Friday, November 03, 2006
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Reverse Psychology
Poet Nikki Giovanni toned it down a bit in her first public appearance since the ruckus she caused on October 14th at the dedication of Fountain Square. [here]
You knew it would happen... Poetry Reading Phone Line. [here]
Amanda Shipman: To read or not to read at poetry open mic. [here]
Eileen Tabios Wants you to ask her anything. [here]
Poetry Portal: Arteroids - Yes another fine job Cindy has done at finding procrastination tools for those in need. [here]
Tags: Eileen Tabios Nikki Giovanni
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Wednesday Poet Series No 5
The Wednesday Poet Series was due for a female poet this week. I do hope the female readers of Stick Poet will indulge me while I take the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Howl to feature poet Allen Ginsberg. I promise to do back to back women to even the series out.
Allen Ginsberg is perhaps the most noted of the beat generation poets. These would include Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs among others. They came into prominence in the late 1950's and early 1960's and represented a counter-culture that was given to spontaneity, open form composition, in their work and a rejection of what they believed was the psychological repression of their times. There were a number of other attachments suggestive of these writers and their friends and followers, many which were negative. Among them was a drug culture. But the writings and works of these people, and most assuredly Ginsberg would have a lasting effect, not only upon poetry and the arts, but significant impact on other areas of American culture.
I am presently reading:The Book of Martyrdom And Artifice - First Journals and Poems 1937-1952. The first thing that struck me about young Ginsberg is the degree to which he was exuberated with himself. Yes, I know there is a common belief that we poets are all about ourselves, but in all seriousness, the degree to which Ginsberg, as early as 1944 outwardly projected extreme confidence in himself was striking. He clearly was intellectually astute and very well read. He had an opinion on just about everything and was not timid in sharing it.
His best know work, Howl, a work that combined biographical references and abstractions. It was first publicly performed in San Francisco on October 7th 1955. Sometime thereafter, Lawrence Ferlinghetti published the work. He was part owner of City Lights Bookstore, a small press publishing house. In 1956, a reporter for the NY Times wrote a piece on the new poetry scene that helped bring Howl into national attention.
In 1957, copies of Howl entering the U.S. from a London printer were seized by customs officials. Obscenities charges were brought against Feringhetti for the publication. The trial only served to give Ginsberg and Feringhetti more exposure for the work. With the support of the ACLU, the publisher won the legal action. The judge deciding that even with the questionable language in the book, the poem was of "redeeming social importance."
Howl- in all three pasts can be read here. (here)
Here are a number of other Howl related resources you might find of interest:
Howl at Wikipedia
Yowl
Howl at 50 - NPR
The following are some more examples of Ginsberg's writing.
A Supermarket In California America Five A.M. War Profit Litany
Fourth Floor, Dawn, Up All Night Writing Letters Sunflower Sutra Nagasaki Days
I would be remiss if I did not make note that Allen Ginsberg's activism included vocal opposition to the war in Vietnam. This in addition to often targeting institutions in his writing as well as frequent mention of drugs and sex made him an easy target for authorities. Herbert Mitgang wrote a 1988 piece on the FBI and writers. It is interesting and focuses mostly on Ginsberg. (view here)
Ginsberg's poetry clearly has a dissonant style to it. He used his writing to speak pretty much what he felt at the moment.
I have selected a few very telling quotes from Ginsberg to close with. I believe these too will give greater insight to both the man and his writings.
"Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does."
"I have a new method of poetry. All you got to do is look over your notebooks... And think of anything that comes into your head, especially the miseries... Then arrange in lines of two, three or four words each, don't bother about sentences ..."
"Wherever I go I see myself in a mirror- it used to be my own selfblood, now it is god's."
"America I'm putting my queer shoulder to the wheel."
"Fortunately art is a community effort - a small but select community living in a
spiritualized world endeavoring to interpret the wars and the solitudes of the flesh."
tags:Wednesday Poet Series Allen Ginsberg Howl
Allen Ginsberg is perhaps the most noted of the beat generation poets. These would include Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs among others. They came into prominence in the late 1950's and early 1960's and represented a counter-culture that was given to spontaneity, open form composition, in their work and a rejection of what they believed was the psychological repression of their times. There were a number of other attachments suggestive of these writers and their friends and followers, many which were negative. Among them was a drug culture. But the writings and works of these people, and most assuredly Ginsberg would have a lasting effect, not only upon poetry and the arts, but significant impact on other areas of American culture.
I am presently reading:The Book of Martyrdom And Artifice - First Journals and Poems 1937-1952. The first thing that struck me about young Ginsberg is the degree to which he was exuberated with himself. Yes, I know there is a common belief that we poets are all about ourselves, but in all seriousness, the degree to which Ginsberg, as early as 1944 outwardly projected extreme confidence in himself was striking. He clearly was intellectually astute and very well read. He had an opinion on just about everything and was not timid in sharing it.
His best know work, Howl, a work that combined biographical references and abstractions. It was first publicly performed in San Francisco on October 7th 1955. Sometime thereafter, Lawrence Ferlinghetti published the work. He was part owner of City Lights Bookstore, a small press publishing house. In 1956, a reporter for the NY Times wrote a piece on the new poetry scene that helped bring Howl into national attention.
In 1957, copies of Howl entering the U.S. from a London printer were seized by customs officials. Obscenities charges were brought against Feringhetti for the publication. The trial only served to give Ginsberg and Feringhetti more exposure for the work. With the support of the ACLU, the publisher won the legal action. The judge deciding that even with the questionable language in the book, the poem was of "redeeming social importance."
Howl- in all three pasts can be read here. (here)
Here are a number of other Howl related resources you might find of interest:
Howl at Wikipedia
Yowl
Howl at 50 - NPR
The following are some more examples of Ginsberg's writing.
A Supermarket In California America Five A.M. War Profit Litany
Fourth Floor, Dawn, Up All Night Writing Letters Sunflower Sutra Nagasaki Days
I would be remiss if I did not make note that Allen Ginsberg's activism included vocal opposition to the war in Vietnam. This in addition to often targeting institutions in his writing as well as frequent mention of drugs and sex made him an easy target for authorities. Herbert Mitgang wrote a 1988 piece on the FBI and writers. It is interesting and focuses mostly on Ginsberg. (view here)
Ginsberg's poetry clearly has a dissonant style to it. He used his writing to speak pretty much what he felt at the moment.
I have selected a few very telling quotes from Ginsberg to close with. I believe these too will give greater insight to both the man and his writings.
"Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does."
"I have a new method of poetry. All you got to do is look over your notebooks... And think of anything that comes into your head, especially the miseries... Then arrange in lines of two, three or four words each, don't bother about sentences ..."
"Wherever I go I see myself in a mirror- it used to be my own selfblood, now it is god's."
"America I'm putting my queer shoulder to the wheel."
"Fortunately art is a community effort - a small but select community living in a
spiritualized world endeavoring to interpret the wars and the solitudes of the flesh."
tags:Wednesday Poet Series Allen Ginsberg Howl
Monday, October 30, 2006
Blog Milestone (I think)
If my blogger dashboard is correct (and it may not be, it was frozen on the same number for a while) this is my 1200th post to Stick Poet. At minimum it is the 1200th and in fact I may have passed that mark already for the sake of capturing the moment... this is it!
It is hard to believe that October is nearly over. That the year practically gone for that matter. We've had a taste of a few very cold fall days, but yesterday was absolutely beautiful with temperatures in the high 70's. It was actually hot inside the house. My wife and I took the dogs for long walks twice during the day.
Started on a new journal insert the other day and toying with some drafts over the weekend, I wanted to burn it and get another new one. I did however resist the urge.
Wanted to pass along this story for positive human interest value. Always nice to hear stories from people who have poetry experiences that give affirmation to their daily lives.
And here is an insightfully written review of the poet Stephen Dunn. While I have not read a lot of his work, I recall reading several of his poems last fall and agree that he has extraordinary word skills.
Oh, I almost forgot... Condolences to Jilly on the Tigers loss. I was pulling for the Cards but I've been there before, I feel your pain.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Independent Online Edition > Features
Independent Online Edition > Features
Sharon Olds: Blood, sweat and fears -
The American poet Sharon Olds has won international acclaim for poetry of startling intensity. She talks to Christina Patterson about art and life / this is an interesting article that appeared in The Independent. As someone who greatly admires Sharon Old's work, I recommend it.
Sharon Olds: Blood, sweat and fears -
The American poet Sharon Olds has won international acclaim for poetry of startling intensity. She talks to Christina Patterson about art and life / this is an interesting article that appeared in The Independent. As someone who greatly admires Sharon Old's work, I recommend it.
deseretnews.com | Poet laureate hopes for bit of daily verse
deseretnews.com Poet laureate hopes for bit of daily verse
As Utah's new poet laureate, Katharine Coles hopes to make poetry a part of every citizen's daily life. Coles is the state's first female poet laureate.
article by: Susan Whitney Deseret Morning News
As Utah's new poet laureate, Katharine Coles hopes to make poetry a part of every citizen's daily life. Coles is the state's first female poet laureate.
article by: Susan Whitney Deseret Morning News
Friday, October 27, 2006
Plath
"I wonder about all the roads not taken and I am moved to quote Frost... but I won't. It is sad to be able only to mouth other poets. I want someone to mouth me." - Sylvia Plath
On the occasion of the Birthday of Sylvia, I'm thinking about the irony of this quote.
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