For the most part
It’s the two of us
Myself and a demon
Whose name I won’t say
He’s not good company
In fact none at all
Absent is dialogue
Meaningful or otherwise
He has never been consoling
Not in the slightest
His body language
That of omission
Nothing physical
Only metaphysical
No tenderness
Only harsh neglect
Sometimes my demon
Invades a gathering
I won’t introduce him
I never say his name
Friday, January 20, 2006
The Nucleus of a Poem
"A poem should not mean
But be." ~Archibald MacLeish, Ars Poetica, 1926
~
And the funny thing about advocates of only "accessible poetry" is they are forever hung up on the meaning.
New January 2006 Poll Shows Majority of Americans Support Impeaching Bush for Wiretapping
New January 2006 Poll Shows Majority of Americans Support Impeaching Bush for Wiretapping
In Summation:
The poll found that 52% agreed with the statement:"If President Bush wiretapped American citizens without the approval of a judge, do you agree or disagree that Congress should consider holding him accountable through impeachment."
tags: Bush impeachment
In Summation:
The poll found that 52% agreed with the statement:"If President Bush wiretapped American citizens without the approval of a judge, do you agree or disagree that Congress should consider holding him accountable through impeachment."
tags: Bush impeachment
Fridge magnets tinker with poetry. 20/01/2006. ABC News Online
Fridge magnets tinker with poetry. 20/01/2006. ABC News Online
The idea if intelligent fridge magnets is interesting, but what about the art of it all?
tag: Poetry Art language technology
The idea if intelligent fridge magnets is interesting, but what about the art of it all?
tag: Poetry Art language technology
Thursday, January 19, 2006
You Just Know it is Going to Be Good
The blurbs are all in and have had time to settle. So it is only natural that the writer would now begin to create the masterpiece that was responsible for so many blurbs. We are all waiting patiently.
Rights Group Says U.S. Abuses Terror Suspects
Rights Group Says U.S. Abuses Terror Suspects
Human Rights Watch yesterday released it's annual report on the treatment of people in more than 70 countries. The report is critical of the U.S. Government.
tag: Human Right
Human Rights Watch yesterday released it's annual report on the treatment of people in more than 70 countries. The report is critical of the U.S. Government.
tag: Human Right
Stickpoet Trivia
Ten Top Trivia Tips about Stickpoet!
- Stickpoet kept at the window will keep vampires at bay!
- Reindeer like to eat stickpoet!
- The original nineteenth-century Coca-Cola formula contained stickpoet.
- The word 'samba' means 'to rub stickpoet'.
- In the Spanish edition of Cluedo, stickpoet is the victim.
- Stickpoetocracy is government by stickpoet.
- A rhinoceros horn is made from compacted stickpoet.
- All of the roles in Shakespeare's plays - including the female roles - were originally played by stickpoet.
- If you blow out all the candles on stickpoet with one breath, your wish will come true!
- Olympic badminton rules say that stickpoet must have exactly fourteen feathers.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
January Submissions & Misc.
I sent off three submissions yesterday bringing my total sent out for the month to eight.
Most unique word search used recently to access my site by someone was "make me into a superhero" - Ok, poof you are a superhero. See, we aim to please. :)
Out of the recent unique visitors, Maryland and Missouri tied and California was third. A little regional strength starting to show up.
Internationally, visitors from United Kingdom, Canada, Poland, Australia, and the Philippines.
Good news is that I have a Poetry Society Meeting tonight. The bad news is my sweetie will likely be in bed by the time I get home.
Most unique word search used recently to access my site by someone was "make me into a superhero" - Ok, poof you are a superhero. See, we aim to please. :)
Out of the recent unique visitors, Maryland and Missouri tied and California was third. A little regional strength starting to show up.
Internationally, visitors from United Kingdom, Canada, Poland, Australia, and the Philippines.
Good news is that I have a Poetry Society Meeting tonight. The bad news is my sweetie will likely be in bed by the time I get home.
Rights groups prepare suits over domestic spying
Top News Article Reuters.com
President George W. Bush's domestic spying program faces legal challenges by two U.S. civil liberties groups who said on Tuesday they will seek court orders to stop it immediately and permanently. Both Bush and NSA Director Army Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander are named as defendants in the action.
tags:Privacy Bush Wiretaps liberties
President George W. Bush's domestic spying program faces legal challenges by two U.S. civil liberties groups who said on Tuesday they will seek court orders to stop it immediately and permanently. Both Bush and NSA Director Army Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander are named as defendants in the action.
tags:Privacy Bush Wiretaps liberties
Guardian Unlimited | Arts news | Duffy wins TS Eliot poetry prize
Guardian Unlimited Arts news Duffy wins TS Eliot poetry prize
Carol Ann Duffy, whose new collection Rapture is one of the top-selling poetry collections in the UK, last night won the £10,000 TS Eliot poetry prize.
The Poetry Book Society, which awards the prize, said: "This year's TS Eliot prize highlights a (some would say) rare moment of agreement between the critics and the booksellers as to what constitutes great poetry." (Guardian Unlimited)
Interview with Duffy
After Anna Akhmatova by Carol Duffy
Land by Carol Duffy
Tag: Poetry
Carol Ann Duffy, whose new collection Rapture is one of the top-selling poetry collections in the UK, last night won the £10,000 TS Eliot poetry prize.
The Poetry Book Society, which awards the prize, said: "This year's TS Eliot prize highlights a (some would say) rare moment of agreement between the critics and the booksellers as to what constitutes great poetry." (Guardian Unlimited)
Interview with Duffy
After Anna Akhmatova by Carol Duffy
Land by Carol Duffy
Tag: Poetry
Monday, January 16, 2006
Courage & Dissent
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” ~Ambrose Redmoon
I would say that at the time that Walter Cronkite made his famous remarks about the need for America to end the military action in Vietnam, he stood a great deal to lose. It was a noble and courageous act on his part putting his reputation and career on the front line because of something he saw that was more important.
Perhaps today, in his years of retirement, he has less to lose in terms of economics. His livelihood is not at stake. Still, he has placed his reputation out on the line once again for what he sees as a greater good.
Cronkite has been a war correspondent. He’s seen a lot in his lifetime. His words on the war in Iraq bear consideration by every American.
No doubt in the next few days, we well see White House officials questioning not only the wisdom of his remarks, but likely his loyalty and devotion to this country. Courage comes in many colors. Sometimes it is on the battlefield. Sometimes it is dissent. There are good reasons for dissent. It is not a sign of weakness or disrespect or disloyalty no matter what those bent on propagating this war say. Truths do count for something.
I would say that at the time that Walter Cronkite made his famous remarks about the need for America to end the military action in Vietnam, he stood a great deal to lose. It was a noble and courageous act on his part putting his reputation and career on the front line because of something he saw that was more important.
Perhaps today, in his years of retirement, he has less to lose in terms of economics. His livelihood is not at stake. Still, he has placed his reputation out on the line once again for what he sees as a greater good.
Cronkite has been a war correspondent. He’s seen a lot in his lifetime. His words on the war in Iraq bear consideration by every American.
No doubt in the next few days, we well see White House officials questioning not only the wisdom of his remarks, but likely his loyalty and devotion to this country. Courage comes in many colors. Sometimes it is on the battlefield. Sometimes it is dissent. There are good reasons for dissent. It is not a sign of weakness or disrespect or disloyalty no matter what those bent on propagating this war say. Truths do count for something.
Cronkite: Time for U.S. to Leave Iraq
Walter Cronkite, a voice from the past, echoes a message from the past. Cronkite, who urged American after a CBS newscast on Feb. 27, 1968 - following the bloody Tet Offensive in Vietnam, to end the military mission also said that America should withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq.
Source
Source
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Pale as my pants
The new morning brought with it a desire to feel better. Though I was out an about yesterday, my wife thought I was as pale as the khaki white slacks I had on. I am better today, but knowing I have tomorrow off, I will to take it easy and hopefully by Tuesday I'll be at or near 100%.
That hasn't kept me from writing and this morning I have toyed with a draft of a poem I did last night. It is coming along but still needs work. I've stopped to blog this bit and perhaps take a short break from it. If I can craft this into something this week, I'll be quite happy as I look back on the weekend from which it started.
That hasn't kept me from writing and this morning I have toyed with a draft of a poem I did last night. It is coming along but still needs work. I've stopped to blog this bit and perhaps take a short break from it. If I can craft this into something this week, I'll be quite happy as I look back on the weekend from which it started.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
State of Poetry
Charles Mudede and James Latteier recently penned a bizarre piece in The Stranger that you may well have read. In short it was a diatribe about what is wrong with poetry today. I was amazed at their definition of poetry. Let's see, they said, "Poetry is the continued practice of poetry." You heard me right. It's one of those definitions from like a buck and a quarter notebook- insert dictionary. A self defining word. To this sentence they added, "This circular definition simply says that you can't start afresh." Start what afresh? What the fuck are they saying? New form? Good lord, poetry has been evolving since inception.
If we were going to have a "State of The Art of Poetry" address and discuss the current status of the art, I'm sure we could find plenty to bitch about. On the other hand I believe there is so much innovative writing being done today that is not even recognized.
Evidently Charles and James have an aversion to confessional poetry. That's fine. But they must surly realize that the confessional scene is not all that is out there. And some people still find well written confessional poetry to suit our taste.
What exactly are these two saying? Poetry is the practice of poetry? Good poems beget good poems? We should all mimic their concept of great poetry? There is nothing new under the sun that is good?
Given the negative tirade they have made on poetry in general, I believe they owe us a better description as to what poetry is to them.
If we were going to have a "State of The Art of Poetry" address and discuss the current status of the art, I'm sure we could find plenty to bitch about. On the other hand I believe there is so much innovative writing being done today that is not even recognized.
Evidently Charles and James have an aversion to confessional poetry. That's fine. But they must surly realize that the confessional scene is not all that is out there. And some people still find well written confessional poetry to suit our taste.
What exactly are these two saying? Poetry is the practice of poetry? Good poems beget good poems? We should all mimic their concept of great poetry? There is nothing new under the sun that is good?
Given the negative tirade they have made on poetry in general, I believe they owe us a better description as to what poetry is to them.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Fighting The Sinus Thing
My head feels like a part of my brain is encased in concrete and the core is trying to throb inside the encasement. My throat is raw from sinus drainage. If you can't tell, I'm not feeling well.
For me feeling well is an absolute. Whereas being sick is all relative. That is because like so many males (if I may stereotype for a moment) I tend to resist the inevitable. There are degrees of sick. I may be sick, there is a chance I could be coming down with something but I am not there yet. I may be getting sick. I'm probably sick. I'm a wee bit sick. I'm sick. There are just so many degrees you can be before you are there. In the final analysis, I may damn well be on death's doorstep before I am actually "just plain sick."
So it is that I am going into work this morning but I will likely leave early. There are some important things that need to be done first. Then I'll check for a pulse and if I fine one, I'll go home. Maybe.
For me feeling well is an absolute. Whereas being sick is all relative. That is because like so many males (if I may stereotype for a moment) I tend to resist the inevitable. There are degrees of sick. I may be sick, there is a chance I could be coming down with something but I am not there yet. I may be getting sick. I'm probably sick. I'm a wee bit sick. I'm sick. There are just so many degrees you can be before you are there. In the final analysis, I may damn well be on death's doorstep before I am actually "just plain sick."
So it is that I am going into work this morning but I will likely leave early. There are some important things that need to be done first. Then I'll check for a pulse and if I fine one, I'll go home. Maybe.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
All This
You
are my ribbon
that ties the lose ends
The bounce
that makes all
my hurdles
The
sound that
soothes and moves
my soul
You are the gentle mist
the succulent kiss
and the whimper of bliss
are my ribbon
that ties the lose ends
The bounce
that makes all
my hurdles
The
sound that
soothes and moves
my soul
You are the gentle mist
the succulent kiss
and the whimper of bliss
Scotsman.com News - Scotland - Edinburgh - Line of poetry to let tourists dial up facts on Fergusson
Scotsman.com News - Scotland - Edinburgh - Line of poetry to let tourists dial up facts on Fergusson
MOBILE phone technology is being used to beat planning restrictions on a plaque to Scotland's "forgotten poet" Robert Fergusson.
MOBILE phone technology is being used to beat planning restrictions on a plaque to Scotland's "forgotten poet" Robert Fergusson.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
City will have own poet laureate
St. Paul Pioneer Press 01/10/2006 City will have own poet laureate
The Minnesota governor vetoed a measure which would have created a state poet laureate. That didn't stop the people in Duluth, Minnesota. They will have their own poet laureate.
The Minnesota governor vetoed a measure which would have created a state poet laureate. That didn't stop the people in Duluth, Minnesota. They will have their own poet laureate.
On Poets Being Relevant
My birthday now past, safely tucked away in slumber, not to be awakened for another year. Thanks to all well wishers.
Birthdays are a strange commodity. When young, we can't wait till the next one. Somewhere along the line that of course changes and we (or at least I) would be happy if they seemed not so frequent. The alternative is guess is not particularly appealing and I suppose it would be good to temper whatever negative attachments we (or I) have to them with the obvious reality. Having another birthday requires living. So, here's to living with all the joys and sorrows it brings and hope for more of the first and less of the latter.
Living it seems is a critical part of poetry. We hear so much about dead poets but they had to be alive at one point to be poets. And I do think that many poets have a more than casual focus on mortality. I know I do. But I don't think that is so much because I have a fixation on death, but a lust for life and I understand that the absence of one is the other. Further, reality is that we will all at some point be dead. So it is, that I measure much of life in the context of these two extremes.
I cannot offer any scientific evidence, but I have a gut feeling that on the average, poets are much more highly charged with emotion than the rest of the population. We see colors more vividly; we hear things that others miss. We witness both higher and lower realms of emotion with greater intensity. These of course are generalizations on my part, but they are opinions, which I hold. I try to accept that these are gifts. Yes, at times some of this may seem like a curse but on the whole it gives us a richer experience with which to share our world view, whether we are talking about the beauty of a trickle of water across the rockbed of a brook or the horrors of war.
There's a quote that I'd like to share which I believe deeply reflect my view of the poet and his or her duty. Salman Rushdi once said, "A poet's work: To name the unnamable, to point at frauds, shape the world and stop it from going to sleep." When I think about that quote several things happen. One is that it is good that most poets seem to experience the intensities of life. Another is that because of this gift we have an obligation or duty to share with the world. And to that end, the final thought is that poetry really does matter.
tag: Poetry
Birthdays are a strange commodity. When young, we can't wait till the next one. Somewhere along the line that of course changes and we (or at least I) would be happy if they seemed not so frequent. The alternative is guess is not particularly appealing and I suppose it would be good to temper whatever negative attachments we (or I) have to them with the obvious reality. Having another birthday requires living. So, here's to living with all the joys and sorrows it brings and hope for more of the first and less of the latter.
Living it seems is a critical part of poetry. We hear so much about dead poets but they had to be alive at one point to be poets. And I do think that many poets have a more than casual focus on mortality. I know I do. But I don't think that is so much because I have a fixation on death, but a lust for life and I understand that the absence of one is the other. Further, reality is that we will all at some point be dead. So it is, that I measure much of life in the context of these two extremes.
I cannot offer any scientific evidence, but I have a gut feeling that on the average, poets are much more highly charged with emotion than the rest of the population. We see colors more vividly; we hear things that others miss. We witness both higher and lower realms of emotion with greater intensity. These of course are generalizations on my part, but they are opinions, which I hold. I try to accept that these are gifts. Yes, at times some of this may seem like a curse but on the whole it gives us a richer experience with which to share our world view, whether we are talking about the beauty of a trickle of water across the rockbed of a brook or the horrors of war.
There's a quote that I'd like to share which I believe deeply reflect my view of the poet and his or her duty. Salman Rushdi once said, "A poet's work: To name the unnamable, to point at frauds, shape the world and stop it from going to sleep." When I think about that quote several things happen. One is that it is good that most poets seem to experience the intensities of life. Another is that because of this gift we have an obligation or duty to share with the world. And to that end, the final thought is that poetry really does matter.
tag: Poetry
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