Blogger Appreciation Day

Today is Blogger Appreciation Day. With that in mind I like first to express my sincere appreciation for those people who stop by Stickpoet from time to time and occasionally offer some comments. (Ok, I don't mean spammers, I've had a rash of them in the past ten days. Their posts are moderated and never see the light of day.)

Occasionally we do have some thought provoking exchanges here and other times I do my thing and people keep coming back. So thank you to all who visit this site and take the time to read.

There is another whole group of people out there for whom I am also appreciative. These would be the bloggers who write the blogs I go to on a regular basis. There are many that I read, but among the most regular are the following that I'd like to acknowledge:

• Joannie Stangeland at Poe Query
• Ivy Alvarez at Ivy is here
• Kelli Russell Agodon at The Book of Kells
• Sandra Beasley at Chicks Dig Poetry
• Christine Hamm at This is All Your Fault
• Mary Biddinger at The word cage

These are just a few that I follow, but they are pretty regular in posting and each offers something I especially like.

Joannie for instance is very eclectic. Her posts range from poems to pictures of various culinary endeavors she undertakes and I have especially found her how-to videos worthwhile. They generally are of technical nature related to computers and writing.

Ivy is like inspirational. I mean her dedication to her craft and how she goes about it is an excellent example for the rest of us.

Kelli is funny, I love Tuesday at the Confessional. She will from time to time post some of her work, but I especially have enjoyed her insight over the several years that I have followed her blog.

Sandra often features information about other poets and their book releases and occasionally provides an interesting commentary on a poetry related topic.

Christine is like dark and edgy. Ok, I mean her poetry not exactly her. This is a good thing- I mean it is writing I appreciate and enjoy. There is often a dark humor about it as well. Most of her posts are things she is working on, written but some interesting art as well.

Mary will pose exceptionally thoughtful questions or insights and always seems to generate a lot of feed back from her readers in the comments. Mary truly have succeeded in creating dialogue with her blog.

There, a little bit about why I enjoy each of these blogs and appreciate the work they do to post on a regular basis, fresh ideas or work. Thanks to all of you!

Technorati Tags: blogger appreciation day,Mary Biddinger,Christine Hamm,Joannie Stangeland,Sandra Beasley,Ivy Alvarez,Keli Russell Agodon

And the Good News is....

I can imagine that many people participating in NaPaWriMO / Poem-a-day challenge or whatever you want to call it will agree with me this is a taxing proposition. (Oh! there is that nasty “T” word on tax day) Don’t think that many would disagree with me that this is not exactly the best way to create quality poems, but that also doesn’t mean that can’t happen.

With all the financial ills, unemployment, pirates, nukes, war, drugs, etc. (I’m sure I’m missing someone’s favorite malady) it’s nice to hear something upbeat; that someone did good.

So for all those suffering poets out there a bit of joyous news for one poet and an inspiration for the rest of us to keep plugging along on the last half of the poem-a-day challenge. Congratulations are in order for Christine Klocek-Lim, who has won the Annual Ellen La Forge Poetry Prize for her 2008 entry of six astrology poems (get this next part) written from last year’s NaPoWriMo. The added bonus is that money actually comes along with the award, which of course defies any logic since the product involved was poetry.

Three cheers for Christine… everyone keep writing!

Enjoy!

Post Secret

40 %

So I've just finished posting today's poem on Poetry Asides written from the prompt for the day: So We Decided To (blank).  This is the earliest that I've finished one in a number of days. With today's poem, we are now 40% through the month of poems challenge. Even doing a basic draft a day is no piece of cake. It takes a lot out of you.

With my poem finished, and the Giants baseball game is already over for the day, I will retire to some reading in a few minutes.

Hope all of you had a joyous weekend. If you celebrate Easter, then a Happy Easter to you, if not, I bid you best wishes the same.

Technorati Tags: Poem-A-Day Challenge

Celebrating Poetry Month - Westport Branch Library - April 22 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

The WESTPORT BRANCH of the KANSAS CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY will host a reading by a number of  local poets on April 22 between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. and the public is invited. I have agreed to read at the event. 

The library is located at 118 Westport Road, Kansas City, MO 64111

For more information you may call the Westport branch at 816.701.3488.

 

 

 

 

Technorati Tags: Poetry Reading,Westport Branch of the Kansas City Public Library

Kermit was honored!

The past few mornings the cable news shows have been buzzing with talk about the President giving commencement speeches at Notre Dame, and ASU.  The controversy over Notre Dame of course comes from the viewpoint expressed by some Catholics that Obama should not be invited to speak at a Catholic institution of higher learning because they believe his public policy on abortion is contrary to that of the Church's teachings.  Of course so was President Bush's public policy on the Death Penalty and Pope John Paul had adamantly opposed the war in Iraq as well, but that didn't keep President Bush from being invited.

The ASU controversy is a little different and actually quite amusing if you consider the past history of the University. Notre Dame is conferring an  honorary degree upon President Obama. Not an unusual exercise for a prominent speaker a University commencement.  But ASA earlier in the week said their would be no honorary degree for the President.  Sharon Keeler, a spokesperson for the University put it this way, "Because President Obama’s body of work is yet to come, it’s inappropriate to recognize him at this time." Following this news the chatter and editorial writers have taken on the ASU's position.

The East Valley Tribune from the Phoenix, Arizona area calls the oversight "an odd gap that besmirches the image of an excellent institution." And MSNBC's Contessa Brewer pointed out that in 1986, Kermit the Frog received an honorary degree from Long Island Southampton College and further expressed her disapproval of ASU's decision.

A list here provides some interesting names of past recipients from ASU. They include Barry Goldwater in 1961, three years before he received the Republican nomination for president and only eight years into his U.S. Senate career. There is George Romney in in 1962. He of course lost the GOP nomination for President.  Sandra Day O'Connor (first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court) in 1984, just three years into her 25 years on the Court. Rita Dove in 1995 - A Poet  U.S. Laureate.

Anyway, I'm thinking we haven't heard the last of this.

Technorati Tags: President Obama,ASU,Notre Dame,Sharon Keelor,honorary degrees

Bonus / not today's writing prompt

Your Back

I never saw your back so much.
The way it turned on me. The way
it's constantly growing smaller.

It's not something I thought about.
The way it's cold and impersonal.
Not at all like your smile.

I do remember your smile
but it's fading from my mind.
Smaller is good.