Naropa University - Audio Archive Project
The Naropa University Archive Project enters 2005 with over one thousand hours of recordings digitized. Access to three hundred hours of the collection is available online via the Internet Archive at www.archive.org. The archive project's partnership with the Internet Archive marks a significant step toward realizing its mission of enhancing appreciation of post-World War Two literature and its role in cultural criticism and social change.
Among the recordings recently released online are historic lectures and performances addressing peace activism, gender issues, environmentalism, spirituality and freedom of speech. You'll hear Samuel Charters lecturing on Jack Kerouac and jazz, Peter Lamborn Wilson discussing the Temporary Autonomous Zone, Bernadette Mayer teaching experimental writing techniques and Allen Ginsberg and Art Lande performing the anti-war poem "Hum Bomb."
Since its founding in 1974 by poets Anne Waldman and Allen Ginsberg, the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, which includes the Department of Writing and Poetics and the Summer Writing Program, has recorded approximately six thousand hours of audio tapes documenting performances, seminars and discussions conducted at Naropa by many of the leading figures of the U.S. literary avant-garde. The collection represents several generations of artists who have contributed to aesthetic and cultural change in the postmodern era.
With continuing support from the NEA, NEH, Save America's Treasures and the GRAMMY Foundation, the Naropa University Archive Project is preserving, cataloging and providing library and Internet access to this collection. The archive project has recently released its first commercial CD, "First Thought, Best Thought," and has developed audio support for university literature courses. It is developing a national radio documentary series on literature, the arts and social change and is also supporting other audio archives by providing training. I presented the project to the Society of American Archivists in Boston last year, and archive staff is presenting at the Association of Recorded Sound Collections in Austin, Texas, as well as at the Western Region Archives conference in Las Vegas. This summer audio technicians from the Naropa University Archive Project will travel to Dharamsala, India, to assist the Tibetan Library and Archive in digitizing unique recordings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The Naropa University Archive Project is asking for your assistance in 2005 in the ongoing preservation and access work of the audio archive. It needs matching funds from private donors to continue making this living literature available to the public.
Since the founding of the collection in the early 1970s, many issues addressed by contributing artists and scholars have come increasingly to the fore in the larger public arena. For thirty years artists, scientists and spiritual leaders have been addressing issues in environmental preservation, gender and sexuality, multiculturalism and the rights of indigenous people. In such times as these, it is a great pleasure to make this collection available to scholars and lovers of literature and people of conscience worldwide. Thanks for visiting with us.
Steven Taylor
Director, Naropa University Archive Project
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Katrina Resources
Here are a few resources to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina:
Catholic Charities, USA
America's Second Harvest
Convoy of Hope
Humane Society of the United States
All of these organizations are providing relief assistance directly to the Katrina affected areas.
Katrina
Catholic Charities, USA
America's Second Harvest
Convoy of Hope
Humane Society of the United States
All of these organizations are providing relief assistance directly to the Katrina affected areas.
Katrina
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
KC Metro Verse meeting At WriterHouse
KC Metro Verse met last night at the new WriterHouse in Kansas City.
WriterHouse was opened by Pat Berge, a creative writing instructor at Maple Woods Community College, Kansas City, Missouri. Pat has taught fiction writing at Columbia College Chicago.
She also conducts writing workshops.
Seated left to right is Missi Rasmussen - Metro Verse President, Amy Davis and Pat Berge.
WriterHouse was opened by Pat Berge, a creative writing instructor at Maple Woods Community College, Kansas City, Missouri. Pat has taught fiction writing at Columbia College Chicago.
She also conducts writing workshops.
Seated left to right is Missi Rasmussen - Metro Verse President, Amy Davis and Pat Berge.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Roles
The struggle isn’t quite so perilous
A sort of foreplay choreographed
To uninhibited pandemonium.
Your heavy sighs a concerto.
It is like you always want to lose
And only play along for the sport.
I wonder myself what it would be like to
Succumb to subjugation under your coercion
And watch how you deal with conquest.
A sort of foreplay choreographed
To uninhibited pandemonium.
Your heavy sighs a concerto.
It is like you always want to lose
And only play along for the sport.
I wonder myself what it would be like to
Succumb to subjugation under your coercion
And watch how you deal with conquest.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Deep in the Heart of Crawford - A Must Read
Let me recommend Deep In The Heart Of Crawford over at Love During Wartime. Thanks James, for pointing us to the Wallace piece. His message is definitely thought provoking especially being of the Vietnam generation.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Special Delivery
Congratulations are in order to Deborah Ager of 32 poems on the arrival of Olive Cameron Ager Beverly!
What is the point of worry...
"For Christ sake write and don't worry about what the boys will say nor whether it will be a masterpiece or what. I write one page of masterpiece to ninety-one pages of shit."
~ Ernest Hemingway
~ Ernest Hemingway
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Self Death
Brick and mortar of life
Sometimes held strong
Other times weak
And crumbling before
Our eyes – sometimes blurred
And not grounded in soil
of reality. Sometimes floating
On the waters of aqua-culture,
A modernists vision of farming
Where crops may not have
Traditional stability and the whole
Outcome is called into question
By the skeptics who never
Look beyond the box for
Anything for fear the
Confrontation of a new idea
Could lead to questions
They are not prepared to answer;
Leaving them striped- naked of
Security by their transparency
To become a product
Of their own obsolescence.
Sometimes held strong
Other times weak
And crumbling before
Our eyes – sometimes blurred
And not grounded in soil
of reality. Sometimes floating
On the waters of aqua-culture,
A modernists vision of farming
Where crops may not have
Traditional stability and the whole
Outcome is called into question
By the skeptics who never
Look beyond the box for
Anything for fear the
Confrontation of a new idea
Could lead to questions
They are not prepared to answer;
Leaving them striped- naked of
Security by their transparency
To become a product
Of their own obsolescence.
A Primer of Iraqi Liberation
O the nights of lightening bursts
Over the skies of Baghdad fade
But the percussion sounds still
Rattle the streets- the shelf life
For ordinary folks smudged out
With an eraser. Water runs
Or not, the only consistent power
Has no switch for control.
Life And death seem so closely tied;
A knot that one moment can be
Pulled too tight and snaps.
People strain to remember who
Asked for liberation, their mind draws
Blank, the birth pain of democracy
All the more unbearable when some
Resist the contractions and want
Only to abort and are willing to take
Vengeance upon their own to squelch
The unwanted. Still, mercenaries
Prosecute a bold faced lie to the world
With the levy of working men and women
At home who have no choice, while others
Are sacrificial lambs for the sake of
A dignified way out of one man's perjury.
Over the skies of Baghdad fade
But the percussion sounds still
Rattle the streets- the shelf life
For ordinary folks smudged out
With an eraser. Water runs
Or not, the only consistent power
Has no switch for control.
Life And death seem so closely tied;
A knot that one moment can be
Pulled too tight and snaps.
People strain to remember who
Asked for liberation, their mind draws
Blank, the birth pain of democracy
All the more unbearable when some
Resist the contractions and want
Only to abort and are willing to take
Vengeance upon their own to squelch
The unwanted. Still, mercenaries
Prosecute a bold faced lie to the world
With the levy of working men and women
At home who have no choice, while others
Are sacrificial lambs for the sake of
A dignified way out of one man's perjury.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Today is Women's Equality Day
August 26 in 1920 - the right to vote was extended to women. Just a small step in the equality process.
On another note - I wanted to share this quote from Horace Mann -
"Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity."
On another note - I wanted to share this quote from Horace Mann -
"Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity."
Library Challenges FBI Request
Library Challenges FBI Request
This Washington Post article is recommended reading with respect to the current debate over infringement of civil liberties vis-a-vis Patriot Act.
civil liberties Privacy
This Washington Post article is recommended reading with respect to the current debate over infringement of civil liberties vis-a-vis Patriot Act.
civil liberties Privacy
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Famous Poet: by Ted Hughes
I believe the first book of poems by Ted Hughes to be published was a small book titled The Hawk in the Rain. I picked up a copy of this at a book store a few weeks back and was reading through it this week and came upon a poem that I believe has to be one of my favorite Ted Hughes poems. It is titled Famous Poet.
I especially am fond of the third stanza:
First scrutinize those eyes / For the spark, the effulgence: nothing. Nothing there / But the haggard stony exhaustion of a near- / Finished variety artist. He slumps in his chair / Like a badly hurt man, half life-size. //
This poet, though famous it appears has seen better days. Effulgence is such great word here. We know a bit of what perhaps has been, but is now lost in this man who has sunken to something less by half of life-size.
The final stanza too is a powerful image:
And monstrous, so / As a Stegosaurus, a lumbering obsolete / Arsenal of gigantic horn and plate / From a time when half the world still burned, set / To blink behind bars at the zoo. //
So in the earlier verse Hughes uses the half life-size man - Shrinking the Famous poet down to something less then his once perceived stature. In the end, this same poet is the monstrous Stegosaurus - albeit beyond his better days - for public viewing behind the bars at the zoo. Both images work equally well.
The Hawk in the Rain was fist published by Faber and Faber in 1957. It won the New York Poetry Centre First Publication Award. The judges were W.H. Auden, Stephen Spender and Marianne Moore.
I especially am fond of the third stanza:
First scrutinize those eyes / For the spark, the effulgence: nothing. Nothing there / But the haggard stony exhaustion of a near- / Finished variety artist. He slumps in his chair / Like a badly hurt man, half life-size. //
This poet, though famous it appears has seen better days. Effulgence is such great word here. We know a bit of what perhaps has been, but is now lost in this man who has sunken to something less by half of life-size.
The final stanza too is a powerful image:
And monstrous, so / As a Stegosaurus, a lumbering obsolete / Arsenal of gigantic horn and plate / From a time when half the world still burned, set / To blink behind bars at the zoo. //
So in the earlier verse Hughes uses the half life-size man - Shrinking the Famous poet down to something less then his once perceived stature. In the end, this same poet is the monstrous Stegosaurus - albeit beyond his better days - for public viewing behind the bars at the zoo. Both images work equally well.
The Hawk in the Rain was fist published by Faber and Faber in 1957. It won the New York Poetry Centre First Publication Award. The judges were W.H. Auden, Stephen Spender and Marianne Moore.
Park University Scribe
Just learned that I have four poems in the Park University Literary publication. Haven't seen them yet and it was quite a while ago that I submitted them - I'm stretching to remember which ones they were. If I was at home, I have it on my manuscript tracking system, but for now I'm too shocked. Actually this is the second time they have published my work.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Shark
In the deep night waters/
Sleek silent watercraft / Self-reliant incessant predator / Swift to carve circles / Stalking in his own circuit
Sleek silent watercraft / Self-reliant incessant predator / Swift to carve circles / Stalking in his own circuit
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Pat Robertson Got that Right
Republican, Christian Evangelist and 700 Club icon Pat Robertson has lamented on his website the direction society is going. "Life has become more and more cheap in the society we live in. But God says you shall not murder." I would agree with Pat. There is plenty of evidence that supports the contention that many simply do not hold the value of life in particular high esteem. Palestinians blowing up Israelis. Terrorists beheading Americans. Israelis killing Palestinians. Iraqis killing other Iraqi citizens. Students shooting other students and teachers. You get the picture.
So imagine my dismay this morning when I learned that Pat Robertson called for a hit on Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. This was not some sort of vague reference to Chavez simply turning up missing. It wasn't some off the cuff comment that we'd all be better off without him. Yesterday, on the 700 Club broadcast, Robertson said, "We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability." "We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm dictator," he continued. "It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with."
Such incendiary remarks are hardly helpful to U.S. interest in South and Central America. Oil rich Venezuela is certainly a country that has felt itself a stepchild of American Imperialism in the past. Hugo Chaves is after all a democratically elected head of state. While his leftist views may not be popular with many in the U.S. government, such statements by someone as widely known as Pat Robertson only increase the tensions that exist between the Unites States, Chavez and his many allies throughout South and Central America.
One has to wonder what ever was even going through Pat Robertson's mind? His fascist remarks have no doubt hurt Robertson as a future spokesperson for the Christian community. It has increased Chaves's value and standing among anti-Americans. Put Robertson on the same page as a terrorist and made the Bush Administration which normally has enough trouble staying out of this kind of trouble on the defensive with Venezuela. It seems the only party that has gained here is Chaves and his allies. Remembering the phrase, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" - well Chaves just made a whole lot of friends.
So imagine my dismay this morning when I learned that Pat Robertson called for a hit on Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. This was not some sort of vague reference to Chavez simply turning up missing. It wasn't some off the cuff comment that we'd all be better off without him. Yesterday, on the 700 Club broadcast, Robertson said, "We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability." "We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm dictator," he continued. "It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with."
Such incendiary remarks are hardly helpful to U.S. interest in South and Central America. Oil rich Venezuela is certainly a country that has felt itself a stepchild of American Imperialism in the past. Hugo Chaves is after all a democratically elected head of state. While his leftist views may not be popular with many in the U.S. government, such statements by someone as widely known as Pat Robertson only increase the tensions that exist between the Unites States, Chavez and his many allies throughout South and Central America.
One has to wonder what ever was even going through Pat Robertson's mind? His fascist remarks have no doubt hurt Robertson as a future spokesperson for the Christian community. It has increased Chaves's value and standing among anti-Americans. Put Robertson on the same page as a terrorist and made the Bush Administration which normally has enough trouble staying out of this kind of trouble on the defensive with Venezuela. It seems the only party that has gained here is Chaves and his allies. Remembering the phrase, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" - well Chaves just made a whole lot of friends.
Something Clicked
Over the weekend I was able to put a few words on the page that seemed to actually morph into something reasonably connected. I didn't sweat it... just plugged along.
Last night I ran out to the library to retrieve some books for my wife. Picked up something for myself as well, came home and read some pretty opinionated critical reviews of some of Robert Lowell's work. It was at this point I was thankful that my writing was not subjected to such clinical dissection in view of the world. For a moment anyway. Then of course I thought what the hell. When you reach the level that Lowell had achieved, you don't much care what some academic thinks thirty to forty years later.
Of course the reality is, I'm not a Robert Lowell. But putting down what I was reading, I again set in to write for a bit last night. First, just journaling. I was however able to begin a poetic response to another poet's work. Something I had been kicking around in my mind for a while but had not been able to synthesize. Well, alas, it was beginning to work. And I have a new level of excitement about what it is and the possibilities it presents once it is refined and rewritten (however many times it takes).
So this morning, I set here with the knowledge that I will one day, again in the future, hit that brick wall. But I am fresh with the feeling that one gets when they have just powered through one of those walls. These are the moments in writing that you live for.
Last night I ran out to the library to retrieve some books for my wife. Picked up something for myself as well, came home and read some pretty opinionated critical reviews of some of Robert Lowell's work. It was at this point I was thankful that my writing was not subjected to such clinical dissection in view of the world. For a moment anyway. Then of course I thought what the hell. When you reach the level that Lowell had achieved, you don't much care what some academic thinks thirty to forty years later.
Of course the reality is, I'm not a Robert Lowell. But putting down what I was reading, I again set in to write for a bit last night. First, just journaling. I was however able to begin a poetic response to another poet's work. Something I had been kicking around in my mind for a while but had not been able to synthesize. Well, alas, it was beginning to work. And I have a new level of excitement about what it is and the possibilities it presents once it is refined and rewritten (however many times it takes).
So this morning, I set here with the knowledge that I will one day, again in the future, hit that brick wall. But I am fresh with the feeling that one gets when they have just powered through one of those walls. These are the moments in writing that you live for.
Monday, August 22, 2005
Peer Group Reception
Yesterday afternoon I met with a group of other writers for the peer group reception at the Writers Place. The experience was interesting. There were about 15 people who showed and they had varying interests that could fit tidy into three genres. Poetry being one.
I would say from the introduction each gave, almost everyone had a clue and seemed to be in the mindset for something that could enrich there writing experience if they just knew what the right vehicle was. E-mail exchanges, face to face discussions, workshopping material in group or meeting individually or combinations of these. It was decided that we would meet in September as a group and brake into three smaller groups and see what people felt was the best fit for there own situation. It was a good start.
Experience level of those in attendance seemed to vary a bit but for the most part I'd say it was a group with real credibility to draw from.
I would say from the introduction each gave, almost everyone had a clue and seemed to be in the mindset for something that could enrich there writing experience if they just knew what the right vehicle was. E-mail exchanges, face to face discussions, workshopping material in group or meeting individually or combinations of these. It was decided that we would meet in September as a group and brake into three smaller groups and see what people felt was the best fit for there own situation. It was a good start.
Experience level of those in attendance seemed to vary a bit but for the most part I'd say it was a group with real credibility to draw from.
Friday, August 19, 2005
Taking Some Family Time
Tuesday night after work, I had a KC Metro Verse meeting. We read a lot of Charles Bukowski material.
Tuesday was also the end of my work week. I've taken three vacation days and it has been wonderful. My wife has been off this week as well. Thursday we did a family trip to Omaha to visit the zoo. That coupled with taking my daughter fishing the day before, has given me a real taste of nature this week. It has opened up my senses to the whole view of cohabitation of man and nature on this planet. Something we (mankind) are not fairing very well at.
I can envision some impact on my future writing by this realization. It's not that I have been oblivious to this whole thing, but sometimes you see things which deepened your passion or resolve to certain things. An "Ah-ha!" experience.
I may post some pictures from the zoo visit over the weekend if I get them upload into flicker.
My wife and I were both amazed at the Armadillo. They had this tiny one that just ran around all over the place. I had to wonder what sort of food intake was necessary to sustain that amount of energy exertion. The Aardvark was another of my favorites.
Tuesday was also the end of my work week. I've taken three vacation days and it has been wonderful. My wife has been off this week as well. Thursday we did a family trip to Omaha to visit the zoo. That coupled with taking my daughter fishing the day before, has given me a real taste of nature this week. It has opened up my senses to the whole view of cohabitation of man and nature on this planet. Something we (mankind) are not fairing very well at.
I can envision some impact on my future writing by this realization. It's not that I have been oblivious to this whole thing, but sometimes you see things which deepened your passion or resolve to certain things. An "Ah-ha!" experience.
I may post some pictures from the zoo visit over the weekend if I get them upload into flicker.
My wife and I were both amazed at the Armadillo. They had this tiny one that just ran around all over the place. I had to wonder what sort of food intake was necessary to sustain that amount of energy exertion. The Aardvark was another of my favorites.
Monday, August 15, 2005
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Robert Lowell letters on hold
I was able to get a copy of The Letters of Robert Lowell on hold at the library. They only had one copy in the Mid-Continent system and it was out. I also looked for the newer release, Wild Perfection: Selected Letters of James Wright. I believe this has only been out about a month and they don't as of yet have it. I am anxious to read both of these books in hopes of gaining some greater insight into their individual poetic theory. I know that Robert Bly has had a great deal of influence on Wright - particularly in his latter years.
I worked on two poems yesterday. One was completely new, the other was something I first wrote earlier this year at a Woodbine, Iowa writing weekend workshop. I'm not 100% satisfied with either of them, but overall I believe yesterdays work was successful. It is important to remember that such progress is often incremental and to keep this fact in focus so as not to become discouraged. Lately, discouragement has been battle I fight.
One thing I need to do is broaden my subject matter. So a real brainstorm is in order or I need to look for some writing idea prompts. At times I have exchanged such prompts with other writers from time to time but I haven't done this for a while.
I worked on two poems yesterday. One was completely new, the other was something I first wrote earlier this year at a Woodbine, Iowa writing weekend workshop. I'm not 100% satisfied with either of them, but overall I believe yesterdays work was successful. It is important to remember that such progress is often incremental and to keep this fact in focus so as not to become discouraged. Lately, discouragement has been battle I fight.
One thing I need to do is broaden my subject matter. So a real brainstorm is in order or I need to look for some writing idea prompts. At times I have exchanged such prompts with other writers from time to time but I haven't done this for a while.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
String Quartet
Steps into the wind
Tiptoes
Shuffles
Strung across a bridge
Lively on a wire
An archetype
Plucked out of veneer
Tiptoes
Shuffles
Strung across a bridge
Lively on a wire
An archetype
Plucked out of veneer
SPEAK OUT ON IRAQ!
Support Cindy Sheehan!
MoveOn is taking out an ad in President Bush's local newspaper in support of Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq who is camped outside Bush's ranch in Texas asking for a meeting with the president.
They'll publish the number of signers and the best comments in a full two-page spread in the newspaper nearest to Crawford (The Waco Tribune Herald) while Cindy holds her vigil.
Sign and spread the word before the 3:00 PM Friday print deadline?
http://political.moveon.org/meetwithcindy/
Cindy Sheehan
MoveOn is taking out an ad in President Bush's local newspaper in support of Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq who is camped outside Bush's ranch in Texas asking for a meeting with the president.
They'll publish the number of signers and the best comments in a full two-page spread in the newspaper nearest to Crawford (The Waco Tribune Herald) while Cindy holds her vigil.
Sign and spread the word before the 3:00 PM Friday print deadline?
http://political.moveon.org/meetwithcindy/
Cindy Sheehan
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Airing Out The Language
Turbulence
Leaves me uncomfortable
Holding tidy verse in my hands.
You will gawk at me-
Out of place. I want
To twist the words
On the page
Wrap some around me
Pull the syllables apart
And hide between them.
Shock you a little bit
So you don't see me.
Leaves me uncomfortable
Holding tidy verse in my hands.
You will gawk at me-
Out of place. I want
To twist the words
On the page
Wrap some around me
Pull the syllables apart
And hide between them.
Shock you a little bit
So you don't see me.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Across the Poetry Blogisphere
The Beached Fiance by Christine Hamm is so typically fantastic! If you like her work you'll love it. If you don't... it's a pity.
IVY is back! With Notes from the Castle.
Eileen is having a Summer Pleasure contest. Why I'm telling everyone about it, I don't know. That only increases my competition.
James gives us Nagasaki - thanks for giving us pause.
Gila Monster's big announcement.
IVY is back! With Notes from the Castle.
Eileen is having a Summer Pleasure contest. Why I'm telling everyone about it, I don't know. That only increases my competition.
James gives us Nagasaki - thanks for giving us pause.
Gila Monster's big announcement.
Monday, August 08, 2005
A thought
"Poetry is man's rebellion against being what he is." ~James Branch Cabell
And what would that be, that man is, which causes such rebellious discourse? I agree with Cabell in principal that poetry wants to rebell. It wants desperately NOT to conform because that is too mundane. Is it that man has the capacity to always be unsettled no matter what his plight? The hungry want food, the King wants more territory.
Is poetry simply a more refined version of an animal instinct?
And what would that be, that man is, which causes such rebellious discourse? I agree with Cabell in principal that poetry wants to rebell. It wants desperately NOT to conform because that is too mundane. Is it that man has the capacity to always be unsettled no matter what his plight? The hungry want food, the King wants more territory.
Is poetry simply a more refined version of an animal instinct?
Friday, August 05, 2005
Thursday, August 04, 2005
untitled draft
Moist insignificance
Swells collecting droplets
Elongated by weight
To the breaking point
Raining upon the spirit
Quietly I withdraw
From the wetness
Wondering if this will shrink
My stature as a person
Swells collecting droplets
Elongated by weight
To the breaking point
Raining upon the spirit
Quietly I withdraw
From the wetness
Wondering if this will shrink
My stature as a person
Monday, August 01, 2005
PEER PARTNERS
The Writers Place in Kansas City will host a series of writersÂ’ reception where writers can meet each other and identify writing support partners. I think this is amarvelouss idea. Evidently the concept was advanced by David & Judy Ray when they visited The Writers Place last month. The Rays are former Kansas Citians with longstanding ties to the Writers Place.
There is so much emphasiss upon mentoring these days and developing support communities in various fields. Writing among them. But there is little out there that provides a formal intro to such support. I am glad to see the Writers Place involved in this capacity. I plan to to attend.
For those in the Kansas City area that might want to get involved, the first meeting is SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2005 at 2pm. The continuation of these receptions will depend on interest. Please call 816-753-1090 if you plan to attend and let them know.
There is so much emphasiss upon mentoring these days and developing support communities in various fields. Writing among them. But there is little out there that provides a formal intro to such support. I am glad to see the Writers Place involved in this capacity. I plan to to attend.
For those in the Kansas City area that might want to get involved, the first meeting is SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2005 at 2pm. The continuation of these receptions will depend on interest. Please call 816-753-1090 if you plan to attend and let them know.
Saturday, July 30, 2005
And the pulse was weak...
Stale lines seem to be the order of the morning. Several ideas - execution that sucks. The good news is there is room for improvement. God, I'm becoming an optimist!
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Damn It Anyhow
The dusty chalk board
has only white residue
of the words I want so badly.
They were, but are no longer.
has only white residue
of the words I want so badly.
They were, but are no longer.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Writers Place Open Mic
David A. Hughes was among the readers last night at the Writers Place open Mic. David read Fire Eaters and Stained Glass Women which is to be featured in Thorny Locust this year. David is also working on a chap book to be released soon.
I read two poems last night... The Dove and My Dachshund Trumps Your Honor Student.
There were 12 who turned out for the readings. The summer months have been tough on turnout.
Currently on the walls at The Writers Place are an exhibit titled Portraits and Poems: A Photographic Testimony. The photographs were taken by Dennis Lowden and accompanying the photos are poems written by Vietnamese poets. The photos and poems tell the story of lives in transition as tens of thousands of Vietnamese citizens pass through Wake Island processing center as they flea their homeland at the end of a tragic war.
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Meaningful Escapes Me
I'm hot - sweaty and nearly speechless. Just got off the tread mill - did 30 minutes and I had hoped to blog a bit about some thoughts on something I read earlier today but I haven't the capacity to pull my thoughts together in some meaningful fashion.
Still reading in the Sari Solden book on Adult ADD and trying to process a lot of that... but it was actually thoughts off some material I read by Amy Lowell that had me thinking and I wanted to discuss. I suppose it will have to wait till later.
I did write this weekend. Have a poem that I need to rewrite and maybe workshop with a couple of my writing friends. It is a little different. Doing stuff that is different or I suppose "experimental" always seems to be difficult to reach that level of gut feeling about on your own.
Anyway, it's 10pm and I'm calling it a night.
Still reading in the Sari Solden book on Adult ADD and trying to process a lot of that... but it was actually thoughts off some material I read by Amy Lowell that had me thinking and I wanted to discuss. I suppose it will have to wait till later.
I did write this weekend. Have a poem that I need to rewrite and maybe workshop with a couple of my writing friends. It is a little different. Doing stuff that is different or I suppose "experimental" always seems to be difficult to reach that level of gut feeling about on your own.
Anyway, it's 10pm and I'm calling it a night.
Friday, July 22, 2005
Boxed In Amy Gets Linked
Ah... see what you get for commenting on one of my posts! I'm adding Living Poetry to my sidebar links. Not because Amy commented, but because she commented and has an interesting blog herself. Check it out!
Last Monday she had a post about Knowing When It Works. Boy could I identify with that post having worked last night on something that seemed to be working and after I shut everything down and came up stairs looking at it again, reading it out loud, I thought not. Now it has some possibility but clearly needs to go through the rewrite process. Likely repeatedly. But it is interesting, the question Amy asks. How do you know when it is right? How does truth hit you? I can't say... but it is funny that we seem to come to realize it. More often than not. Thank God!
Last Monday she had a post about Knowing When It Works. Boy could I identify with that post having worked last night on something that seemed to be working and after I shut everything down and came up stairs looking at it again, reading it out loud, I thought not. Now it has some possibility but clearly needs to go through the rewrite process. Likely repeatedly. But it is interesting, the question Amy asks. How do you know when it is right? How does truth hit you? I can't say... but it is funny that we seem to come to realize it. More often than not. Thank God!
OPEN MIC MONDAY - WRITERS PLACE
The Writers Place in Kansas City will host the July Open Mic on Monday July 25th at 8pm.
Writers Place
is located at
3607 Pennsylvania
Kansas City, MO 64111
Local writers will find this venue a pleasing experience. Sometimes the crowd is large and other times it becomes a little more intimate. There is always some quality work presented and the readers vary from quite experienced to first timers. Even if you are not into reading, it is an excellent place because of the exposure to quality work and just to get to know more about the center. It provides a variety of other excellent activities from readings to workshops and exhibits.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
The Stick Poet Superhero Coffee Mug
Have You had your morning coffee in your Stick Poet Superhero mug?
Latent Inhibition & Creativity
In my post on Tuesday - I promised to blog on the creative thought process later in the week. I had been reading of a study published in September of 2003 by Psychologists at the University of Toronto and Harvard University, so this is of course not new material... simply new to me.
According to the published report, the researchers evidently identified at least one of the biological bases of creativity. It finds that the brains of creative people seem to be more open to incoming stimuli from surrounding environment while other people might shut out this same information by what is called "latent inhibition." That process was defined as an animal's unconscious capacity to ignore stimuli that experience has shown to be irrelevant to its needs. Through testing, it was found that creative people seemed to have low levels of latent inhabitation and left them in contact with extra information constantly streaming from their environment. Jordan Peterson a professor at the University of Toronto explained, "The normal person classifies an object, and then forgets about it, even though the object is much more complex and interesting the he or she thinks. The creative person, by contrast, is always open to new possibilities."
Tests administered to Harvard undergraduate students classified as eminent creative achievers with a single area of creative achievement were found to be seven times more likely to have low latent inhabitation scores.
So low levels of latent inhabitation are a good thing? The report suggests that with high intellectual functioning and good working memory it may be a positive thing. The capacity to think about many things at once is good if it can be achieved - but negative otherwise. Professor Patterson put it this way- "If you are open to new information, new ideas, you better be able to intelligently and carefully edit and choose. If you have 50 ideas, only two or three are likely to be good. You have to discriminate or you'll get swamped."
That swamped description that Patterson described is something that I can associate with. I'm sure everyone feels swamped at times. I believe doing so is specifically a denotation of ADD or AD/HD. However, it seems that many of the times that I feel "swamped" there seem to be an abundance of external stimuli. So, from a very personal perspective, I can identify with the aspects of this study.
At the moment I am not on any medication for ADD treatment - though I have previously had limited experience with two medications and I am reassessing medication options. While creativity as it relates to my writing is only a portion of my life, I do think about the impact of medication on my creative thought process. I also have to think about the impact of medication or non-medication on the other aspects of my life, such as family, work, etc.
creativity mental health writing
Source:
Biological basis for creativity linked to mental illness.
According to the published report, the researchers evidently identified at least one of the biological bases of creativity. It finds that the brains of creative people seem to be more open to incoming stimuli from surrounding environment while other people might shut out this same information by what is called "latent inhibition." That process was defined as an animal's unconscious capacity to ignore stimuli that experience has shown to be irrelevant to its needs. Through testing, it was found that creative people seemed to have low levels of latent inhabitation and left them in contact with extra information constantly streaming from their environment. Jordan Peterson a professor at the University of Toronto explained, "The normal person classifies an object, and then forgets about it, even though the object is much more complex and interesting the he or she thinks. The creative person, by contrast, is always open to new possibilities."
Tests administered to Harvard undergraduate students classified as eminent creative achievers with a single area of creative achievement were found to be seven times more likely to have low latent inhabitation scores.
So low levels of latent inhabitation are a good thing? The report suggests that with high intellectual functioning and good working memory it may be a positive thing. The capacity to think about many things at once is good if it can be achieved - but negative otherwise. Professor Patterson put it this way- "If you are open to new information, new ideas, you better be able to intelligently and carefully edit and choose. If you have 50 ideas, only two or three are likely to be good. You have to discriminate or you'll get swamped."
That swamped description that Patterson described is something that I can associate with. I'm sure everyone feels swamped at times. I believe doing so is specifically a denotation of ADD or AD/HD. However, it seems that many of the times that I feel "swamped" there seem to be an abundance of external stimuli. So, from a very personal perspective, I can identify with the aspects of this study.
At the moment I am not on any medication for ADD treatment - though I have previously had limited experience with two medications and I am reassessing medication options. While creativity as it relates to my writing is only a portion of my life, I do think about the impact of medication on my creative thought process. I also have to think about the impact of medication or non-medication on the other aspects of my life, such as family, work, etc.
creativity mental health writing
Source:
Biological basis for creativity linked to mental illness.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Hello ~ Black Hole... I'm Alive!
I've had two incredibly busy days at the office and I am going to go do some reading shortly, but I have not posted since Saturday and because I have not fallen off the face of the earth, I thought I should at least acknowledge my existence. Of course, having read Eileen's post about conversation with hubby, I have to wonder if my blog is a black hole? Thankfully, my stats suggest people are still coming. I just hope that that they aren't sucked along with the blog into a black hole. Eileen dear... Tell Tom (that is his name isn't it?) "If you blog it, they will come!"
So Saturday, I go to the library to check out some books on Adult ADD. The one I am currently reading is Journeys Through ADDulthood by Sari Solden, M.S., LMFT. It has been thought provoking thus far. I do have to admit I am humored by the part where she recomrnds embracing your differences. Wow, I'm supposed to embrace disorganization?
I've also been reading some interesting research material on creative thought processes. I really don't have time to do it justice tonight but will perhaps post on it tomorrow or Thursday.
I'm not sure how long Ivy is supposed to be at Hawthornden Castle but it is strange with her blog being quiet for days now. Especially since the blog title is Ivy Is Here and everyone knows damn well she isn't. I trust she is writing wonderfully exciting things. I'm trying to imagine... it must be all musty and simply dreadful to be sentenced there to write. :)
I love what Katey Nicosia did with here piece Tallest Tree. The bird & the nest is cool. Well, I'm tired and need to settle in and read. See if the Giants game is on. Relax a wee bit and see how my wife is doing. Tomorrow I need to schedule some writing time. But tonight I read.
So Saturday, I go to the library to check out some books on Adult ADD. The one I am currently reading is Journeys Through ADDulthood by Sari Solden, M.S., LMFT. It has been thought provoking thus far. I do have to admit I am humored by the part where she recomrnds embracing your differences. Wow, I'm supposed to embrace disorganization?
I've also been reading some interesting research material on creative thought processes. I really don't have time to do it justice tonight but will perhaps post on it tomorrow or Thursday.
I'm not sure how long Ivy is supposed to be at Hawthornden Castle but it is strange with her blog being quiet for days now. Especially since the blog title is Ivy Is Here and everyone knows damn well she isn't. I trust she is writing wonderfully exciting things. I'm trying to imagine... it must be all musty and simply dreadful to be sentenced there to write. :)
I love what Katey Nicosia did with here piece Tallest Tree. The bird & the nest is cool. Well, I'm tired and need to settle in and read. See if the Giants game is on. Relax a wee bit and see how my wife is doing. Tomorrow I need to schedule some writing time. But tonight I read.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
July Pantoum
The cat stretched across the floor
The heat seemed unbearable
Overhead the ceiling fan whined
Hot air moved about freely
The heat seemed unbearable
It was only the 6th of July
Hot air moved about freely
I envied the cat’s relaxation
It was only the 6th of July
According to the flower calendar
I envied the cat’s relaxation
Summer seems so long
It hope it rains soon
According to the flower calendar
Summer seems so long
The ground is parched
Company is coming
The ceiling fan whined
I heard the car door
The cat stretched across the floor
The heat seemed unbearable
Overhead the ceiling fan whined
Hot air moved about freely
The heat seemed unbearable
It was only the 6th of July
Hot air moved about freely
I envied the cat’s relaxation
It was only the 6th of July
According to the flower calendar
I envied the cat’s relaxation
Summer seems so long
It hope it rains soon
According to the flower calendar
Summer seems so long
The ground is parched
Company is coming
The ceiling fan whined
I heard the car door
The cat stretched across the floor
Friday, July 15, 2005
The Clash of American Culture and Religious-Right
Unites States Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania is third-ranking Republican in that body. A 47 year old, attractive fellow that one might otherwise see as an up-and-coming person within his party. Unquestionably conservative, but more poignantly an example of the extreme nature of the religious right in this country. He scored 100 in the 2004 Christian Coalition scorecard and has been courted by the religious-right and visa-versa. It is no secret that he is interested in the GOP nomination for President in 2008.
If the two - extreme religious fundamentalists and Santorum are a cozy fit for each other, and they certainly appear to be, then many of Santorum's recent public statements clearly spell out what is wrong with the mentality of the of these religious zealots.
Tuesday, Santorum refused back off on his earlier claims connecting Boston's ''liberalism" with the Roman Catholic Church pedophile scandal, saying that the city's ''sexual license" and ''sexual freedom" nurtured an environment where sexual abuse would occur. ''The basic liberal attitude in that area (Boston) . . . has an impact on people's behavior," Santorum maintained. Three years ago on a website called Catholic Online, Santorum said, ''It is no surprise that Boston, a seat of academic, political, and cultural liberalism in America, lies at the center of the storm" of the clergy sexual abuse scandal.
Santorum seems particularly blind to the fact that the "pedophile scandal" is not a "Boston" thing and for that matter is not a "Catholic thing". Just two days ago there were two separate local (Kansas City area) church leaders that were not of Catholic denomination that were embroiled in current "sex sandals" with young people.
Santorum has a book coming out later this month titled ''It Takes a Family." I suppose in response to Hillary Clinton's book many moons ago titled "It Take a Village." Santorum in this book will continue to beat the drum with conservative "buzz word issues" to satisfy his hungry political base. Those themes that he will blast, two-income families, divorce, cohabitation before marriage, all things that he considers liberal ills. For example, he blames ''radical feminism" for encouraging women to work outside the home. ''In far too many families with young children, both parents are working, when, if they really took an honest look at the budget, they might confess that both of them don't really need to or at least may not need to work as much as they do," Santorum writes.
I don't think Rick Santorum is disingenuous when he says these things. I'm relatively certain he believes them. I don't think he is simply pandering to the conservative Christian movement. The problem with these positions and the problem with the movement itself, is that it this is divisive, highly judgmental and seeks to culturally shape everyone else into a singular role the has been predetermined as the perfect fit.
I am not anti-religious. I am not anti-Christian. In fact, believe there are two very good reasons here why the approach of Christian conservative activists here is wrong.
The first speaks to the role of church and state. Efforts to continually commingle the two of these spell problems for the future of this nation. It was religious freedom that brought this experiment in democracy into existence to start with. The founding fathers had suffered the tyranny of religious oppression on several fronts. The religious right seems to have forgotten this. We are a nation of rich diversity. Our strength is in the bonds of that diversity and not diffusion. Any attempts to shape this nation into a "church sanctioned state" will only divide the various religious and denominational entities.
The second reason the Christian conservatives are wrong is that if you believe in the fundamental teachings of the Church you must accept the premise that belief in Christian teachings is centered of the free will of people to accept these teachings of faith. To do otherwise is counter to biblical principal. It is one thing to witness. To lead a life of example. It is quite another to dictate who and how people will come to worship and structure your governmental and cultural infrastructures to support "one way" all else be damned!
Christian zealots spend too much time on the "soul" of government or the people as a whole and would better turn there efforts inward ministering to themselves and there own communities / congregations.
Similarly, as a part of government, if Senator Santorum is concerned about impacts of two income families on their children, then he should dedicate himself to working for policies that benefit the financial impact of today's economy on them. Health care issues, minimum-wage legislation, fair credit reform and not pro-business changes in the bankruptcy act.
We cannot unite as a nation if we are going to constantly judge one another on religious, cultural, and sexual, ethic and economic basis. Right now, the religious right is perhaps one of the biggest offenders of this. In response to some of Santorum's remarks, fellow Republican Senator John McCain quipped, ''I think he probably has written off Massachusetts." What Santorum needs to know is that Massachusetts is not an isolated island apart from the rest of the country. It is he and the religious-right that are isolated from reality.
Rick Santorum Religious Right John McCain Anti-Discrimination
If the two - extreme religious fundamentalists and Santorum are a cozy fit for each other, and they certainly appear to be, then many of Santorum's recent public statements clearly spell out what is wrong with the mentality of the of these religious zealots.
Tuesday, Santorum refused back off on his earlier claims connecting Boston's ''liberalism" with the Roman Catholic Church pedophile scandal, saying that the city's ''sexual license" and ''sexual freedom" nurtured an environment where sexual abuse would occur. ''The basic liberal attitude in that area (Boston) . . . has an impact on people's behavior," Santorum maintained. Three years ago on a website called Catholic Online, Santorum said, ''It is no surprise that Boston, a seat of academic, political, and cultural liberalism in America, lies at the center of the storm" of the clergy sexual abuse scandal.
Santorum seems particularly blind to the fact that the "pedophile scandal" is not a "Boston" thing and for that matter is not a "Catholic thing". Just two days ago there were two separate local (Kansas City area) church leaders that were not of Catholic denomination that were embroiled in current "sex sandals" with young people.
Santorum has a book coming out later this month titled ''It Takes a Family." I suppose in response to Hillary Clinton's book many moons ago titled "It Take a Village." Santorum in this book will continue to beat the drum with conservative "buzz word issues" to satisfy his hungry political base. Those themes that he will blast, two-income families, divorce, cohabitation before marriage, all things that he considers liberal ills. For example, he blames ''radical feminism" for encouraging women to work outside the home. ''In far too many families with young children, both parents are working, when, if they really took an honest look at the budget, they might confess that both of them don't really need to or at least may not need to work as much as they do," Santorum writes.
I don't think Rick Santorum is disingenuous when he says these things. I'm relatively certain he believes them. I don't think he is simply pandering to the conservative Christian movement. The problem with these positions and the problem with the movement itself, is that it this is divisive, highly judgmental and seeks to culturally shape everyone else into a singular role the has been predetermined as the perfect fit.
I am not anti-religious. I am not anti-Christian. In fact, believe there are two very good reasons here why the approach of Christian conservative activists here is wrong.
The first speaks to the role of church and state. Efforts to continually commingle the two of these spell problems for the future of this nation. It was religious freedom that brought this experiment in democracy into existence to start with. The founding fathers had suffered the tyranny of religious oppression on several fronts. The religious right seems to have forgotten this. We are a nation of rich diversity. Our strength is in the bonds of that diversity and not diffusion. Any attempts to shape this nation into a "church sanctioned state" will only divide the various religious and denominational entities.
The second reason the Christian conservatives are wrong is that if you believe in the fundamental teachings of the Church you must accept the premise that belief in Christian teachings is centered of the free will of people to accept these teachings of faith. To do otherwise is counter to biblical principal. It is one thing to witness. To lead a life of example. It is quite another to dictate who and how people will come to worship and structure your governmental and cultural infrastructures to support "one way" all else be damned!
Christian zealots spend too much time on the "soul" of government or the people as a whole and would better turn there efforts inward ministering to themselves and there own communities / congregations.
Similarly, as a part of government, if Senator Santorum is concerned about impacts of two income families on their children, then he should dedicate himself to working for policies that benefit the financial impact of today's economy on them. Health care issues, minimum-wage legislation, fair credit reform and not pro-business changes in the bankruptcy act.
We cannot unite as a nation if we are going to constantly judge one another on religious, cultural, and sexual, ethic and economic basis. Right now, the religious right is perhaps one of the biggest offenders of this. In response to some of Santorum's remarks, fellow Republican Senator John McCain quipped, ''I think he probably has written off Massachusetts." What Santorum needs to know is that Massachusetts is not an isolated island apart from the rest of the country. It is he and the religious-right that are isolated from reality.
Rick Santorum Religious Right John McCain Anti-Discrimination
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Pop Star Poetry
God, I really hate to put this in such syrupy words this but piece is a charming little read.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Mindless Middle of the Week Musings
Mandy Muldoon bought a copy of the latest Harry Potter book last Thursday in advance of it's release date. The sale of the book was a mistake... and wouldn't you know it.. her son has admitted to reading the first two pages of it. Evidently a total of 14 books were accidentally sold. A Canadian judge has ordered the customers not to talk about the book, copy it, sell it or even read it before its official release. Now that is just going to make it that much harder! [source]
Jonathan Bate, Professor of Literature at the University of Warwick reviews Anna of All the Russias by Elaine Feinstein. The book is about soviet poet Anna Akhmatova and his review is best described as unflattering. I know Jilly is a big fan of Akhmatova - I wonder if she is familiar with this work?
On the Political front:
The White House has said that U.S. President George W. Bush continues to have confidence in Karl Rove, the presidential adviser at the centre of the investigation into the leak identifying a female CIA officer. What else are they going to say... Rove has been his brain.
Pandaemonium Reviewed by Alexa Moses. The movie is a story about the relationship between the 18th-century British poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth.
Jonathan Bate, Professor of Literature at the University of Warwick reviews Anna of All the Russias by Elaine Feinstein. The book is about soviet poet Anna Akhmatova and his review is best described as unflattering. I know Jilly is a big fan of Akhmatova - I wonder if she is familiar with this work?
On the Political front:
The White House has said that U.S. President George W. Bush continues to have confidence in Karl Rove, the presidential adviser at the centre of the investigation into the leak identifying a female CIA officer. What else are they going to say... Rove has been his brain.
Pandaemonium Reviewed by Alexa Moses. The movie is a story about the relationship between the 18th-century British poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
All-Star Game
If there is anything in baseball that I am sick of more then the AL wins in All-Star games, it would be Bud Selig. Well, there is always next year. But really, it is incredible how resilient the game is... he just keep trying to kill it with brain-farts and it just keeps going.
Still an ENFP
After seeing Laurel's post I decided to take the Myers-Briggs personality test. [online version]
I took this test maybe a year or more ago and though I'd do it again. Maybe I'd answer the questions different this time - maybe it was wrong before - whatever. Well, I'm still an ENFPer and I guess I really shouldn't be surprised. More on the history of the MBPT can be found here. A particularly good link on the site is this page: All Types are Equal.
I took this test maybe a year or more ago and though I'd do it again. Maybe I'd answer the questions different this time - maybe it was wrong before - whatever. Well, I'm still an ENFPer and I guess I really shouldn't be surprised. More on the history of the MBPT can be found here. A particularly good link on the site is this page: All Types are Equal.
Monday, July 11, 2005
"He's not scary in person"
I am amused at the number of times I have now seen these words by Tomas Alex Tizon of the Los Angeles Times repeated in newspaper after newspaper as his byline on Alan Cordle makes it around the country.
Tizon describes Cordle this way... "He's not scary in person. Alan Cordle is 36, pale and round with thick glasses and soft fleshy cheeks. He smiles often and speaks in a wispy voice, which suits his day job as a librarian at Portland Community College." He goes on to suggest that, "Cordle also happens to be the most despised -- some would say most feared -- man in American poetry."
Tizon's article, which has certainly gotten a lot of play in the press may well be behind the curve. At least in my circles, I don't find all that many poets even talking about him anymore. I for one have never considered him scary. Perhaps rude, arrogant and even obnoxious but not really scary.
Tizon describes Cordle this way... "He's not scary in person. Alan Cordle is 36, pale and round with thick glasses and soft fleshy cheeks. He smiles often and speaks in a wispy voice, which suits his day job as a librarian at Portland Community College." He goes on to suggest that, "Cordle also happens to be the most despised -- some would say most feared -- man in American poetry."
Tizon's article, which has certainly gotten a lot of play in the press may well be behind the curve. At least in my circles, I don't find all that many poets even talking about him anymore. I for one have never considered him scary. Perhaps rude, arrogant and even obnoxious but not really scary.
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Score!
Finally - after far too many frustrating days with little success, I put one together today that works!!! Took it to writers group this afternoon. Reaction positive.
Snoopy Dance!
Snoopy Dance!
Friday, July 08, 2005
Thursday, July 07, 2005
First Draft
Sometimes it is a bitch just to get something down on paper... other times it flows like a river.
Last night I felt so vexed with my writing. I hate it when you just have to focre it out. I know everyone deals with this - but when it goes on for days it really exacerbates the whole issue, notching it up another level.
I think it is time I went through my journal and pull some old material out to work on and see if I can move forward that way.
Last night I felt so vexed with my writing. I hate it when you just have to focre it out. I know everyone deals with this - but when it goes on for days it really exacerbates the whole issue, notching it up another level.
I think it is time I went through my journal and pull some old material out to work on and see if I can move forward that way.
Most Popular Poets et al.
I see that Garrison Keillor is at it again he's compiled another poetry anthology, "Good Poems for Hard Times." His earlier anthology was simply titled "Good Poems". I'm not sure how this fellow finds the time for all he undertakes. Ant any rate, the second anthology is due out this fall. I'm thinking he needs to hurry.... cause hard times are here!
Three Cheers for Emily Lloyd... She just had a poem accepted for Bedside Guide to No Tell Motel.
Interesting tid-bit from the American Acadamy of Poets - Top 10 Most Popular Poets on Poets.org (Popularity based on Poets.org user searches)
1. Langston Hughes
2. Emily Dickinson
3. Robert Frost
4. Walt Whitman
5. Dylan Thomas
6. Sylvia Plath
7. William Carlos Williams
8. Gwendolyn Brooks
9. E.E. Cummings
10. T.S. Eliott
Three Cheers for Emily Lloyd... She just had a poem accepted for Bedside Guide to No Tell Motel.
Interesting tid-bit from the American Acadamy of Poets - Top 10 Most Popular Poets on Poets.org (Popularity based on Poets.org user searches)
1. Langston Hughes
2. Emily Dickinson
3. Robert Frost
4. Walt Whitman
5. Dylan Thomas
6. Sylvia Plath
7. William Carlos Williams
8. Gwendolyn Brooks
9. E.E. Cummings
10. T.S. Eliott
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Urban Reflections
Took a walk this afternoon - to crank up the old metabolism... was nice out. Warm, but not unpleasant. A bit of Urban Reflections along the way.
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