Here they are folks. The Blogs I'll be reading and reviewing and rating after a week 's reading.
The nominated sites are:
Super deluxe Good Poems
The Bloggedy Blog Blog
Mikarrhea
the INGREDIENT
the well-nourished moon
Love During Wartime
I looking forward to an interesting week of reading news posts. I'll likely feature some commentary about things of interest throughout the week, but I'll do my reviews and ratings once the week is over. Happy Blogging!!!
Monday, October 27, 2003
Saturday, October 25, 2003
Sweeps Sign Up Extended to Midnight Tonight (Saturday)
I've had a couple more nominations - but I have decided to extend sign ups through midnight tonight. E-mail me with your nominations - again self nominations are fine.
I will begin retroactive any postings from today's date. Even if you sign up at 11:59 tonight.
I will begin retroactive any postings from today's date. Even if you sign up at 11:59 tonight.
Friday, October 24, 2003
Blog Sweeps Week Update..........
The following blogs have been nominated and will be a part of Stock Poet's week of reading and rating:
1. the well-nourished moon
2. Mikarrhea
3. the INGREDIENT
4. Love During Wartime
Come on folks.... there is plenty room for more nominations. To contact me: E-mail Michael Wells and put Blog sweeps Week in the subject line and a your poetry blog nomination. Self nominations are acceptable. Deadline is tonight (Friday) at midnight PST.
1. the well-nourished moon
2. Mikarrhea
3. the INGREDIENT
4. Love During Wartime
Come on folks.... there is plenty room for more nominations. To contact me: E-mail Michael Wells and put Blog sweeps Week in the subject line and a your poetry blog nomination. Self nominations are acceptable. Deadline is tonight (Friday) at midnight PST.
The Ghazal
As I previously mentioned in blog, I recently had some personal exposure to poet Robert Bly. On back to back days I caught him in a poetry panel at Western Missouri State College and then at a reading. Having read some of Bly’s works published in 1997, I was delighted to get the up close and personal contact with him.
It seems to me that Bly’s work has progressed through numerous stages over the years. While I am in no way an expert on Bly, It seems to me that in more recent times he gas perhaps gravitated back into form.
During the Panel discussion at WMSC, Bly made reference to the ghazal. This is a poetic form with an Islamic origin dating back I believe to the 12th century in Persia or what is now Iran. I had only recently read some information on the ghazal, so I was familiar with it in only a vague way. It always amazes me how we go through life without hearing about something, then when we do, it seems to come up again almost instantly and you wonder why without previous references to it, you are now bombarded with it.
On the night of Bly’s reading, he treated us to some examples of this form. They were modified to account for some differences between the English and Arabic languages.
Ghazals were originally written as couplets bound by repeating sound patterns. Most commonly brief. Usually ten or so stanzas, sometimes less. They often begin with a love theme. A unique aspect is that each stanza could stand on it’s own rather than the subject matter being threaded together throughout the poem. The final stanza would address something about the poet’s personal life.
Writing in Arabic, the ghazal would look something like two lines sixteen to eighteen syllables per couplet (stanza) for a total of about thirty-six syllables. This allows for plenty of language to complete a thought. While this works well with the Arabic language, it becomes somewhat unruly in English. Bly modifies his ghazals to usually three lines of eleven or twelve syllables – again achieving something close to thirty thirty-six syllables in all. Otherwise he keeps the concept in line with the origional concept.
I found this form fascinating and something I would like to experiment with in the near future. I’d like to hear from anyone else who has done so.
It seems to me that Bly’s work has progressed through numerous stages over the years. While I am in no way an expert on Bly, It seems to me that in more recent times he gas perhaps gravitated back into form.
During the Panel discussion at WMSC, Bly made reference to the ghazal. This is a poetic form with an Islamic origin dating back I believe to the 12th century in Persia or what is now Iran. I had only recently read some information on the ghazal, so I was familiar with it in only a vague way. It always amazes me how we go through life without hearing about something, then when we do, it seems to come up again almost instantly and you wonder why without previous references to it, you are now bombarded with it.
On the night of Bly’s reading, he treated us to some examples of this form. They were modified to account for some differences between the English and Arabic languages.
Ghazals were originally written as couplets bound by repeating sound patterns. Most commonly brief. Usually ten or so stanzas, sometimes less. They often begin with a love theme. A unique aspect is that each stanza could stand on it’s own rather than the subject matter being threaded together throughout the poem. The final stanza would address something about the poet’s personal life.
Writing in Arabic, the ghazal would look something like two lines sixteen to eighteen syllables per couplet (stanza) for a total of about thirty-six syllables. This allows for plenty of language to complete a thought. While this works well with the Arabic language, it becomes somewhat unruly in English. Bly modifies his ghazals to usually three lines of eleven or twelve syllables – again achieving something close to thirty thirty-six syllables in all. Otherwise he keeps the concept in line with the origional concept.
I found this form fascinating and something I would like to experiment with in the near future. I’d like to hear from anyone else who has done so.
It All Starts Tomorrow - BLOG SWEEPS WEEK
Today is your last opportunity to nominate a blog (yours or someone else's) for Stick Poet's BLOG SWEEP WEEK. You have until midnight tonight PST - E-mail Michael Wells
please put Blog Sweeps Week in the subject line. Then give me the name and site address of the blog you are nominating, It MUST be a blog that has some major poetry or poetics connection.
I received a few nominees yesterday afternoon and last night.... I will post a list of those nominated so far about mid day. Again, you have only until tonight at midnight PST to make your requests. Then get busy sprucing up your blogs. Hey, if nothing else... you are guaranteed a captive reader for one week!
please put Blog Sweeps Week in the subject line. Then give me the name and site address of the blog you are nominating, It MUST be a blog that has some major poetry or poetics connection.
I received a few nominees yesterday afternoon and last night.... I will post a list of those nominated so far about mid day. Again, you have only until tonight at midnight PST to make your requests. Then get busy sprucing up your blogs. Hey, if nothing else... you are guaranteed a captive reader for one week!
Thursday, October 23, 2003
Blog Sweeps Week
Starting This weekend and running through next Thursday - I will be reading blogs for review and ranking. I will accept nominations, (self or otherwise) of poetry related blogs. Simply e-mail me with your site or that of someone else's site for consideration. You must e-mail me with your sites by midnight PST Friday to be included. Do a little shameless self promotion and spruce up your blog site. I will consider content, aesthetic appeal, unique artistic approach.
Let me hear from you. Hey, if nothing else, this is at least a lame way to get me to read your blog.
Let me hear from you. Hey, if nothing else, this is at least a lame way to get me to read your blog.
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Hump Day Blog
I have to take a moment to again comment on Crystal Lyn King's work.
"It flooded through me.
An invisible deluge. Soundless."
Those words from her poem Adrenaline are a tiny part of a swift but quiet overtaking of my soul with a powerful stimulant. Flooded, rushing, creating exuberance and power within. This poem recalls those times I was filled with such energy bursts. I think back in particular on some elections campaigns where the last 48 hours were fueled largely by adrenaline. Thanks Crystal for recreating this. I especially like the final stanza... but I won't give it away. Go to her site and check it out yourself. Experience the entire piece.
*********
You you haven't responded to yesterdays poll, please do. Thanks!
*********
Crag Hill - paints an interesting poetic forecast. I found it amusing. Crag, I'll be looking for those periods of imagery and metaphor this weekend.
"It flooded through me.
An invisible deluge. Soundless."
Those words from her poem Adrenaline are a tiny part of a swift but quiet overtaking of my soul with a powerful stimulant. Flooded, rushing, creating exuberance and power within. This poem recalls those times I was filled with such energy bursts. I think back in particular on some elections campaigns where the last 48 hours were fueled largely by adrenaline. Thanks Crystal for recreating this. I especially like the final stanza... but I won't give it away. Go to her site and check it out yourself. Experience the entire piece.
*********
You you haven't responded to yesterdays poll, please do. Thanks!
*********
Crag Hill - paints an interesting poetic forecast. I found it amusing. Crag, I'll be looking for those periods of imagery and metaphor this weekend.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)