woman than me- I am so not impressed little girl- you don't know my life).

Stand up, commentary, bullshit, brilliance- all under the heading of poetry.

You choose-

A really great poem!!!

A prize winner for sure....by Ed Madden-
Jubilate

For I will read queer things in punk magazines in English.
For we will talk about David Bowie and Rod Stewart in art.
For I will watch Sting sing ‘Don’t stand so close to me’ on Friday Night Videos
as I lie on a bed in Sheryl Honey’s house my senior year,
for I will lie on the bed with Elizabeth, who loaned me the magazines,
for I will lie on the bed with Paul, the quarterback with perfect hair and tanned ankles,
for we will watch Sting sing ‘Don’t stand so close to me.’

(click HERE for the entire poem)

Brian Henry talks poetry, man

Brian Henry at Best American Poetry as guest blogger -
(University of Rivhmond, Verse literary zine editor, Weinstein prize winner)

Here

here

here

here

here

here

here

here

enjoy!

Kelly Cherry named Poet Laureate of Virginia

Kelly Cherry has been appointed Poet Laureate of Virginia. She will serve from 2010-2012.

She was preceeded by Claudia Emerson and Carolyn Foronda, both incredible poets! Cherry is a wonderful follow-up in this line of poets.

a poem from the Cortland Review...



She Doesn't Care What you Say About Her,

Just so Long as you Spell Her Name Right


Would she have fame?
Would she take tea and have fame with her tea?
Or roll a joint, famously?

She imagined approval, applause
A man not bored by her voracity.

In the house to be
Furnished in the future,
There would be intricate, quiet rugs,
Acres of books,
Someone playing the cello.

A late supper after the concert or play...
Outside, the people were clamoring for autographs.
The Madonna Syndrome:

Later, they went home,
And the man who was not bored
By the fact that she loved him
Allowed her to write her name
On his balls with the tip
Of her tongue as many times
As it took to make sure
He got it right.


*******************gotta love that, right??? Thank you Poetry Society of Virginia and Governor Whasisname.

best new writer I've met this year

Her name is Ann Pancake and her novel is "Strange as the Weather Has Been" , her short story collection is "Given Ground".

Her characters are spot on, full of life where lesser authors would infuse them with caricature and moonshine (or lately, oxycontin and meth).

Her words helped me feel the trees, the land, the rocks- the remainder of my vacation in West Virginia (I met her at the West Virginia Writers Workshop) I saw the land in a brand new way. As we drove to Morgantown and Oakland, MD on a different day, the mountains spoke to me and this time- I heard what they said, thanks to Ann. It was joy, beauty, and sadness.

I'm sure Kelly at Fountain Bookstore would be glad to order both books for you. Ann does for West Virginia what Clyde Edgerton and Sheri Reynolds do for their respective stomping grounds.

new US Poet Laureate named- it's Merwin!

W.S. Merwin is it-

HERE

More info HERE

I have mixed emotions- The past 2 years with Kay Ryan have been pretty much a wash (not her poetry but her public persona). It would be nice to have something going on with poetry again. Pinsky-style.

Just sayin'



Language

by W. S. Merwin

Certain words now in our knowledge we will not use again, and we will never forget them. We need them. Like the back of the picture. Like our marrow, and the color in our veins. We shine the lantern of our sleep on them, to make sure, and there they are, trembling already for the day of witness. They will be buried with us, and rise with the rest.

Just when you thought there was enough about Larry Levis!

There's more....

HERE

all this AND Phillip Levine?? Gotta love this, seriously.

Mark your calendars NOW!

2010 Levis prize winner announced by VCU

Check HERE for the details-

Some past winners are listed HERE

It's not major money but these winners have been exceptional poets in the past (with one exception IMO, but that's just IMO)

I have not read the winning book but have his first book and it is quite good.

show me the poetry in sausage biscuits

oh, can you tell me Hardee's (if that's your real name)?

Maybe it's not poetry without gravy-

Best Hour I've Spent in a Long Time

Incredibly inspiring...trust me, stick with it to the end...


Chuck Palahniuk from Grub Street on Vimeo.

Kids and Words at Chop Suey- last chance to sign up!

I'm not sure there are any slots left, but if you're kid is creative and not good with the heat- this is a real great opportunity-

Richmond Young Writers is a great program with exciting and interesting leaders to run your smart kid through all manner of word related activities.

Not to mention the poetry lady is very cool.

Summer Sessions 2010


Summer sessions run Monday-Friday from 2-5 pm at Chop Suey Bookstore in Carytown. Young writers will have the opportunity to explore the craft and fun of creative writing through a variety of imagination-stimulating prompts, journaling, people-watching and more.

Special workshops with professional writers will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3-5 pm. Each week will culminate in a reading of student works-in-progress at the Byrd Theatre at 4:30 pm on Friday afternoon.

Session 1, Ages 10-14 June 21- June 25
Character (Slash Coleman) ** Surrealism (Mike Dulin) ** Poetry (Shann Palmer)


Session 2, Ages 10-14 June 28-July 2
Journalism (Chris Dovi) ** Zine Making 101 (Liz Canfield) ** Fiction (Michele Young-Stone)


Session 3, Ages 10-14 July 5- July 9
Character (Slash Coleman) ** Poetry (Shann Palmer) ** Journalism (Chris Dovi)


Session 4, Ages 14-17 July 12- July 16
Fiction (Michele Young-Stone) ** Surrealism (Mike Dulin) ** Zine Making 101 (Liz Canfield)

Poetry at the Norge Library

June 3, Saturday 11 am

Guy Terrell, Shann Palmer, Carolyn Foronda, Henry Hart, Ed Lull

Reading their original work

Norge Library, Williamsburg

No job at Dominion Power if your daddy works there- oh no!

seems my son can't be hired at Dominion (Va Power) cause his dad works there- wish they'd mentioned that before his very promising interview yesterday

(the boss above the boss decreed it so - even though they would not be working together)

Did you know there are people reading your meter part-time *no benefits* who barely speak English but a collage grad who desperately needs a job can't get one because he's family?

Did you know the agency who is working on filling these positions (part-time) did not know this?

My son needs a job. Anybody?

Hopper and Kipling

isn't the internet great? The things we can revisit!



I've been told Kipling is out of favor but this is a poem I grew up with- I always was annoyed it was addressed to a son, not a daughter- times change.

Disappearing book (from Ron Silliman)

disappearing book no. 1 from disappearing books on Vimeo.

Dead Poets Live at the Poe Museum Thursday 7:00pm

Dead Poets Live

Sponsored by the Dead Poets Society of America
& The Poetry Society of Virginia

May 20, 2010
7:00 P.M.

Poe Museum, 1914 East Main Street, Richmond, VA

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Welcome
Chris Semtner, Curator, Poe Museum

Opening Comments

Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda, Former Poet Laureate of Virginia, 2006-2008

Readings

Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda . . . . ... . . Anne Spencer

Hollis E. Pruitt . . . . . . . Andrew Jackson Andrews

Nancy Powell . . .. . . . .  . Margaret Junkin Preston

Ann Shalaski . . . .. . . .  . . . George Palmer Garrett

Edward Lull . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . Joseph F. Awad

Shann Palmer . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . Bess Gresham

David Wojahn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Larry Levis

Ron Smith . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . Edgar Allan Poe

Closing Comments & Announcement of the Photo / Video Contest

Walter Skold, poet and founder of the Dead Poets Society of America

Refreshments, courtesy of The Poetry Society of Virginia

The Dead Poets Society of America and The Poetry Society of Virginia are grateful

to the Poe Museum for hosting this event.

The new Martin's at Dumbarton Square (and all of them really)

No one asked me (well, actually, the store manager did ask me while I was there and I intend to send this to him) but here are my thoughts on the new “Martin’s” at Dumbarton Square.


Good things - mostly the same great people, friendly as usual and busy trying to find things that had been moved - think of a friend who moves into your house with all their stuff and you can’t find your keys- though everything was really sparkled up, it felt and looked clean. Double coupons every day is nice. This store will close at 10pm- Good call!!!

Uncomfortable things- beer and wine jammed into a very small store, in fact EVERYTHING was jammed in, as if someone forgot to note this is a small store and doesn’t need to have all the items other stores carry. The shelves are crushed with product- it’s not that easy to remove a can or box without knocking things off (I did, twice). Also, everything is piled too high- frankly, all I could think of was “an embarrassment of riches.” In contrast, the meat section is a flat landscape displayed so you have to leer over the bins to see what’s there- and it’s all crammed in, too.

on that note- all those guys in white shirts standing around watching things and talking about the shoppers and stuff- go home- there are capable people in this store who know how to do their jobs.

Sad things - all the ‘cheap’ looking packaging- sorry, GIANT- your logo looks dated (so does the Martin font). I felt like I was in a Dollar Store. There are also so many new brands the variety of sizes is not available, and I guess crammed up so they can get the beer & wine in. I wish someone had done local research to see what works here- it’s not a big city, we have room to spread out a little. A LOT of the new clerks looked uncomfortable. I’m glad for their jobs, though.

Bad things - The hang tags under products are very misleading- at least twice I had to explain to some older shoppers the bottom price is what you SAVE- not what the item costs. Yes, it says so, but it’s difficult to tell, particularly if your vision is not perfect. Believe me, clearer info will help- I’ve stood in line at this store behind an old person arguing over ten cents. The tags don't cleary indicate what is and what isn't on sale- some say 'new price'- huh? It's a new store, all the prices are new.In addition the stores are junked up with displays and freestanding products (I mentioned this on the UkropsInsider survey I sent in). It makes it difficult to negotiate a basket.

Disappointing things - The prices. Sorry. Overall they are not that good- I know my prices and I am a careful shopper- you can fool some of the people but not me (most of the time). I won’t slip over to Kroger (none close) or Food Lion (Yuck) but some of the produce prices in particular make Whole Foods look pretty good. In fact, considering the current emphasis on health and good eating, the produce selection seemed a little wanting. It may be there is more content there but the section is sprinkled with packaged crap- and the vegan/vegetarian selections are tough to locate.

Yes, I will still shop there, I’m loyal and it’s close. I like the people- particularly the deli folks (where prices are a little better). I do hope things shake out and upper management listens to the locals. If they don’t, it’ll just be another big chain full of scuzzy people who don’t care (no matter what they say) selling us stuff we don’t want or need.

In the meantime, there's always farmer’s markets and places like Nadolski’s Butcher Shop in Goochland. Oh yeah, and Whole Foods.

Maybe I’m the dinosaur- but I don’t think so.

Poetry Festival in Williamsburg this weekend!!

Interesting people will be there- including myself, of course/

For more info, go to the Poetry Society of Virginia website.

Sofia Starnes and Eric Pankey will be doing workshops and readings, and many others!

It's probably too late to get meals but it doesn't hurt to email and ask- but the sessions are open to all.