Take it personal!!

My favorite poet, Tony Hoagland, once more captures everything in a poem that says so much.

HERE

wow

Good show, Carol Ann Duffy

In her poem for Harry Patch, Britain's poet laureate shows how it should be done-

article and poem

Happy Birthday, Mr. A!!!

Take a look at the picture on the link- he sure doesn't look like THAT anymore- but he's still one of my favorite poets...

Happy Birthday, John Ashbery!!

link

A fine poet passes- So long, Joe!

Joe Awad was a wonderful man and poet. He served as the Poet Laureate of Virginia.

He died last weekend. Here are links to some of his poems:

America

Stopping at the Mayflower

The Neon Distances

Of an Evening

and a Villanelle


From his listing in Poets & Writers:

Books:The Big Bang (The Poet's Press, 1999), Leaning to Hear the Music (Road Publishing, 1997), Shenandoah Long Ago (The Poet's Press, 1990), The Neon Distances (Golden Quill Press, 1980)

Anthologies:Howard Bloom's Anthology of American Religious Poems (Library of America, 2006), Sonnets (University of Evansville Press, 2005), The Next Parish Over: A Collection of Irish-American Writing (New Rivers Press, 1993), Grape Leaves: A Century of Arab-American Poetry (University of Utah Press, 1988)

a poem for july 10th

Horizon

beyond the blue
where we can talk
like we did before

life turned
then fell off the edge.

Look there! It’s another one.

Writing, poetry, and life

I feel like I am crawling out from under a large mass of debris. Since around the 20th of May life has taken many unexpected twists and turns that have left me unable to focus on anything more than making it from day to day.

My writing has suffered, I had too much to say and too little time to give.

However, thanks to Ross White, I started writing a poem a day for the month of July. I'm keeping them short, simple, but trying to express some of the turmoil of the past two months.

I have read two books- the new Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood) book by Charlaine Harris and The Virgin of Bennington by Kathleen Norris, both interesting and enjoyable for different reasons.

The gallery exhibition Poetry Room is a wonderful success, thanks to all the poets who sent work (over 40). Since it will be up through August 16th and we'll have another First Friday opening in August, anyone is welcome to send poems (in the body of an email, please, to shannp (at) gmail (dot)com).

After the car wreck (I was forced off the road by some hoodlums) I have since gotten a new(ish) car and am very happy with it. And I feel safe.

So c'mon poetry, stories, whatever...I'm ready to write and open-minded.

shann

preview tonight for First Friday!

Come see the poems! Thirty poets from all over the country sent poems for the wall at art6.

Rhonda Baker Goochland, Patsy Ann Bickerstaff Richmond, Wes Childress Richmond, Cynthia Jean Chisholm Richmond, Rachel Dacus California, Denise DeVries Kilmarnock, Roselyn Elliot Charlottesville, Kori E. Frazier West Virginia, Bernadette Geyer Vienna, Marian Hollowell, Richmond, John Hoppenthaler North Carolina, Ibrahim S. Kurtulus Richmond, Rachel Mallino Charlottesville, Julie Adler Noyes Richmond, Patty Paine Qatar, Shann Palmer Richmond, Frank Parker, Arizona, Tom Sanchez Prunier Richmond, Michael Rew Richmond, Michael Rothenberg California, Elise Skidmore Florida, Robert Smith Texas, Cheryl Snell Washington D.C, Diana Strelow , Amy Tudor, Doug Tanoury, Colva Weissenstein Arlington, Vernon Wildy Jr. Richmond, Toni Wynn, and Robert E. Young.

In addition- there's ART!! It's a members show! Upstairs there are exhibits by Justin Godhe (Algebra of the Form), Wynne Creasey (The poetic Virginia Landscape) and Amanda Cleland (Prints).

Tonight 7-9, preview exhibit
First Friday 6-10pm

poems wanted

Donate $5 and send a poem for the wall in the small gallery at art6. The poems will be on the walls from July 2nd thru August 16th.

We're a small gallery in Richmond, VA and the ONLY gallery with poet/writer members! In these hard times, we need help keeping the doors open.

You can send a donation thru Paypal (see sidebar) and email a poem to shannp (at) gmail (dot) come to get your poem posted on the wall and be an art supporter!!!

art6

deadline June 28th, though if you get it to me by July 1st I could still put your poem up, but it may be near the ceiling!!

Shockoe Poets at art6 2-4pm

Every 2nd and 4th Sunday from 2-4pm, Shockoe Poets occupy the space and fill the air with word art.

art6 Gallery, 6 East Broad St between 1st and Foushee.

Come join us!!

Check this out-

i suggest you check out this blog: hate it, love it, read it.

Musings of a Reality Deviant

Good clips and great links.

No poetry but well=written

Ocho # 24 Twitter Poets

Order your copy HERE

or

read or download online HERE

I'm semi-famous in a weird way!! Go figure.

My poem is "When you lived in Hong Kong" on pg 42

nevermind

I'm already a winner!!!

I just got this from the American Academy of Poets!! "Congrats! You're one of two winners of our 2009 pledge drive"- I'm not sure what I get but tomorrow I'll be mentioned in the newsletter www.poets.org Thanks to all who pledged for me to write a poem a day- I'll thank you personally later! I will be doing a chapbook of some of the best poems.

(right now I am woozy from adhesive for vinyl flooring- the bathroom floor is almost down!)

Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More

A resource from the Academy of American Poets with thousands of poems, essays, biographies, weekly features, and poems for love and every occasion

Dance program at art6 Tonight!!

Come to art6 for a wonderful dance program- this group really uses the space! A unique group of dancers who will mesmerize you in the one hour program.

admission $5

Don't miss this! 8pm Thursday and Friday night, May 7th and 8th

Hey! Publication!

Check out this issue of NightTrain-

and if you could give a hoot about the rest, here's the direct link to my poem.

Ignore the FlashPaperpoetry thing- it's not working right now

still going with the poem a day- it's not too late to pledge!!!

Pledge here- put this sentence in the comment box: Pledge support for Shann Palmer poem-a-day for April 2009

Dare me!! Pledge in support of my daily poems

Go ahead! Dare me!

I'm going to be writing a poem-a-day for the month of April 2009. All I'm asking is for you to support poetry (and me) by giving a donation as a pledge to the American Academy of Poets in my name during this month to support their many programs. I've been a member for years and I joined the Adopt-A-Poet program to support the webpage for my favorite poet, Tony Hoagland.

here's the site to go to and pledge- in the comment section on the second page of the donation form you can enter

Pledge support for Shann Palmer poem-a-day for April 2009

You can read my daily poems on their discussion board or I will send you the poems in your email.

Thank you, Poetry thanks you!!

Shann

Sal Salasin has died

Sure, most of you have no idea who that was, but I had many email exchanges with him more than ten years ago when he published some of my poems in RealPoetik.

here's a link to some of his poetry

and also here

here's the news You can find the poems he accepted from me in the 1998 and 2002 archives. They are very early efforts, including the first version of "Mrs. Grape" (later published in Eclectica). RealPoetic was sent out periodically featuring one poet.

I may have copies of our email exchanges with my old compuserve files. He was very kind and generous to a very green writer.

Nothing is different, but everything's changed.

So says Paul Simon...

and last night in North Carolina I played piano for the last of the Richmond IProv performances. We were an all musical improvisational group that started at ComedySportz 2 years or so ago- went through changes, growing pains, little tussles of talent over time but in the middle of all that did some pretty decent work on making people laugh.


Did it change my life? Yes. No. Nothing is different, but everything's changed.

I'm pretty confident about sitting down and riffing, but I did take a step up with them. I made some friends I'll probably keep, but that's always a crapshoot anyway. We did some great holiday specials, I had a great time.

Will I miss it? Yes. No.

Nothing is different, but everything's changed.

Was it fun? Yes, every single performance.

Buy my CHANGE Chapbook!!

My eleven poem chapbook CHANGE won the 2009 Writer's Digest Poetic Asides Chapbook Challenge, The poems were generated from a challenge in November to write a poem-a-day, something I've been doing for seven years during April, National Poetry Month, but have not attempted other months of the year until now.

Each poem reflects “the arc of a love affair” as Paul Simon says, from bright beginnings to the inevitable break and the hope for change. While the poems contain autobiographical elements, they are amalgams of a larger story

The beautiful cover photo was taken by my dear friend Dave Anchel and the book was created by FlashPaperPublications, my DIY imprint.

For $9.00 (P&H included) you will receive a well-crafted elegant book filled with my poems. Click on the Paypal link on the right side of the page!

A little extra surprise will be included with each order.

Thanks-

Iprov's last hurrah at Comedysportz tonight!

If you don't come tonight to Comedysportz at 10pm for the Iprov Love Cruise Special Show you will miss the last opportunity to see the only all-musical improv troupe on thr east coast perform- (and one of maybe three in the entire country!)

seriously- call 266-YESS for reservations-

We are performing one last show in North Carolina next Friday night, but those shows may already be sold out. Plus the drive there.

Don't miss it-

I won a chapbook contest!!

My manuscript "Change" won the Poetic Asides Chapbook Challenge from Writer's Digest!

Very excited!

I read from it at the Art After Hours reading I did January 15th! If you missed it you can buy it at shop6 at art6 this First Friday!!

See ya there!

New site for FlashPaperPoetry

MSN is shutting down the 'groups' where I've kept a poetry calendar for Central Virginia for about ten years-

HERE is a try, at least- it's a little unwieldy but will suffice to keep the info up until I get something better.

The extra events for the rest of January are the poets reading every Thursday at ART AFTER HOURS at the VMFA, Beth Fennelly at Poetic Principles on the 28th, and Katy Lederer at UR on the 29th. more info and links on the new page

FlashPaperPoetry lives on!!

get your poetry fix on your phone!

Just what you need in that special moment-

there's even a cool icon for each category...

HERE

check out LUST...

more poetry news

Talking about poetry and politics-

In today's America, poetry is either high art or lowbrow commerce. It comes either from avant-garde poets, writing only for a snobbish elite and ignored by the broad public; or from commercial sources, assembly-line verses crammed into a Hallmark card, written for the masses and spurned by the tastemakers. In today's culture, the most popular poems are usually song lyrics, from rock anthems to rat-a-tat rap songs about the thug life. They're not the kind of poetry you read on marble platforms for presidents and Supreme Court justices.


Mystery & Birds: 5 Ways to Practice Poetry

A little obligatory Poe

Kay Ryan (current poet Laureate) loses her partner to cancer

Dodge Festival in 2010 isn't

Read here

I am very glad I went this past year. This is a major blow for poetry.

Art After Hours- Shann Palmer's poetry

Tonight's the night!!

Thursday January 15th

I read at 6:30 and at 7:00- different poems each time!

MUSIC: Bluz Catz - American Blues, Jump & More
6:30 & 7 pm Art OF POETRY: Shann Palmer
7 & 7:30 pmTOPIC TOUR: Art a la carte
8 pm ART MOMENT: Jeffrey Allison- Paul Mellon Collection Educator
FRIENDS OF ART SILENT AUCTION: View and bid on works of art by local and regional artists

Tickets $10 (members $8).

A disappointing First *Second* Friday

The crowds were small and the money was tight- I was concerned when I saw very little about First Friday being moved to Second Friday because of the proximity of New Year's (plus most galleries didn't want to be struggling to get a new show up)

Our gallery (and others, and Curated Culture) sent info to the papers, to radio stations, the usual publicity outlets- but the info was not given any weight (I know- choosing what gets major ink is hard and bla bla bla- but it seems to me an event such as First Friday which is BTW, one of Richmond's most successful events in spite of the city and such, should be better supported by the local media).

Of course, maybe the galleries should have thought in advance how this would all work- it seems these things often catch us short- short of time, short of money, short of everything.

Part of it, no doubt, is the lack of balance between the for profit and the non-profit galleries. Art is art- isn't it? I suppose I should also take a little dig at the artist who (and this is definitely not aimed at ALL artists, but you know who I mean) who think they are so talented they like to stroll in and take their kudos and stroll out as if they are so special that's all people came to see-

It makes it tough for the wonderful but working artists who are willing to mix with the hoi-polloi, bring a tray for the table and work the room (and try to help with their own publicity).

Just a little unfocused rant here- there are all sorts of meetings coming up this week and next for 'planning' and 'strategic goals' and other baloney that will only make money for consultants and survey makers.

I'll work on getting to meetings, work with groups, whatever it takes, and I hope other members of art6 and other galleries do, too. I wish I felt more people had ART in mind and not how they can make money. I wish more people would put a little time in, somewhere, and make this all happen.

And I wish those who could would buy art and support our local artists.

not to mention poets and poetry....

and a little friendly ink from RTD and STYLE and URGE and V etc wouldn't hurt.

Happy Birthday to me from Consider the Lily!

I got a call this afternoon I won the Vera Bradley set the store was giving away!!Very Exciting- I admit to being a VB fan ever since I started having back and shoulder problems from carrying heavy bags.

Consider the Lily is a pretty little giftshop on Lakeside Ave right by the corner of Lakeside Ave and Hilliard Rd- the parking and the hours are a little weird, but if you are looking for something interesting it's a great place to stop. The people there were very nice, even when I lost my glasses in my purse but thought I'd left them on the counter.

How can I not recommend it??

Happy Birthday to me!!

yep- 59 years
went by waaaay too fast!!

Happy New Year Y'all!!

We're having a great time here at art6 with Rattlemouth!!

Unless you live real close, you missed it!!

Art After Hours starts soon at the VMFA

And look who's reading her poetry on January 15th!!

Go HERE

Tickets to all seven events are $60 (members $48). Single tickets are $10 (members $8).
Single tickets, but not series tickets, may be ordered online. Series and single tickets are sold at the museum Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm or may be charged by telephoning 804.340.1405 Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. (VMFA members may purchase tickets in advance at the museum (limit two per event per member, members must show VMFA membership card at time of purchase).

Read a review of one of my poems HERE

You can purchase the entire anthology here Richmond poet Cheryl Pallant also has a poem in the book.

Send art6 six dollars for a holiday mitzvah!

Mitzvah: Hebrew for "commandment." "A combination of a religious law, personal obligation, and a privilege.". Plural is Mitzvah. Often used to refer to a good deed

Non-profits such as art6 are suffering from the economic problems we are all experiencing.

It's the holidays, it's a good thing to do!

Send a check for $6 or $60 or whatever you can to:

art6 Gallery
6 East Broad St
Richmond, VA 23219

Your gift if tax-deductible!

It will keep the doors open and the heat on, not to mention putting art on the wall.

art6

10 reasons to go to poetry readings

Reason number 8: To Support the Poet. A certain portion of the audience will be family and friends of the poets who know how broke and desperate for support they are.

For the rest of the list, click HERE

Hey local poets, I have been invited to a new venue on Broad Street near Gaskins Rd- anybody have thoghts? How about Tuesdays??

Art in a Box- Grand Illumination- Tonight!!

Come downtown and see the Grand Illumination and all those dear deer- then come on over to Broad Street for the First Friday Artwalk!

art 6 is open from 6-10pm and we have a variety of artists with "Art in a Box"- including my poems (Yay!!!) and lots of other cool stuff.

In addition to our usual wine and beer cash bar, we'll have HOT COFFEE!!

yes yes yes!

You can leave your hat on.

an advent poem

In the Episcopal Church, we celebrate the season of Advent during the month before Christmas. No carols in services until the 24th (some parishes won't even have a pageant until then) and our focus is encouraged to be on the waiting- I always get a little annoyed at the bombarding I must endure from the world- and how we sing carols through January when everyone else is sick of them- until I thought of the births of my own children- how I prepared joyfully, hopefully, with fear. So to close my poem-a-day challenge from Writers Digest, I offer this as my last poem in November.


Change

I used to hate December- the noise,
the expense, the false good cheer-
until I thought about having a baby-
decorating the nursery, humming
soft lullabies to my swelling belly,
going to showers, buying special toys;
how in the month before I counted
days, awake with anticipation, my
own advent vigil for a miracle child
who would save me from sadness,.
give me the opportunity to do what
my parent’s couldn’t- raise a child
in love with life, self assured, strong
enough to take on the world, for me.

help me! Vote!

Throwdown 1

Select the best caption. The one with the lowest score is OUT.

Which caption is the best?

Adam Deutsch
Stacey Lyn n Brown
R.J. Gibson
Christopher Hennessy
Shann Palmer
Leslie Harrison
Nate McClain

View Results

Create your own myspace poll


The contest is o9ver at Avoid the Muse

Poetry and Poetry Contests

Above all, keep in mind that poetry collections must be novelistically structured. Before Emily Dickinson’s heap of 1,775 untitled poems could be competitive she would have to discard 1,700 of them, give each of the remaining 75 a title, sort them into three thematic batches, each with a section title and epigraph, and come up with a catchy “umbrella” title (Wild Nights might be a hit with student-screeners). This procedure is so de rigueur these days it’s as if there were a bumper sticker slapped on every collection, boasting: “My other book is a novella.”

Some interesting advice from contest winner and publisher David Alpaugh.

To read the entire article click HERE

Trinity Rep Radio Theater: feature a program of stories and poems that explore the relationship between mothers and daughters. [MP3] —

Give Richmond a present! Buy LOCAL!

Instead of going to a big chain to buy gifts, go to FOUNTAIN BOOKSTORE in Shockoe Slip and buy those gift books!

You can probably even order a gift certificate online and have it sent to someone you care about- and before you say, but it's small! They don't have what I want- Kelly and her people KNOW books, they actually read them, all the time- and they can order almost anything you want. If you don't know what you want, ask- they WILL have a suggestion.

You can even join this cool thing called IndieBound and make up your own wish list so folks know what to get and order it directly from Fountain Bookstore! I set mine up (hint, hint)!

I was by there tonight for a poetry reading and they also have cards and doodads and a really nice children's section.

seriously- support your local indie bookstore, or watch them disappear!

Tony Hoagland, marry me!

This is another reason why he is one of my favorite poets-

Requests for Toy Piano

I would leave my husband and children for you, Tony!!

will art survive the economy?

For the first time, I am having serious doubts about the survival of art in Richmond, non-profit art, and in particular, art6, my home base.

In the face of economic downturn, and it's not over yet, the money people have to spend is shrinking, the time, the energy that we can devote to such small endeavors is beginning to chafe at all of us. We struggle to pay our personal bills, forget the rent and utilities at public spaces.

Where do we go to spend our entertainment dollars? First Fridays are not as popular as they were when we were having 4,000-5,000 visitors- we now have more like 2500 on a given night, most of those beer swilling students, not folks who will purchase a piece of art. The meetings for the governing groups occur on weekday mornings most of the time, fine for restaurant owners and for-profit galleries with paid staff. Where does that leave the all-volunteer, artist-run gallery?

Out in the cold, that's where. Everything we do is done by folks who have other job to support their art habits. We have families, we have obligations, we're tired at the end of the day, we're broke.

(There are those predators who will eke out a living, unwilling to think of anything but promoting themselves, they seem to crawl around the edges sucking money out of the system- they work for awhile, then move on, done with the big picture. It happens in poetry, too.)

In the meantime, the 'important' artist exhibits ridiculous work that is academic and (often) ugly and the rest of us walk by and shake our heads trying to figure out why in the world it matters- where is the heart of the work, or as we sometimes hear in a sermon- where am *I* in this?? Like some current poetry, it doesn't speak to anyone, it only rambles a self-centered inner monologue. Go to the galleries on First Friday- you'll know what I mean. The expensive art far outweighs the affordable- the ridiculous is heads up over what might fit in your house.

I can hear you saying- Go get Grants!! As if that's easy- it's very complicated, even torturous to assemble all the paperwork needed and it all has to be done just right- by volunteers- who are stretched this and aching with the effort of living and being artists themselves.

I'm tired of trying, of pushing, of begging people to come see, come buy, bring your children. It's easier to stay home and burrow, I guess.

I can't do that- I won't. I'm the fool who continues to drop the brick on my foot, hit my head with the hammer- I don't expect other people to clear the way- I'm a fucking saint-

no I'm not. But I won't let this go that easily- that's all I'm saying.

Join art6- help out, come join the fight with us. You get to work with crazy people like me.

To the 15 people who usually read my blog- thanks

poem for kristallnacht

Change (for Kristallnacht)

When glass is shattered
its jagged music spreads
concentric from the site.

No sound is more compelling
or absolute, and we become
compromised, made vulnerable:
eyes, bare feet, our belongings
open to injury, violation.

Once begun the act is done,
to be never forgotten. New panes
may look the same but are not.

In dreams she hears the sound
of breaking glass and stirs awake-
How easily things get broken.

(The line “How easily things get broken.” is from the Mass by Leonard
Bernstein)

This is part of my poem-a-day group for November

Seriously funny tonight! GO SEE THIS!

ComedySportz- Saturday and Sunday! That's it, then you'ver missed it!

Tonight- people from Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC!!!!

Go HERE to check out details and make reservations or call 266-YESS

Seriously funny!!

The RICHMOND IMPROV FESTIVAL

ComedySportz- Tonight, Saturday and Sunday!

Go HERE to check out details and make reservations or call 266-YESS

Seriously funny!!

The Richmond Improv Festival Tonight!

The

Richmond Improv Festival

starts TONIGHT!

Twenty groups from all over the country performing the best improv you can see this side of the BIG cities!!

Thursday, Friday, Saturday AND Sunday!!

Why aren't you calling right now to make your reservation?

(I'll be playing piano tonight and Saturday night, but don't just come for me!)

I found myself!!

On page 2571 of Issue 1- I have a poem!!

I'm semi-famous on a limited basis!!

I did find my name and fake poem in Issue 1

Yay!

Claudia Emerson at VMFA Wednesday

back to poetry...

I've voted, made supper for tonight, posted my poem-a-day at Poetic Asides, an working on my NaNoWriMo entry.

Tomorrow IS another day!!

and Claudia Emerson will be at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on Wednesday at 6pm

Tickets available at the door

Joey's Hotdogs! musical comedyimprov tonight

Come on over to Ridgefield Parkway at the Exxon to Joey's Hotdogs! The ComedySportz I Prov musical comedy improvisers will be making it up for you from 5-8pm!

And the HotDogs are DELISH!!!

I'm the piano player-

Here's your Joe-the-plumber

I have to laugh at those commercials, all full of nice looking white folks that are certainly higher on the economic ladder than I am (can you afford a plumber? I can't).

This guy is so busy protesting, he hasn't had time to register for community college.

how the hate increases, how the fringe grows...

READ THIS

So whomever wins, does it make it better for the rest of us? The fear and anger generated by the media and the republicans only encourages this kind of nonsense.

I don't have any poems about intolerance. I may have to figure out how to put these feelings in a one.

MobyLives (the whale is out there, man!) is back

My favorite publishing news-commentary site is back!!


MobyLives

Wry, fun, and accurate- how else can I describe it? Go read!

There's poetry tonight:

Poetry Reading
Rich Murphy
Thursday, October 30th
7 – 9 pm
Barnes & Noble @ VCU

Rich Murphy has taught creative writing in Boston area colleges for many years. He now teaches at VCU. His credits include three chapbooks and a book of poems The Apple in the Monkey Tree by Codhill Press. His poems have appeared in Rolling Stone, Poetry, Grand Street, and The London Magazine.

Derek Walcott has remarked “Mr. Murphy is a very careful craftsman in his work, a patient and testing intelligence, one of those writers who knows precisely what he wants his style to achieve. His poetry is quiet but packed, carefully wrought, not surrealistically wild, and its range not limited but deliberately narrow. It takes aim.” Poet Rane Arroyo has written of Family Secret, “Sometimes I feel sorry for hetero writers! So much of their relationships are prescribed and the challenge is up to the artist to present relationships in a new way without destroying expectations. I’m happy to say Rich Murphy ignores all these directives as nonsense. His poems are maps of complicated straight lovers; the keys to this book are the strict use of language and love of discovery.”

To publish or self-publish??

It's a big question with more than one good answer.

Without an 'in' as an MFA or money to enter contests, even good poets can languish forever without much hope. Even if you are a chosen one and get a contract, it's years off and has limited saleability anyway.

Here's a good page on thoughts of others (some well known)

I have almost a dozen 24-30 pages chapbook I've kinko'd (actually most recently Staples- MUCH cheaper) and I've decided I want something a little more substantial.

I'm going to publish a P.O.D. book at Lulu.com. It will contain my poems about women, women's stories, daughters, mothers, you know. Why those poems?

1) They've always been popular
2) many of them have been published
3) I have a LOT of them
4) when I took a workshop with Denise Duhamel this summer, she said the ones I had there were some of my best work.

I'm still in the set-up phase, it will take at least a month. I haven't got the money for an ISBN right now but maybe I'll get some extra jobs between now and whenever and be able to include that. I know a number of poets who don't bother, the poet has to do all the leg work, publicity, marketing anyway.

Sure there are some small houses out there, but no one really local who can get me what I want (and lord knows no one wants poets anyway).

What's the worst that can happen? If I'm not happy, I drop the whole thing. If I like it I will sell a few and some people might enjoy my poems.

I can hear some academic types clicking their tongues because it won't be a REAL book, it might keep me from entering some contests and all that- but the truth is I may as well buy lottery tickets with the money I'd spend on contests- I'm more likely to succeed!

So keep an eye on this page and see what happens.

oh my yes!

Tony Hoagland reading

Wojahn wins the Weinstein!

David Wojahn was awarded the $10,000 Carole Weinstein Prize for Poetry.
Congratulations, David!

Announced Saturday night at the Library of Virginia book awards. (posted by the RTD at 10:37)

That oughta 'bout cover his lack of a raise from the state!

Somebody go update his wikipedia page!

While we're on that- why can't newspapers include links in their stories, or is that something just the Richmond Times Dispatch doesn't do?? I mean, it's so easy- this whole post took me less than five minutes, research and all-

poem accepted!

poem accepted at Night Train-

Just started submitting again after an almost year long spell of 'busy-with-other-things.'

Good to get a quick acceptance to spur me on.

a cholent and a rewrite

poem removed for submission and more rewrites
.

Rubbin' elbow grease with writers

at the James River Writers festival-

Last today and best- Diane Mott Davidson- the culinary mystery writer - and a really nice person! She did at least 2 sessions today not feeling well, but didn't say a word about it until the end (and only to the last three people in the room). Had great advice, solid 'do your homework' stuff, sure, nothing new, but she's so personable and smart- I can't wait to hear her again tomorrow! (Jann Malone is a great interviewer, too).

Frankly, the attendees seem to be a step up this year- I never heard the idiot questions (maybe I was facilitating good sessions) but this group seems sharp, smart, and deadly serious about craft. No 'where do you get your ideas?' or 'how do I make money?'.

The poetry session was pretty good- though the title was a little off-putting "Happy poems-Are they ever possible?" The usual suspects were there: Claudia Emerson, Buffy Morgan, David Wojahn, Ron Smith (I do love them all, particularly Claudia, but geez- are there no other affordable poets in driving distance? - see below -My complaints are moot- I think there was only one hardcore poet in the crowd anyway- me- the rest were fans or dabblers).

Like most panels with indeterminate subjects (example:the memoir session hit the ground running)- it started off like an awkward first date- a little tentative until everyone got into a groove deciding what the title of the session really meant- I'm not really sure it got there, but the charm of the panel won at last, mostly due to dog doo and pigeon poo poems (sigh).
note to shann- the conference needs a way to make additional handouts when needed or tell panelists to not bring them

Maybe I'm a little spoiled by the Dodge Poetry Festival, where only Sharon Olds and Brenda Hillman comported themselves like goofball types who wandered all over the page and insisted on body parts as poetic device- everything else there was amazing!

but I digress- no one here was a goofball- though a personal note to David Wojahn- don't quote David Byrne to an over-sixty audience and think they'll get it- they won't. And maybe edit for time-

just saying (I liked the poem BTW)

tomorrow is another day....

and a little more about THIS and THAT
I think I offended a friend earlier this year by speaking my mind, but there must be a way to make poetry more important (and not so local) at one of these gigs- how about Charles Jensen from the Poetry Center? James Harms from West Virginia? BJ Ward (in New Jersey), I could go on- Ted Genoways was here Wednesday night- I dunno- I could suggest a dozen poets.

The other thing- David Robbins listed a zillion Richmond writers and not ONE poet- I know he could care about poetry, but we are actual writers- Diane Mott Davidson, upon being asked who she is reading right now listed poets- even the fact she'd just gotten Billy Collin's new book in the mail before she left-

Full disclosure- I'm a volunteer, I didn't pay to attend. I did, however, work all day today. With only one poetry session paneled by folks I already know well, I can't recommend this conference to a writer who only writes poetry.

another rewrite (here today, gone tomorrow)

'poem removed, you missed it!

Excellent reading by Kevin McFadden and Ted Genoway last night at the Library of Virginia- terribly underattended, though- a lot of people missed some excellent poetry!

* poem removed*

Two Local Poets make good!!

Check out these two over in the 40 under 40 list at STYLE!

Allison Titus and Joshua Poteet

Support Your Local Poets!!

(IOW BUY THEIR BOOKS- order from Fountain Bookstore, local independent!)

Tonight- Poetry at the Library of Virginia

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

The Poetry of Ted Genoways and Kevin McFadden

Time: 6:00 PM–7:30 PMPlace: Lecture Hall, Library of Virginia FREE EVENT

Join us for poetry readings by Ted Genoways (Anna, Washing: Poems) and Kevin McFadden (Hardscrabble). Genoways, the editor of the Virginia Quarterly Review, won the Samuel French Morse Poetry Prize for Bullroarer, his first book of poems. Anna, Washing features poetry set in the 1897 Klondike gold rush. McFadden, associate program director for the Virginia Festival for the Book, has published in a wide array of journals, including Denver Quarterly, Kenyon Review, Ploughshares, Prairie Schooner, and Southern Review. McFadden’s Hardscrabble examines American identity through the latent possibilities of language. Co-sponsored by the Visual Arts Center of Richmond.

chicks read

Womenspeak, all-female, all writers read tomorrow at art6 gallery from 3-5pm.

come listen, come Support

your local poets!

Billy Collins new book- buy it in hardback

You will want to, after reading this review

I saw Collins read at least three times at the Dodge festival last week. He is charming, funny, wry, and an excellent poet. I've heard people dismiss his work- well, whatever- there are plenty of poets to read out there, he's just one-one of MY favorites.

I read about half of the new book and found so many of the poems to be spot-on as a voice of my world. He's a bit older than I am- nine years- but still close to all the things I know and have seen. Together, we've seen the Twilight Zone, the Cleavers, the Kennedy's, watched cigarettes go from a relaxing weight-control aid to a horror movie monster. He knows my language (as does Tony Hoagland- my FAVORITE poet).

He read the poem "January in Paris"- it is a wonderfully crafted piece. Or is he just blowing smoke?

and another one bites the dust

Hayden Carruth died last night.

Here's from the Poetry Foundation

If you don't know his work, I suggest looking him up.

here

and here, here, here.

palin as post turtle

Too fricking funny...

"You know she didn't get up there by herself, she doesn't belong up there, she doesn't know what to do while she is up there, she'll stay up there until someone takes her down, and you just wonder what kind of dumb ass put her up there to begin with."

Poetry Bailout!! News

from Charles Bernstein

and poets talking trash about the GOP (Imagine!!)

(thank you, Ron Silliman, for keeping the links going concerning the word)

and from Clive James, part of a poem I must find the rest of... link to review

The book of my enemy has been remaindered
And I am pleased.
In vast quantities it has been remaindered.
Like a van-load of counterfeit that has been seized
And sits in piles in a police warehouse,
My enemy’s much-praised effort sits in piles
In the kind of bookshop where remaindering occurs.
Great, square stacks of rejected books and, between them, aisles
One passes down reflecting on life’s vanities,
Pausing to remember all those thoughtful reviews
Lavished to no avail upon one’s enemy’s book —
For behold, here is that book
Among these ranks and banks of duds,
These ponderous and seemingly irreducible cairns
Of complete stiffs.

(thanks, Jilly Dybka and her Poetry Hut)

Back from the land of poets! (New Jersey?? R U kidding?)

The 2008 Dodge Poetry Festival was amazing, frustrating, inspiring, and WET.

They must view it like the state fair here- a bringer of rain!

But, ah, the poetry!! A surprise visit last night by Gerald Stern, two hours with Billy Collins, a set as long with Ted Kooser, a joyful meeting with Naomi Shihab Nye, a reunion with Jane Hirshfield.

And more, so very much more!

I have a bag full of wet, stinky clothes, a few books, and the realization that poetry is not as dead as it sometimes seems here in Richmond, that poets are not all selfish and annoying, that some poets will walk miles to hear the right words in the right order...

and relearned that I am a poet because I write and read poetry, not because of an open mike and a captive audience.

Thank you Tom and David A. You are dear friends and I treasure your support.

off to the festival!

Fend for yourselves, family!

I'm off to the wilds of New Jersey for the Dodge Poetry festival!

See ya Sunday!

from a poet who won't be at the Dodge Festival

Wendy Cope- her thoughts on poetry and process

She's one of the few poets who will not be in attendance at the Dodge Poetry Festival, where I will be from September 25th- 28th. Twenty-thousand people, that's what they expect!

I wonder how many are poets? Half? More than half??

That's way too many poets in one place.

Even if I'm one of them.

Oh constant reader, did I tell you I'll be one of the poets featured at Art After Hours at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts this coming January? It looks like Jan. 15, 2009 will be my spot.

Be there. I promise a good show!

A review of a reading- He's bona fide-

Matthew Donovan, that is- recent winner of the Levis Prize for a first or second book at VCU.

The reading was held in a truncated ballroom in the student commons last night- the worst room ever. It was claustrophobic and packed (young things required to be there- at least they were quiet and stayed for the entire event). I can't blame the English department, VCU has its ways, but this was pretty awful. There were not enough seats, some folks stood throughout. It was stuffy and claustrophobic.

It's difficult to say how it affected the reading, I heard several people complain of neck strain. I sat in the front row on the end, completely sideways in my chair.

Greg Donovan did his usual anecdotal "Larry Levis Lore" talk, always interesting - he seemed a bit uncomfortable, I can't help thinking the venue contributed.

Matthew Donovan (no relation to Greg) is a charming fellow, kind on the eyes, and has a great poet voice. His explanations for poems and process were appropriate (particularly since the crowd was not limited to POETS but filled with have-to-be-theres). I still wait for the writer who can balance explanations and poetry without saying too much-

The reception was 'around the corner' (but enough kvetching about location) and he affably signed books at the nice reception afterward.

Tumbling through his book at home was much better than the event, not because of him- he reads very, very well- but because his poetry is smart, funny (not ha-ha funny but witty) and mixes poetic language with current culture (I love the musical references, but I would). If I had to find fault, I'd have to say there is too much myth-tossing, too many locations- though in general the work holds together well and I will be rereading the whole in the coming week.

I'd love to know what the other, say, top ten contenders were- and specific reasons why THIS book (other than Mark Doty loving it). Only one poem sticks to me personally, the rest leave my head almost immediately as I turn the page.

That's not all his doing- I have a very specific range of work I cherish- there's so much poetry out there I don't feel obligated to love it all equally. I recognize competence, appreciate craft and all that, but the words that wrench me long after I read the page have to contain certain elements.

I have to be personally engaged, to understand what's happening, almost compelled to read a particular poem again RIGHT THEN. I don't mind doing a little research, or a word, or being befuddled occasionally- but don't bore me with your trip to Italy or Spain, don't hold yourself above me with your education and please don't try to talk in a voice you think is beneath you- or above you.

Does Donovan fit my narrow view? Ummm- yes and no. A few poems captured me, one in particular, but so many are just on the edge of academic over-write- the edge, mind you- that I'm not sure this book will come down from my shelf much, or ever after this week. What I do expect is more from him in the future, that Vellum will be a first book that demonstrates he deserves some poetic notice.

On the net, I read a some of the other reviews for this book. In general, the community sure does rally behind its children- most of the writers were full of overblown crap IMO. Those of us outside the clique have nothing to lose by saying our piece- this is an okay book, just okay. I like supporting poets, get books signed when I get a chance to see the poet in person, but I probably wouldn't have bought it without him being here in person. Just my take.

poetic aspirations? Smoke if ya got 'em

Amy King says.....

You will not have roses thrown at your feet. You will not make money. You will not become the celebrated guest poet at universities & bookstores coast-to-coast. You will not be invited to read your poetry all over the world. You will not have multiple book release parties. You will not be discovered and heralded as the next John Ashbery or Billy Collins or Elizabeth Bishop or Sylvia Plath or Ubermensch or Charles Bernstein or Susan Howe or Maya Angelou or John Cage or Lyn Hejinian or Rae Armantrout or Alice Notley. You simply will not.

Anyone who says otherwise is a LIAR!

yup

Thursday, Levis Prize Reading

2008 Winner- Matthew Donovan for Vellum

Thursday
VCU
8pm
Student Commons, Commonwealth A

If you care about poetry, you won't miss this!

First Poetic Principles reading cancelled

Poet Betty Adcock will not be reading at the Virginia Museum next Wednesday, September 17th for the Poetic Principle series. I don't have any information on why, only that she had to cancel. The web page has not been updated but Ron Epps, at VMFA informed me.

The series will begin with Virginia Poet Laureate Pulitzer and Weinstein Prize winning poet Claudia Emerson on November 5th at 6pm.

In the meantime, go hear Matt Donovan read at VCU on Thursday 8pm.

Here's a Betty Adcock poem for your perusal:


Why White Southern Poets Write the Way We Do

Because we were the last ones deserted
by the God of visions and serpents—

because an August field can levitate
on the ratcheting din of cicadas,

and the magnolia, offering its melted candles,
burns invisible prayers onto sunlight—

because every one of us has at least one
relative who plowed poor with a mule—

because the dead still enter our sleep as columns
of figures on the debit side of the ledger,

and there are darker voices in which we cannot speak,
black ghosts, smoke hanging in the twilit liveoaks—

because we found the broken words everywhere,
rolling like loose beads under the chiffonier,

and we weren't suspicious when our breath
restrung them in patterns heavy as scripture—

because a mist can sit in a pasture
like a cloud in a basket—

we never stopped believing the hoop snake
really does roll to assert the compass of time,
framing the vanished, the exiled dreamers, even
ourselves rising to occasion, almost reprieved
as the weed-strangled fields rise in autumn fire
to dance, to sing anyhow, to grieve.

short poems

Thanks, Tom- but the poems are gone now.

Good reasons to be a poet

from poet Reginald Shepherd, who died September 10th.


I write because I would like to live forever...

I write not to be bored...

And never to forget beauty, however strange or difficult.

more info and a poemfrom Harriet

Support the Arts!! be a Borgia!!

By supporting the artist- yeah, that's the ticket!

This July, I attended West Virginia Writer's Workshop at West Virginia University to study with Denise Duhamel (who is wonderful). I am going to attend the Dodge Poetry Festival September 25-29. This has all kind of tapped me out, though I have four part-time jobs (I also volunteer at the gallery and the Virginia Museum).

If anyone would like to contribute to the cause of poet- you can send a check to art 6 Gallery care of my name and I guarantee I will use it wisely. This is your chance to be like one of the great patrons of days long past!! You could be a modern day Borgia!! No poison involved!

Shann Palmer is certainly a non-profit entity, though not by the legal definition, but think of it as a mitzvah as the holidays approach- no, I'm not Jewish but I try to do a good thing every day myself.

Or you could stop by the gallery Thursday-Sunday and buy my chapbooks, poetry bags, and CD.

Or commission a poem!

yeah- all that- of course, I know personally most of the folks who read my blog and I know you could use the same favor. I should be grateful I have a healthy family, all the food I need, and a roof over my head. Every poet I know could use a patron. Bless us every one!!

Send it to the gallery instead as a donation- or any gallery of your choice! Or any poet of your choice!

Then go here or here or here or here or here and read a poem- it will make your world a better place!

It's hard out here for a poet

There's a restaurant in DC called Busboys and Poets.

and here in Richmond Shockoe Poets, the longest running open mike in Richmond, can't find a new home.

We're meeting at art6, 6 east broad, from 2-4 on the 2nd & 4th Sundays until something pops up.

We're looking-

Someone was searching Mutyalamaduvu

so google sent them to my poem (written last year for an AmarantH Dance Company performance at art6

Body in motion

from the top of her heads to the calloused soles of her feet,
the dancer’s heart pumps blood to all the places it needs to be
in constant movement beneath the skin: sartorius, ilium,
ischium, transverse abdominis, latissimus dorsi, trapezius,
her blood like water seeping up only to seek its own level
before a spectacular fall: Niagra, Tagbaladougou, Gocta,
Mutyalamaduvu, Papalaua, Hagoromo-no-taki, names
that tumble off the tongue like spun sugar confections
slung carelessly down jagged cliffs, over verdant valleys,
under burned bridges, water that goes deep to rise, rise,
rise again in unexpected places as springs, springs,
springs that bubble and pop to mystical healing shrines:
Calimanesti, Lourdes, Daius Church, and Bethsaida, where
just one toe, one fingertip dipped in the troubled waters
will bring blessed relief from an eternity of pain- but
you must be the first, first, first or be left to crawl back
to your cot to wrap up in sorrow to wait, wait, wait-
another year, another holy day, until a stranger says
you can do it if you want to, you can do it on your own,
find a healing, it’s already within you to take the gift,
float joyfully away on a sea of salty tears, buoyant,
expansive as furled sails in tropical harbors, blinding white
against the nacreous panoply of colors: vermillion,
pomegranate, viridian, malachite, gamboge, amaranth,
an impressive array somewhere between red and rose
love stands simple capturing the breath, heart beat, memory
of a fragrant flower: ansinthium, verbena, moonflower, lilac,
gardenia, or jasmine, strong and fragrant as musk, to stand
against the world and its gravitas, one body of many parts,
single-minded, from foot to hand to mouth to heart, the beat,
beat, beat pumping blood to all the places it needs to go,
like water rises then falls and seeks its own level,
again, again, again, again, again, again.

Obscene- but I'm just a poet

Cindy McCain

Oscar de la Renta dress: $3,000
Chanel J12 White Ceramic Watch: $4,500
Three-carat diamond earrings: $280,000
Four-strand pearl necklace: $11,000–$25,000
Shoes, designer unknown: $600
Total: Between $299,100 and $313,100

(from Vanity Fair)

and a response

Entitlement- like the Bakker's, like the Enron executives, like.....

and you know, I'm not complaining that they want to look good (??) but I'm sure all of this could have been less ostentatious- and sure, maybe some of the stuff was gifted or bought cheaper- but still-

I'd spend more money if I had it, of course I would- and I would give more away. I do now and I don't have it.

So much of value is so little, life is enough riches: love, companionship- how many of the delegates at both conventions had to put the whole trip on a credit card, one they will have trouble paying?

I should be asleep

At last I have completed a poem- time and energy have been sparse, so have the words.

Sometimes dreams bring a bit of inspiration.

shakes thoughts into phrases.

added because someone asked- will disappear Monday...
__________________________________________

When you lived in Hong Kong ... poem removed for editing before submitting

Poetry and Politics

Concerning Lorca

Class vs Gender

In the eye of the hurricane

Billy Collins and underwear (well, lingerie)

11 new poems byLinh Dinh

Dr Andy’s Poetry & Technology Hour w. Joe Biden and Laura Cherry [MP3]

Arming the locals (okay, this isn't poetry-related)

Thanks, Ron Silliman and Jilly Dybka

ComedySportz tonight!!! 7:30 and 10:00

Sure- it goes on every Friday and Saturday night at those times- but not with Shann Palmer playing piano for both shows!!

I Prov- the all musical improv group performs at the 10:00 show!

I'll be playing here and there at 7:30

Come on! Call 266-YESS to get a reservation!

Whatever chance McCain had with me just left

with his VP pick- her views on gays and lesbians, creationism, abortion rights, and who knows what else at this point have left me fully behind Obama and company.

Geez- did he think merely picking a woman (and a mom- oowheee!!) would sway my little old vote?

Maybe if he sent chocolates and took the kids to the movies so I could have a quiet evening at home would do it.

It's really hard to think about poetry right now.

Idiots.

The Richmond Times Dispatch actually posted

this????

Claudia Emerson new poet laureate!

and quickly??? (5:29pm)

wow- I am amazed- and pleased. They must be trying to scoop Style LOLOL.

THE NEW POET LAUREATE IS...

are you ready for it?? Really ready??

okay-

The poet laureate for Virginia 2008-2010 is


Claudia Emerson!!!!

Well, that's the best news I've heard all day!

For all my weird friends- David Lynch poems

Check out this submission guideline: Blue Velvet

and why not? I think I'll order A Slice of Cherry Pie

In the meantime- art6 is seeking new members, interns, and volunteers. We need people with talent, with time, highly motivated individuals who have seeds of ideas and want to see them flourish into something bigger.

We need artists and art lovers, people who love Richmond, people who are interested in seeing the downtown art scene hit the next level.

You don't have to be a star to be in our show, but if you've got the starstuff, we're ready to support your efforts, but please, prima donnas, there are plenty of other places for you to strut while you're waiting for new york to call- we want people who aren't too high on themselves to paint a podium, to take out a bag of trash, to do the hard work some boring committee requires.

Yeah, you're too busy to sit or to come to meetings- whatever- we're busy too, but the members of art6 believe in something bigger than art on the walls- bigger than First Friday- bigger than Broad Street-

if you think you're the kind of person who cold find a home with us- go HERE

Speaking of recreation...

Here's some tips from poet Bernadette Geyer, a wonderful Virginia poet on revising your poems.

I spent hours this morning switching verbs, then nouns, then starting over again.

Writing's easy- revising is hard.

We got FIOS!

and I haven't accomplished anything for days...

actually, that's not true- I'm still working on a few poems, dealing with art6 stuff, wondering why it's so hard just to get by these days.

That's a kind of untruth also- I have plenty of what I need, bills are caught up, pantry adequate, plenty of time to do what I want.

must be ennui- yeah, that's it- August Ennui.

Sounds like a good book title, doncha think?

We're getting FIOS!

bye bye Comcast!!

it's being installed right now, right here in Lakeside- a farmer's market, a great little Indian restaurant (particularly take-out), and now freedom from Comcast!!

Wow!

Now, if getting a new poet laureate were just that easy~

Update on the Poet Laureate and Gov. Kaine

After all my letters to the Governor about not appointing a poet laureate in a timely manner- we have been without since July 1st- I had lunch with Carolyn Foronda (Virginia laureate 2006-2008) at her home near Deltaville and got the scoop.

The poet laureate must provide years of financial records, tax forms, job history, all manner of personal data to prove (I suppose) they aren't terrorists or criminals. She said it took her weeks to come up with all the needed data, and she's a very organized person!

I can't imagine that many poets have all that info at their fingertips, more likely in shoeboxes and Ukrops' bags or somewhere deep in the chaos of their dwellings. All that for an unpaid position that very few people actually care about.

Ridiculous? Yes. The nominee is probably trolling through files for minutiae they shouldn't need to share with the government. I guess we'll wait till they get it together.

There goes my chances-

In the meantime, have vision- there will most likely be a Poetry Festival in the Richmond area in 2010- something for poets at the top of their game, something James River Writers doesn't offer, the Festival of the Book doesn't provide, the University in-house shows can't open up for- it's coming, poets- be ready, start writing and revising now!

What a Party! Richmond Mag's Best/Worst

What a cool party Richmond Magazine had last night! I sampled foods from all sorts of restaurants I can't afford to patronize, drank decent wine, and we folks from ComedySportz Improv performed our six-minute musical "What's There to do in Richmond?".

I didn't try to ride the Segway, but I did hobnob with other James River Writers folks and the artsy crowd (who were those other people?)

Interesting music by the DJ- very typical easy listening classic late disco-ish fare (michael jackson ferchrissakes?) though early on (before everybody got there) it was better. White boys in white suits dancing- heh!

Richmond is such a strange city- and despite what Michael three-names said in his column in the RTD today - it's about as provincial as any place I could name.

You know, a famous poet once told me no one cares as much about your work as you do, so get over yourself. Sounds like good advice for this place (my home for almost forty years).

We ain't all that- seriously. I have developed a fondness for the place, I must say.

Dogwood Dell

It's the last chance to see Little Shop of Horrors at Dogwood Dell tonight at 8:30.

The weather is PERFECT! It's FREE.

I went last night, it was wonderful. Sure, you've seen it before, but you've never seen a set quite this elaborate. And the actors are excellent!

and my daughter did costumes (she's worked seven summers for Richmond Parks and Rec).

GET THERE!! Don't bring any money, but DO bring bug spray.

SlamRichmond in the semi-finals, still no poet laureate!

Go Team Richmond!

Currently ranked 18th in the country, the Slam Richmond team has made semi-finals!

For a complete story, go HERE

This is great news!

Support Your Local Poets!!!

In spite of my constant email campaign and Gov Kaine having the list of candidates at his fingertips, we still have no poet laureate (position open since July 1st!). I understand how much there is to do, but this is a no-brainer- Claudia Emerson is the best choice of the list he's been given.

ANOTHER letter to the governor

I will write weekly until something is done- this is ridiculous!

Dear Sir:

Once again I write to implore you to proceed with the appointment of a poet laureate for our state.
The information has been in your hands for more than a month (the suggested names provided by law from the Poetry Society of Virginia).

There is no money involved, but schedules and speaking engagements in schools and community groups need to be made.

Our previous laureate, Carolyn Foronda, has been retired from the position since July 1st and I,
a poet and your supporter hope that you will both recognize her for an exemplary job since 2006 and announce your new appointment.

Please, I implore you to act on this now!

Shann Palmer

Support Your Local Poets!
http://groups.msn.com/FlashPaperPoetry

Shockoe Poets found a new home!!!

Globehopper Coffee has offered to let the Shockoe Poets try the scene on 2nd and 4th Sundays from 2-4pm.

Come on over- we'll start out at Shockoe to pick up the people-not-on-the-internet, then move over to Globehoppers for our grand opening.

Bring poetry! Your own or someone else's, to read and share!

and thank you Cafe Gutenburg, for offering even though you have Sunday brinch- maybe we can bring a once a month event back to your wonderful place!

Poetry reading needs a home!!!

The Shockoe Poets have been evicted from the Shockoe Espresso Coffee Shop in the slip!!!! We're homeless!

It's true. After ten years, the longest running open mike needs a new home ASAP!! Started back in the 90's at Ashland Coffee and Tea, Cheryl Ball and I moved it to Richmond where Kelley Lane took over as cohost at the Shockoe Espresso location.

We'll be there (unofficially) on the second Sunday in August from 2-4 to discuss and regroup if you have any ideas.

Apparently, the parent company Mill Mountain ( anything to do with the theater?) had some sort of problem somewhere and somebody screwed it up for the rest of us and the order is out for NO MORE ENTERTAINMENT at their establishments.

The truth is, we were almost always the only people there on Sundays- I tip at least 100%, and we talked up the place constantly. Oh well.

And we just had a piece on Mash Up July 29th- figures.

Cafe Gutenberg offered, but they have a brunch on Sundays and needed us to change times (later in the day). We'd really like to try to stay in the 2nd and 4th Sundays, 2-4pm if we can.

If anybody has any ideas, please let me know shannp at gmail dot com.

Another letter to the governor...

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

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.

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.

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)

Poet Interview and I