The flames rise on either side of the curves
and the fall wind threatens to spread the colors
about the ground.
The asphalt with shapely hips allures countless lookers
trusting the calendars will not deceive them
or waste their valued weekend.
A new delight awaits past each camber;
imperial topaz and alexandrite flickers in the autumn sky
subdued only by the occasional rust, tan or brown filament.
Under normal conditions the outcome of the Presidential election might well have been one to favor the arts. There were signs that Obama acknowledged that art plays a significant role in society and examination of McCain's various policy statements showed his public policy on arts education to be quite contrasting. Additionally McCain had a well known record as he voted repeatedly to cut funding for or terminate the National Endowment for the Arts.
But these are not ordinary times. Today is supposed to be the big retail day of the year and shopping results will likely be disappointing to those who mull over the the sales stats looking for a some kind of trend.
The economy that is being transferred from the existing administration in Washington to the new President Obama is dismal. Employment figures are taking a beating. Sales of big ticket items, cars, homes, etc. are stalled and investments in traditional commodities and job creation are in decline. It is not likely that as the song goes, "Happy Days are Here Again."
Poets & Writers online features a story this week that Houghton Mifflin Harcourt recently requested that its editors stop acquiring books. We are talking about a significant sized publisher here.
In these hard times that are likely to grow even more worrisome in the months ahead, it is hard to see how the arts will likely benefit from much philanthropic activity if business are fighting for survival.
Small publishing houses who often find it hard to make ends meet will be challenged even grater. I can't imagine the state of writing grants improving. These things surly will make the competition for those looking to get their first manuscript published more exigent.
It is hard to see the way out of this economic calamity that we are in, but I might suggest that if you are one who is still doing Christmas/holiday exchanges, you might consider giving a new copy of one of your favorite poet's works that was published by a small press. It's a place to start.
These three days have been long ones. I've been so anxious for the holiday to start because I truly need a break. But enough of that, it's here!
Tomorrow being thanksgiving I suppose I should take inventory of that for which I am thankful, and there are so many things both large and small. As I make a list here, keep in mind two things... first, this list is in no way inclusive. Second, that order is not reflective of importance. With that disclaimer, here I go.
I'm sure I could go on, but where would I stop? So, I stop here.
photo credit: www.freeimages.co.uk
I broke down yesterday and ordered a copy of Letters of Ted Hughes (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, edited by Christopher Reid. Since I have an extensive collection of books on Hughes and Plath, it would only be fitting that I add this to my collection. There is however a larger reason to the purchase. I find the journals and correspondence of poets to be fascinating. I've managed to read all or most of several such works. Sexton, Lowell, Ginsberg Letters, and Plath's Letters Home as well as Journals. The Poets Notebook which has excerpts of the journals musings of some 26 poets. I always think know more about a poet and what goes on in there mind should enhance our appreciation for their work. Of course I'm not sure that I can prove anything in particular by reading and studying such writings, but it is interesting to allow one to draw broader conclusions at times based on the expanded knowledge of a poet that comes with reading their letters or journals. These conclusions may or may not have much validity, but the speculation feeds the creative imagination of one's own brain. And oh how I love to feed the imagination.
I've been a little lax in blogging of late, so I will try and catch up a bit tonight
I elected to pass on the Mia Leonin reading at Rockhurst University last night so I'm unable to provide a review. Instead before retiring last night I read some of the poetry of W.S. Merwin and Dana Goodyear. Two poets I enjoy but quite different in style.
This week I ran across a short but dynamite explanation on the net written by Joe Carter entitled What Poets Do. In the simplest of terms, Carter discusses what poets do that makes them invaluable. Yes, I said invaluable. With all the usual suggestions that poetry is closer to irrelevant then not, such words pulled my eyes out of my sockets. I recommend taking a peek at his explanation here.
Wanted to note a few items of interest - First off is Issue 23 of RIGHT HAND POINTING is out.... Dale Wisely is editor. Dale always seems to put together a worthwhile read.
Tomorrow night... Thursday, November 20th - the poet Mia Leonin will appear at Rockhurst University as part of the Midwest Poets Series. She is of Cuban-American descent. Her credits include two book of poetry; Braid (Anhinga Press, 1999) and Unraveling the Bed (Anhinga, the Van K. Brock Florida Poetry Series, 2008). She received a Green Eyeshade Award
for theater criticism and was selected as a fellow in the NEA/Annenberg Institute on Theater and Musical Theater. She received an Academy of American Poets Prize, a Money for Women Grant by the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund, and a 2005 Florida Individual Artist Fellowship. She teaches at the University of Miami. This is a special treat for Rockhurst in that Leonin was a 1990 Graduate of Rockhurst University. There is a reception at 6:00 PM and the reading begins at 6:30. For information about this series or other Rockhurst University cultural events, call The Center for Arts & Letters (816) 501-4607 or (816) 501-4828 or visit
www.rockhurst.edu/artsandletters.
