Bonjour Poetry Reviews

Brooklyn's Poet Laurete Dies

2009-06-26T08:15:00.001-07:00

Ken Siegelman, Brooklyn’s poet laureate, died in his Gravesend home on June 20th after a decade long struggle with kidney disease. He was 63 years old. ~more

Politics and Poetry Discussion at Writer's Institute

2009-06-26T08:14:00.000-07:00

Katha Pollitt enjoys reading the Bible. It’s God she has some trouble with, particularly in the Book of Job.

“I’m a non-believer, but the stories are great ones and they do ask some deep questions that are interesting to think about,” said Pollitt, a columnist~more

Poetry Sales Increase Because of BBC Poetry Series

2009-06-25T07:56:00.000-07:00

I love it when poetry sales increase!

How about this for good news:

A recent spate of poetry-related material has driven poetry sales in the U.K., selling copies of books that had languished on national shelves. According to Bookseller, the BBC's Poetry Season Project actually motivated people to go to the bookstore. ~more

Poetry at Wildling Art Museum

2009-06-22T08:43:00.001-07:00

The Wildling Art Museum is inviting the public to its sixth annual Poetry Reading from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, when the event will feature poems about nature by four well-known poets from Santa Barbara County.

The poets participating in the free event are ~more

Ekphrastic Poetry

2009-06-21T05:08:00.000-07:00

Ekphrastic poetry is poetry that refers to another form of art such as a painting, photograph or film. There are many examples of ekphrastic poetry past and present including Keat's "Ode on a Grecian Urn" which refers to a piece of ancient pottery. ~more

Student Present Poetry from Nuture the Creative Minds Program

2009-06-02T06:15:00.000-07:00

With eyes cast downward on a crumpled piece of paper, sixth-grader Kelton Gardner stepped up to the microphone and quickly read his poem, "Pause," to the crowded room.

"It came without warning. Life struck me hard. I wish I could pause it and turn it around. This is your warning. Don't let your guard down."

A small smile replaced the nervousness on his face as he walked away to the crowd's applause. ~more

Interview: Paul Kiritsis

2009-05-31T13:33:00.000-07:00

Just had the pleasure of interviewing Paul Kiritsis, author of the poetry book, Fifty Confessions. I think you'll enjoy the interview with this fascinating poet.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Conducted May 16, 2009

How did you first discover that you loved poetry?

My first ‘footsteps,’ if you like, in the realm of poetry occurred in early primary school as a second-grader. I remember reading a junior-level second-grade text taken from Homer’s Iliad (written in ancient Greek I might add!) and being completely enthralled by the material. That initial contact with epic and dramatic poetry grew into something a lot more profound as the years unraveled and was to become a full-fledged passion for me.

Which poets were you first drawn to?

Because of my Hellenic heritage, I was initially drawn to poets like the classical Homer and contemporary Greek greats like Odysseas Elytis and Konstantinos Kavafis (some of whose material I studied at university level). During my latter years my tastes shifted and I became interested in the work of William Wordsworth, William Carlos Williams, Emily Dickinson, and of course, the formidable Lord Byron.

Do you remember writing your first poem? How old were you? What was it about?

Yes, I do! I was about thirteen and I had just had an argument with my dad. My way of venting was to sit in front of my wooden desk and spew out rhyming verses (some of which appear so frivolous now) about how misunderstood I was.

How often do you find yourself writing poetry? Are there moments or moods that draw you to poetry more than others?

I only write when the inspiration comes. During some periods of my life, I’ve written almost every night. There have also been times where I haven’t written for months. This long drawn silence in my writing pen can more or less be attributed to monotonous routine and the prolonged dormancy of hullabaloo. I find that being mellow, pensive and melancholy will suck me into the writing vortex very quickly.

Are there poets or writers who have influenced you?

Certainly. Of note would be Dean Koontz, Margaret Atwood, Richard Laymon, David Malouf and Colin Wilson. I try to read as widely and across as many genres as possible.

What is your process for writing poetry? (Laptop, notebook, morning hours, last thing at night...) Is this process different than for other types of writing you may do?

I usually write late at night. First, I unwind with some herbal tea or coffee. I may or may not choose to burn some incense to cleanse the room of any bad vibes. Then I light my two candles, pull out my pen and notebook from under the drawer and away I go. The poems sometimes write themselves and guess what…sometimes they don’t. I always write at night, irrespective of whether its poetry or not.

Tell us about your latest book, Fifty Confessions. What was the inspiration for it and what do you hope people come away with upon reading the work?

The book Fifty Confessions is my most personal work to date. I was really troubled and unwell when I wrote it. I was unwell both physically and mentally. I wasn’t sure if going ahead and publishing for the entire world to see would be beneficial and therapeutic or if the compendium of Pandora’s secrets would backfire and come back to haunt me a few years from now. I suppose only Father Time can and will answer that. The book is about my fight with a mystery illness that is still ailing me and with specific related events which evolved around that. The poetry is very raw, visceral and at times, very graphic. There are religious overtones moving through the work with the whole ‘confession’ motif and the confessions are grouped chronologically in accordance with the psychosocial model of stress response. Through this work, I want the reading audience to identify with ill people who go on suffering undiagnosed ailments for years whilst pharmaceutical companies make millions off antidepressants and other medications used to ‘fix’ them up temporarily without getting to the root of the problem.

How would you respond to people who claim they don’t like poetry?

In my experience, most people who claim they don’t like poetry have never given it a shot and have preconceived notions of it as both boring and un-engaging. Try sampling it before you dismiss it. (And I don’t mean just one poet) You might not like the poetry of writer X but you might like the style of writer Y.

Where can we find out more about you?

You’ll find out quite a bit on me if you visit my website! It’s www.paulkiritsis.com. There’s plenty on there to keep one occupied for a while: audio files of me reciting some of my material; interviews; press releases; biography; life influences and information on upcoming releases.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Epic and dramatic poetry were the first forms of written literature and evolved from ancient Greece. Let’s try to keep that royal tradition going…

Review: Fifty Confessions

2009-05-31T13:19:00.000-07:00

Fifty Confessions is a series of free-verse poetry that wrestle with the "feeling of wrongness" inside the poet, Paul Kiritsis. As the poet mentions in the author note of the book, this feeling, a genuine health mystery, is still undiagnosed today. Based on his experience with the medical world and this malady, he offers these 50 confessions.

In the poem, "A Stroke of Wrongness" we see the heart of his medical dilemma:

"Something is very wrong.
I do not feel well
Sitting on the throne of my being.
It has begun feeding
From my spiritual arteries.
It has begun to set loose
This restlessness inside of me."

Readers will be touched by the desperate plea for someone (some force, some spirit), to pay attention to this pain inside of him. The poet often breaks down the illness so we can understand his struggles, not only in the present, but for the years that have passed, and those he dreads that are yet to come. This is the burden of an undiagnosed illness on the human psyche.

I particularly liked "Formulaic Medicine" which spoke of going to the doctor when you are feeling sick and in need of care, only to receive a clinical, non-emotional and often uncaring response in return. The poem urges the doctors:

"That your hard-earned knowledge
And experience
Might someday turn against you,
Unless you heed to the facts
And physics of one's heart."

In "Diagnosis X," the poet talks about an issue common to many of those who come to a medical professional with legitimate health concerns, only to be told that either it's "all in your head" or that, as the poet mentions, the patient should "see a psychiatrist." This is an all-too common occurrence when physicians cannot medically explain or understand the patient's malady.

In "Mercy," the poet sends up a short, sweet, sincere prayer that asks God why. What does he have to do to end this pain, and what did he do to deserve it in the first place?

So often poets speak of emotional pain only, and I enjoyed the perspective of physical pain as it relates to and brings about emotions, questions, and prayers. The section Actions and Reactions is perhaps the most personal of the confessions. The reader is immersed in diary-like observations too personal to be uttered aloud, yet fascinating when absorbed as the written word.

"The Beast Within" is a wonderfully poignant poem that reveals just how heavy the burden of carrying a mysterious illness within your being can be. It talks of embracing the darkness of pain as a matter of routine -- something other people would fear -- and yet the poet deals with this on a daily basis.

Mythology and history are combined throughout the personal themes of pain and spiritual questioning, which add up to be a thoroughly enjoyable selection of poems that readers, regardless of their background or experience, will be able to enjoy. I was touched by Fifty Confessions, with many of the poems remaining behind with me, a reminder of the brilliance of the poet Paul Kiritsis.

Review from Bonjour Poetry Reviews.

Poetry Featured at Salon in White House

2009-05-18T05:49:00.000-07:00

For a president with more than his fair share of crises on his plate, Barack Obama's decision to devote an hour last week to promoting the arts should come as welcome assurance that culture has a good friend at the White House.~more

Laurel Lake Retirement Community Poetry Reading

2009-05-18T05:46:00.000-07:00

Laurel Lake Retirement Community will host an intergenerational poetry reading event called "Creative Voice" May 21 at 3 p.m. in the Community Room.

The program is part of the Keys to A Sharp Mind lifelong learning program, funded by a grant from the Reinberger Foundation. ~more

Derek Walcott's Withdrawal From Competition in the Wake of Smear Campaign Will Not Delay 16 May Vote

2009-05-14T05:49:00.000-07:00

The election of Oxford's poetry professor is set to go ahead this Saturday despite calls for it to be postponed following Derek Walcott's withdrawal from the running in the wake of anonymous attacks.

A smear campaign targeted academics across Oxford with anonymously sent letters containing photocopied pages from a book, The Lecherous Professor, which detailed a sexual harassment claim made by a Harvard student against Walcott in 1982. Walcott yesterday described the tactics as a "low and degrading attempt at character assassination", and withdrew from competition for the professorship. ~more

Escape Into Poetry

2009-05-12T19:53:00.000-07:00

opular writer, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo, speaks on her new found love for pidgin, as used in parts of her first collection of poems, Heart Song.

That her latest work is a collection of poems is surprising on its own. This is based on the fact that in the past two decades ago ~more

Poetry in the Park

2009-05-11T18:37:00.000-07:00

Free with admission.Readings by a unique group of women writers who draw inspiration from their lives and each other. Gaining in popularity and notoriety for the last several years, the group has published several volumes of poetry collectively as well as individually. ~more

Another Side of Tolkien With Poetry

2009-05-11T07:41:00.000-07:00

Before J. R. R. Tolkien was known as the master fantasy writer behind “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit,” he was fascinated with Norse mythology.

Lost for 70 years, buried among his papers, were two poems he wrote concerning “the Volsung and Niflung (or Nibelung) legend, using modern English fitted to the Old Norse metre.” They now appear for the first time as “The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun.” ~more

Poetry from Duluth's Holy Cow Press Provides Comfort for Grief

2009-05-08T07:00:00.001-07:00

After Jim Perlman’s mother died in 2007, he went searching for writing that could provide comfort and insight. Though he found a lot of quality poems, they were scattered about in various publications.

“It occurred to me: Wouldn’t it be a good idea to bring together a lot of ideas of grief and gratitude?”~more

Carol Ann Duffy - Britian's Newest Poet Laureate

2009-05-08T06:53:00.000-07:00

Alfred Lord Tennyson may be turning in his grave. The author of some of the most exalted poetry in the English language, such as “Crossing the Bar” and “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” would probably be appalled to learn that Britain’s newest poet laureate — an honor Tennyson held from 1850 until his death in 1892 — is Carol Ann Duffy, an open lesbian much of whose poetry is a celebration of her sexual deviancy. ~more

Alliethia Ellerbe Wins Poetry Prize

2009-05-08T06:52:00.001-07:00

Alliethia Ellerbe has won first place in a poetry contest sponsored by the Student Government Association at Northeastern Technical College with her poem “Stranger,” written about her late father.

Ellerbe, 19, is a resident of ~more

Edward Jolin to Read From Book

2009-05-08T06:50:00.000-07:00

Love spurred Edward Jolin to write a collection of intense, emotional poems in the past two years. An entrepreneurial spirit compelled him to start his own publishing company and print the poems as a book, "Complexities of the Heart: The Diversity of Love and Passion." ~more

Latino Poetry on Tour

2009-05-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

The Wind Shifts: New Latino Poetry on Tour

National Book Tour Features Four Poets at Pilsen Reading

CHICAGO – Poetry magazine is proud to co-sponsor with the Guild Complex and Letras Latinas a poetry reading by four poets whose work is featured in the anthology The Wind Shifts: New Latino Poetry—Rosa Alcalá, Kevin A. González, Carolina Monsivais, and Lidia Torres.

What: The Wind Shifts: New Latino Poetry ON TOUR. Featuring Rosa Alcalá, Kevin A. González, Carolina Monsivais, and Lidia Torres.

When: Wednesday, May 20, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Décima Musa Restaurant and Bar, 1901 S. Loomis, Chicago

For more info, visit The Poetry Foundation.

Search for Craig Arnold

2009-05-05T08:07:00.001-07:00

The search for Craig Arnold, an award-winning poet who earned his doctorate at the University of Utah, will extend beyond the weekend.

University of Wyoming spokeswoman Jessica Lowell says Japanese authorities have agreed to continue looking for the 41-year-old who has been missing for a nearly a week on a Japanese island. Arnold is a professor at the University of Wyoming. ~more

Honoring the Irwins

2009-05-05T08:02:00.000-07:00

Together, P. K. Page Irwin and Arthur Irwin formed an indomitable partnership based on love and respect, said Neal Irwin, Arthur Irwin's son.

That partnership has now been immortalized by Trent University with the newly dedicated Page Irwin Colloquium Room, honouring Canadian writer and painter P. K. Page Irwin and media pioneer Arthur Irwin.~more

Carol Ann Duffy - Poet Laureate UK

2009-05-02T15:54:00.000-07:00

It is, by all accounts, second time lucky for Carol Ann Duffy, who has been appointed Poet Laureate a decade after she was first considered for the prestigious role.

The writer was widely regarded as the runner-up when Andrew Motion was chosen in 1999.

Since then her reputation has only grown, with a string of prizes, her poems included on the GCSE syllabus and, in 2002, the award of a CBE.~more

Engaging Kids With Poetry

2009-04-30T06:04:00.000-07:00

If you think poetry is a lofty art form accessible only to the intellectual elite, think again. The Poetry Center wants to get 'em while they're young.

Saturday morning was this semester's final session of Poetry Joeys, a program that has been hosted monthly since fall 2007. Each session features an hour of song, dance, writing and other activities meant to actively engage children ages 4 to 10 years old in the reading and production of poetry. ~more

Theodore Sturgeon Says 90% of Poetry is Garbage

2009-04-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

This poetry game, it's a racket like any other. Sure, you have to have talent -- that's a given. But you, as a member of the poetry-loving audience, have to be aware of Sturgeon's Law, which states quite clearly that "90% of everything is crap." Theodore Sturgeon was a tough-guy ~more

Poetry Jam in Colorado

2009-04-29T09:50:00.001-07:00

To celebrate the conclusion of national poetry month in Colorado's Vail Valley, students from Minturn Middle School will share their original creative works at The Bookworm of Edwards tonight at 5 p.m. ~more

International Poetry Prize for Booker Middle School Student

2009-04-29T09:46:00.000-07:00

A Booker Middle School student will be recognized at the Library of Congress this month for winning the grand prize in an international poetry contest.

Fourteen-year-old Savannah Fehling won for her poem “Atmosphere” in the River of Words environmental poetry and art contest. The ceremony will be held May 13 in Washington, D.C. ~more

Art of Recovery Through Poetry

2009-04-26T16:21:00.000-07:00

I think poetry is an incredibly healthy way of dealing with pain. I can certainly attest to that. Here's an exhibit in Minnesota that showcases victims of crime who have taken that pain and turned it into something good.

Voices UnBroken

2009-04-26T16:17:00.000-07:00

Twenty nervous teens waited to read their poetry at the offices of Voices UnBroken, a youth program in the Bronx.

"Who wants to go first?" asked Victoria Sammartino, executive director and founder of the 10-year-old nonprofit.

The young poets, ages 13 to 21, are from residency programs for young people in crisis.~more

Cherie Burbach at As the Pages Turn

2009-04-20T11:54:00.000-07:00

My latest stop at my virtual book tour has to be one of my favorites. They truly asked unique questions! In fact, I think you probably won't be able to view my book the same way again after reading it!

Take a look.

Son of Sylvia Plath Commits Suicide

2009-03-23T09:40:00.000-07:00

The family history of poets Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath took another tragic turn Monday when it was revealed that their son had committed suicide after battling depression.

Nicholas Hughes, whose mother gassed herself in 1963 at her London home while her two children slept in the next room ~more

Giveaways

2009-03-16T09:09:00.001-07:00

I've got tons of great giveaways going on lately at various blogs I write. Check them out, you could win something fabulous:

Over at the Jess and Ashlee blog you can win a copy of Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner. If you loved Good in Bed, you will love this book. It's a sequel to the book and the continuation of Cannie. Find out what happens now that Joy is entering her teens.

At the Beautiful Words blog, I have the appropriately titled Beautifully Pinned Promises book by Mary Grace Birkhead. This is a lovely book with plenty of inspiration to guide you.

Over at the new Blisstree blog, I have a Walk Slim DVD by Leslie Sansone. This DVD contains 4 fast miles and best of all? It's all done in your home.

Also at Blisstree is the Teen Walk giveaway. When I was a kid we biked and walked everywhere, but today is a different world!

Enter any one of these giveaways, or all of them! Good luck!

The Dailies by David Cornberg

2008-12-09T12:33:00.000-08:00

The Dailies, by David Cornberg, is a treat for any poetry lover. The book begins on March 11th, the author's birthday, and features one poem for every day of the year. The poems, mostly free verse, vary in length and meter. Each day's work provides a new and joyful surprise in the form of prose.

The first poem of the book, March 11th: "All Water is Holy" calls upon the elements of nature and sets the tone for the book. Several of the poems relate to the natural world and how we interact or observe it. On March 12th, the poem "In Motion" is a short, poignant work that speaks of the human role in nature while calling up an earthy sensibility.

My favorite poem of the book was perhaps the title work of March 19th. It starts:

"Pick a day

of any year

start the poem"

and speaks of the emotion and involvement in expressing oneself through the written word. The poem starts gently, slowly, then picks up pace to a soulful conclusion:

"Digress regress

or tearfully confess

That joy of lonely

Footsteps

On your own rhythm's

Reeling back."

In the early parts of the book, the poems talk more deeply about nature. Every few months the tone shifts slightly to something of a more spiritual and then industrial nature. I found this slight change the perfect complement to makeup of the book. As the world turns quietly each day toward a new season, so do the poems in The Dailies.

On May 3rd: "Summer Storm" builds gracefully while increasing intensity:

"The summer storm

talks it's way

up the slough"

It comes to a crescendo-like end with:

"Cascading thunder

Cannonades up the slough

The roaring words of

first drops."

The reader can easily evoke the silence that comes before a sudden downpour. The feeling that time stops for just a moment, before nature reminds us of its presence and power.

An especially lovely poem appears on May 8th with "Small Misses." It speaks of the "Murphy's Law" type happenings of life. The poem has a soothing meter to ear when read aloud, and is delightful in transforming the everyday moments into something truly sweet and inspirational.

Throughout the book the subjects of space, slough, rain, are frequent themes. Often nature and the often unnoticed realities of life are called into play. On June 30th, the poem "Forest Floor" is an ambitious work that draws the reader in, and makes us feel as if a life whizzing by.

My favorite poems of the books are those with a splendid sense of rhyme and meter, such as "Light" on July 14th. The words sings almost like a bluesy piece of music - short, but speaking volumes with its melody.

On August 16th: "The More" offers inspiration in the face of a hostility and changing world. No matter the intimidation, ridicule, or trouble imposed, "The More" tells the tale of a strong man, secure in himself.

As the poems head toward fall, the subject matter becomes more spirited, and questioning. On October 12th: "Heritage" is a moving statement on the passing of generations. The struggles on the earlier ancestors who gave us this beautiful and all too easy life.

As we enter winter the poetry becomes more industrial, describing work processors, functions, and necessities of daily life. On December 23rd the poem "Simplest" describes spirit in perhaps the barest of terms:

"Worship is still

Meditation is silent

Prayer is receptive"

On January 7th another favorite emerges with "Springs." This delightful poem speaks to the music of an everyday item. It reminds each of us to create our own melody, wherever we are in life, and wherever we would like to be.

The subject matter in the final poems of The Dailies are a combination of nature, spirit, thought, and wonder. The book concludes as a bursting finale and the last poem, especially, is a nice finish to the work. The Dailies is a wonderful mix of poetry - certain to hold the reader's interest from day to day.

Review from: Bonjour Poetry Reviews

Poet Rebel

2008-12-05T19:47:00.000-08:00

She skipped classes in high school to run with the wild crowd. She spends her weekends riding a Harley-Davidson and considers herself a bit of a rebel. Her “real job” is running a local home-security company, and she can always be found in jeans and a comfortable sweatshirt.

One look at Yolanda Coulaz and the stereotypical image of a poet goes out the window. ~more

Bilingual Poetry Book

2008-12-05T19:33:00.001-08:00

Poetry is a wonderful medium where we can convey our creative thoughts and imaginative turns of phrases. It may be limited however by our choice of language. But when an author is bilingual, then that opens up the possibility of having twice the enjoyment. Journey with Dominique Garrel's Night Passage: Poems In Our Two Languages -- and see, in a double treat in English and French -- what the world and life at large have to offer. ~more

A Giveaway Here, A Giveaway There

2008-12-05T19:22:00.000-08:00

I've got a lot of contests going on right on at various blogs I'm writing. So take a look, it may mean an extra Christmas present for you!

Over at Diabetes Notes, you can win a 4-mile walking DVD.

At JloStalker, win a Jlo Still Fragrance Gift Set and a Glow Fragrance Gift Set.

You can win a copy of Jessica Simpson's Christmas album, Rejoice at the Jess and Ashlee blog and at the Gossip on Sports blog. Two seperate giveaways, which means double the chances to win. :)

There's a lot more going on at Gossip on Sports, like a Day of the Dead DVD and the awesome book The Bambino Secret.

Taipei Poetry Festival

2008-11-30T11:16:00.000-08:00

With poetry as the messenger, the Taipei Poetry Festival has opened a door to different cultures of the world for the readers to hear the real polyphony there is.

This year, the focus is on the Asian poetry scene. With many years of efforts, the Taipei Poetry Festival finally succeeded in inviting two distinguished guests, renowned Korean poet Kim Hyesoon and Chinese post-obscure poet Yu Jian ~more

Marilyn Taylor is Wisconsin's Poet Laureate

2008-11-30T11:14:00.000-08:00

Former Milwaukee poet laureate Marilyn Taylor now has a wider platform for spreading her love of verse. Gov. Jim Doyle has named her Wisconsin's new poet laureate. ~more

Main Street Rag Publishing Company Poetry Contest Winner

2008-11-30T11:09:00.000-08:00

Roy Seeger, a new addition to the English faculty at USC Aiken, won the Main Street Rag Publishing Company's poetry book contest. The news of the win came the same weekend he heard he would be moving to Aiken. ~more

Piedmont Laureate Program

2008-11-30T11:07:00.000-08:00

Jaki Shelton Green didn't get two steps inside the door at the Cup A Joe coffee shop Tuesday morning before someone hailed her.

"Hey, Jaki!" said a man sitting next to the front window. "How are you doing? Congratulations!"
"Thanks, Mike," Green said.

"They made a great choice," he said.

He was referring to the newly created Piedmont Laureate Program, which is designed "to promote awareness and heighten appreciation for excellence in the literary arts throughout the Piedmont region." ~more

California's Poet Laureate Is Announced

2008-11-25T19:59:00.000-08:00

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed Carol Muske-Dukes as California's new Poet Laureate.

Muske-Dukes, who has reviewed for the Los Angeles Times, has written seven books of poetry; her most recent, "Sparrow," was nominated for a National Book Award. She has also written two collections of essays and four novels, including 2007's "Channeling Mark Twain," which was an L.A. Times bestseller (coincidentally, one of its characters is a stuffy former poet laureate).

Psychologist Wins Poetry Award

2008-11-25T19:55:00.000-08:00

Poet Marian Kaplun Shapiro would like to refute what she believes to be a common misconception: that all poetry is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to understand.

"There are poems I don't understand, and I don't like them," said Shapiro, a psychologist who lives in Lexington. "I think it's pretentious to write about something so personal that it's not worth anything to anyone else." ~more

Rote Learning Poetry Competition

2008-11-25T19:52:00.000-08:00

The BBC has launched a Victorian-style rote learning competition to "breathe life" into poetry teaching.

Primary school children will recite poems such as Daffodils by William Wordsworth and The Owl and The Pussycat by Edward Lear in the competition, called Off By Heart. More than 1,000 schools have signed up for so far. ~more

Poetry on Canvas

2008-11-25T19:45:00.000-08:00

Evan Bissell well remembers how art and writing transformed his life when he was a teenager growing up in Mill Valley in the 1990s. After graduating from Wesleyan University in 2005, where he studied painting and American studies, he returned to the Bay Area to pursue public collaborative art projects. ~more

The Lingo of Our Calling

2008-11-25T19:43:00.000-08:00

A recent Grand Opening of the exhibit "The Lingo of Our Calling: The Legacy of Cowboy Poetry" at Yerington's Central Branch Library proved that cowboy poetry and music are favorites for Mason and Smith Valley families. ~more

Renowned Slam Poet Takes Her Message To Youth

2008-11-25T19:39:00.000-08:00

Slam poet Gayle Danley has won international acclaim as a slam poet, and her newest endeavor is could be her most challenging one yet. Danley is taking the themes within her poems and passing them on to children. ~more

Writer's and Their Vocations

2008-11-24T07:05:00.000-08:00

When you’re a writer, chances are you also have another vocation.

This isn’t new, poets (especially) throughout time aren’t exactly known for making millions. So some may ask, why write then? Simply put, if you have a passion for writing… you write. If you’re lucky enough to make some money… great. If not, write anyway. Do it for yourself. Do it because you were meant to do it.

I’ve been a writer my entire life it seems. My mother says as long as I could hold a pencil I was writing stories or poetry. I wrote poetry years before I ever read poetry. I didn’t do it for the fame (don’t want it) or fortune (because usually there isn’t any.) I do it for the same reason most writers do it, and that is because we can’t see our lives any other way. It’s a part of our thinking process and a part of who we are.

Are there writers out there who make a living at just that? Absolutely. Are they the norm? Well… not exactly. Sure, there are some writers that make a living from full-time fiction work. This is probably what most people envision when you mention you’re a writer, but this is the exception and not the norm. Most writers I know are “working writers” in one form or another. They may write books and then become speakers about a particular topic. They may become consultants. They may have another job entirely unrelated to writing. They may perform some form of business writing at their “regular” job, while still coming home at night and writing for their passion.

A recent article on the About.com poetry site listed the vocations of poets throughout time. Among my favorites:

Donne and Swift were deans of churches
Robert Frost was a poultry farmer
William Carlos Williams was a pediatrician
T.S. Eliot was a banker,
and….…current U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser worked in insurance for 35 years.

Interview: Diana Raab

2008-11-14T07:04:00.000-08:00

I recently had the pleasure of reading Diana Raab's new poetry book, Dear Anais: My Life in Poems for You. Now, I have an interview with this interesting and thoughtful poet. Enjoy:

When did you know you wanted to be a writer, and how did you first make that a reality?

I have been writing since a very early age. At the age of six when I went to sleep-away camp, my mother packed my suitcase with stationary. At the age of twelve, when my grandmother took her life in my childhood home, my mother gave me my first diary. On those pages I poured out my grief. In university I studied Journalism and health administration. I worked for a few years as a nurse until I ended up on bed rest with a high-risk pregnancy. Writing re-entered my life as I chronicled seven months in bed. Those journals became a published book to help other women with difficult pregnancies. Next year the book will be released in its updated 25th anniversary edition.

I loved reading Dear Anaїs: My Life in Poems for You. Tell me about how you first came up with the concept of dedicating a book such as this to Anaїs Nin. Did you write the poems with the late diarist in mind?

I have always admired the work of Anaïs Nin. Her words resonate with me. She put a voice to my feelings. There were also many parallels in our lives. She was born in 1903, the same year as my beloved grandmother. Nin and I were both shy little girls who hid behind the pages of our diaries. I was compiling the poems in this collection when I thought it was time for a title. Her name and image popped into my head. I couldn’t stop thinking about Nin so I decided to dedicate the book to her.

Why did you choose poetry as the vehicle for this book?

It just felt right.

I enjoyed the progression of subject matter from chapter to chapter in the book. Is there a particular section that is your favorite? Or one that you gravitate to the most?

No, I have a deep affection for each section because they are all poems written from a special place in my heart.

What do you hope people take away from reading Dear Anaїs: My Life in Poems for You?

I want my words to resonate with people in the same way as Nin’s resonated with me. I want to put words to other people’s feelings. I want my book to be a classic that people return to for inspiration and a sense of calm and familiarity.

Anaїs Nin is one writer who has influenced you very positively. Are there others? We all love recommendations on great works. Is there a book you enjoyed reading that you could recommend?

I enjoy a variety of writers depending upon my needs at the time. Anaïs Nin is always one of my favorites. Some other writers I enjoy are J.D. Salinger, Tobias Wolff, Gustave Flaubert, Billy Collins and Sharon Olds.

You've written a column entitled, "You Don't Have to Be a Poet to Write Poetry." I agree that poetry can and should be accessible to everybody. How do you convince someone who has never attempted to write poetry to give it a try? How do you generally come up with the ideas for your own work?

This is a very good question. I always say to start with a notebook. The writer’s notebook is like their playground. I began writing poetry seriously one year during the holiday season. My kids were little and I was very busy and frustrated that I didn’t have enough time to write prose. Poetry gave me instant gratification in a short period of time. It was very fulfilling. Thankfully, they were also very well-received.

My ideas are generated by living. I carry my notebook everywhere with me and jot down notes which are often used later to generate poems.

What is your next project?

Typically, I work on a few projects at once. I enjoy the diversity. I have already completed another book of poetry which I have sent out for various poetry contests. (but in the meantime, let me know if you can think of a publisher who might be interested in it! My husband thinks the next collection is even stronger—but I don’t know if he’s fair judge!)

I am also updating a book I originally wrote in 1988 on high-risk pregnancies. The updated edition to be released in Spring 2009 is called, Your High Risk Pregnancy: A Practical and Supportive Guide. I am working in conjunction with Dr. Errol Norwitz of Yale School of Medicine. I am also editing an anthology called, Writers and Their Notebooks, forthcoming from the University of South Carolina Press in the Fall of 2009.

I also keep a running list of essay ideas and poems in my journal.

What's the most important lesson you've learned so far in your writing career? And in life?

Persistence and resilience are two very important traits for the writer who wants to be published. You must also believe in your work. It is important to learn from each rejection and to keep sending your work out. If you don’t send your work out, nobody will know that you write.

Review: Dear Anaїs: My Life in Poems for You

2008-11-12T14:31:00.000-08:00

Anaїs Nin is perhaps the intended audience for Diana Raab's work, but her poetry can easily be slipped on to any reader like a much beloved cashmere sweater. In the beginning of Dear Anaїs: My Life in Poems for You, the author writes a letter to the famous diarist. She explains her admirations this way, "for years, whenever I have been stuck or my pen negotiated its flow, I've turned to your diaries for inspiration." The letter ends with heartfelt appreciation: "You've taught me the intrinsic value of the written word, how to dig deeper into my emotional truth, and the importance of having love in my life. And for all these gifts, I thank you." As emotionally clear as this letter is, it is Raab's poems which are the real tribute.

The first chapter of Dear Anaїs:, "Each Winter Sunday" contains the poems of childhood. Fond yet raw memories in works such "Rockefeller," and "Figure Skating," show us the poet's years as a young girl learning how to skate on ice. This subject reappears several times in the book, a wonderful parallel to the thought of navigating the realities of life.

Between the poems "Love Chains" and "Those Times" there is a dramatic change of tone from childhood to young adult. Dreamy thoughts of youth and talking about crushes on boys and gum wrappers are replaced with drugs and the avoidance of pain. Both of the poems are tied together with the mention of silver ID bracelets, a reminder that childhood is never really bar behind the arrogance of adolescence.

"Those Times" ends with a reminder of the present in the line "acne stricken face, like my daughter's now." The poem smiles upon the recklessness of the past but manages to ground itself into the adult world with simply that sentence, and with it, the reader is carefully directed to the next chapter.

The poem "To Dettner" (My Grandmother) talks of suicide, "I wonder why you left in such a way, as the depression gnawed at your gentle heart, which cared for me." But while the poem could take on the darkest of tones, it instead embraces the goodness of life. It ends with the sentiment of metaphorically living forever through poetry, and writing, and perhaps through the memory of someone who loved you so deeply.

Such is the case with "My Navigator," which the author dedicates to her Aunt Lilly. In six stanzas a complete characterization is told. We get a sense of the smells from a busy kitchen, the spark of spirit despite life's tragedies and hardship, and the willingness to move on without dwelling on whatever might have happened in the past.

The author shows her affection and admiration combined when she says, "I knew I wanted to grow old like you, proud shoulders pulled back, despite years in concentration camp and the loss of two adoring husbands."

The Chapter "Those Fine Strings" speaks from the experience of a first crush to the disappointment of a failed romance. From the buildup of expected sensual moments and the bust in not following through to the end. Rather than dive too deeply into introspection, the poet pulls herself out to a moment when she is shaken from the unchanged world of a steady relationship to the outward sexuality of a stranger who reminds her the she is a sexual person, and alive.

The poem "A Dictionary of Secret Lovers" is a lovely take on a relationship. Clever, from start to finish.

In "A Woman's Life" the poet uses a simple string of terms to describe women from baby to older adult to death. The list is not a smattering of random words, however, but rather a free form expression that picks up speed gradually, until before you know it, it is over. The perfect representation of how quickly our lives move and change.

One of the things I enjoyed about Dear Anaїs: My Life in Poems for You was that it was not overly sentimental, but shared life's beauty in the simplest of moments. Even the poems about family members are not filled with grand gestures, but the unique and odd characteristics that make us feel affection toward our loved ones.

Reading Raab's work is like walking past a happy home on a summer evening. You can hear the sounds of life and see glimpses of a family that is like any other, and yet at the same time is delightfully unique.

Review from Bonjour Poetry Reviews.

Something Missing? Add Some Poetry

2008-11-10T17:41:00.000-08:00

Josephine Hart is a woman on a mission. When she came to England from the Republic of Ireland, working first in publishing, then in theatre and latterly as the creator of novels such as Damage, she noticed something missing in the cultural landscape. Poetry.~more

Really Bad Poetry

2008-11-10T17:36:00.000-08:00

There's nothing scarier than bad poetry. So who is the worst poet of all time?

Apparently it's William McGonagall, who "The hapless McGonagall wrote poems so bad he carried an umbrella with him at all times as protection from the barrage of rotten tomatoes he faced wherever he recited." ~source

Yikes.

Here's an opening of one of his truly awful poems:

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay
Alas! I am very sorry to say
That ninety lives have been taken away
On the last Sabbath day of 1879
Which will be remember'd for a very long time

Want more? Check the rest out here.

Best Canadian Poetry

2008-11-10T17:34:00.000-08:00

Tightrope Books is proud to announce the launch of its much-anticipated new anthology series, The Best Canadian Poetry.

From a long list of one hundred poems drawn from Canadian literary journals and magazines, this year's guest editor, award winning poet Stephanie Bolster, has chosen fifty of the best Canadian poems published in 2007. ~more

Words Aloud Festival

2008-11-10T17:26:00.000-08:00

I was reading about a poetry slam at a library over the weekend, and it made me think about this one guy I went out with who thought a "poetry slam" was something where people got up and criticized poetry. Yikes. What an idiot that dude was.

Thankfully, I have a much smarter man in my life now.

Speaking of poetry slams, here's one that happened over the weekend at the Words Aloud Festival. Sounds like it was a lot of fun. If you don't have one of these in your area, why not start one!

Jayne Jaudon Ferrer - A Cross Between Emily Dickinson and Erma Bombeck

2008-11-06T18:17:00.000-08:00

I'm a fan of anyone who is out there promoting poetry. So I loved this story about Jayne Jaudon Ferrer who calls herself a cross between Emily Dickinson and Erma Bombeck.

She says, ""I'm on a mission to prove that anyone who thinks they don't like poetry just hasn't found the right poet."

We love to hear that! I totally agree. Everyone can find something in poetry, and there's room for all kinds of works. That's why I love promoting poetry, because every person out there can find poetry that speaks to them.

Todd Boss Gets a Book Deal

2008-11-04T16:50:00.000-08:00

Todd Boss' debut poetry collection will be published in hardcover this month by a major New York publisher. ~more

What's Right About What's Wrong

2008-11-04T16:47:00.000-08:00

Donna Trussell is a survivor. Poems in What’s Right About What’s Wrong, her debut collection, are eloquent testimony to that. ~more

Poetry of Love

2008-11-04T16:41:00.000-08:00

Alistair Te Ariki Campbell and Meg Campbell are names that will be familiar to most poetry enthusiasts - between the two, this couple have an impressive volume of work. ~more

How Dylan Thomas Really Died

2008-10-31T17:55:00.000-07:00

A new book claims that poet Dylan Thomas didn't die from too much drink, but rather from the "mistakes of his physician."

David Thomas, in his new book Fatal Neglect, also claims that "neglect by Thomas' agent" and the smog in New York were also responsible.

Thomas also wrote an earlier book, A Farm, Two Mansions and a Bungalow, which was made into a film starring Matthew Rhys, Sienna Miller and Keira Knightley.

The thing I find interesting is that he doesn't say Thomas himself was responsible. Hmmm....

~source

Poetry Prize for Ten Year Old

2008-10-30T17:33:00.000-07:00

When I hear kids writing poetry, it really brings a smile to my face.

So I was happy to hear about this story, where one very intelligent ten-year old wrote about the "sights and sounds of what is the traditional season of harvest" season and won a national competition. Her poem, "Autumnal Days," will be published in a book called Celebrating Seasons.

The young poet says, however, that autumn really isn't her favorite season. It's winter. For the snowballs... of course!

Become a Town Poet

2008-10-24T09:24:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a completely unique poetry gig, how about becomming the town poet of Stirling?

The city council for the town will spend "£1,500 on an official poet in the new year, the first since William Dunbar in the reign of James IV." ~source

The poets job? To write about the city: "verses for city events, celebrations, triumphs and tragedies" and everyday people and life.

Nominations are beginning now, and will continue until an appointment is made in 2009. The £1,500 will be split among the three-year term.

I can' think of a more charming gig if you're a poet. Can you?

Daffodils for Wordsworth

2008-10-24T09:11:00.000-07:00

It goes to show that if you become a famous enough poet, everything you used to touch, do, or say will be cherished for years to come. (Something to think about budding poets out there!)

To that end, I thought this story about the gardening done at Wordsworth's home was very sweet. Apparently volunteers and house staff have planted some 5,000 daffodil bulbs all around the house. The bulbs will bloom in spring. All the bulbs planted were also available before 1770, the year Wordsworth was born.

Help Judge the TLS Poetry Competition

2008-10-24T09:04:00.000-07:00

In case you've ever entered a poetry contest, didn't win, and then been EVEN MORE disappointed when you found out who did, now's your chance to let your voice be heard.

Judges for the TLS Poetry Competition have chosen a short list of twelve poems down from 3,000. They're asking people which poems they like best and which they like second best. You can only vote once.

Author of the most popular poem will get £2,000.

Not bad. Not bad at all. Click over and view your choices today. (And come back here and let me know which one you picked. :)

Poetry Out Loud

2008-10-22T19:50:00.000-07:00

Can you recite poetry? If you can, the Oklahoma Humanities Council is looking for you. They've announced their 2009 Poetry Out Loud competition, a national recitation contest open to all high school students statewide. ~more

Dave Boling's Novel

2008-10-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

What's weirder than sports guy Dave Boling writing a novel? Seahawks Coach Mike Holmgren reviewing it. Check out the details here.

Tim McGraw's Children Book in Stores Now

2008-10-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

Tim McGraw is trying to capitalize on his song, "My Little Girl" by making it into a children's book. How do we feel about celebs doing this?

Ted Hughes Poetry Awards

2008-10-22T19:26:00.000-07:00

This is what I like to see, young poets getting some recognition for their work.

Two brothers, ages six and seven, are the winner of the Ted Hughes poetry awards in Britian. ~more

Promote Daughter's Book... Pay Large Fine

2008-10-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

Aw... the guy was just promoting his daughter's book. Do you agree with this fine?

Lemn Sissay Coming to Mytholmroyd

2008-10-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

The world's most unusual street poet is coming to Mytholmroyd to read his work and run a poetry workshop. Lemn Sissay has written and read his poems in all sorts of weird places ~more

Evelyn Klein to Teach Poetry Class

2008-10-20T12:36:00.000-07:00

Woodbury poet and author Evelyn Klein will be leading a class titled “Discovering the Heart of the Poem” through The Loft Literary Center.
Klein won the 2006 Midwest Book Awards, lives on Markgrafs Lake Draw in Woodbury, and encourages beginner and intermediate poets to sign up for her class. Find out more here.

Writer's Digest Poetry Awards

2008-10-20T12:31:00.002-07:00

The Writer's Digest Poetry Awards are a great way to get exposure for your work. The contest is going on now until December 19th.

R. T. Smith Wins Library of Virginia Poetry Book of the Year

2008-10-20T12:19:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to R. T. Smith, winner of the 2008 Library of Virginia Poetry Book of the Year prize. Smith won for his book Outlaw Style: Poems, (University of Arkansas Press), which he calls "my riskiest and most eccentric book yet." ~source

Poets and Publishing

2008-10-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

Great article about Kate Greenstreeet in the L.A. Times. After she published her first book, she started to wonder what becoming published might mean and how it would change her.

Then she decided to ask other poets (more than 100) the same thing. Some of the responses are in the article and some on her blog.

I think this is really interesting, because poets especially really open themselves up when they write. So getting published is a huge deal. More than that, having someone think about their own experience from your poetry is a something you never seem to expect. When you first write, it's with the intention to examine the feelings of a particular event in your life. Or to celebrate. It's personal and it's all about you.

But when you publish, it becomes about the work and how people relate to it. And poetry is one area that is VERY personal and subjective. Publishing does change you. For the better? For me, yes. Hopefully most poets agree. It also makes you want to do better next time. It's the best kind of acceptance.

Haiku Poetry Contest at Fan Story

2008-10-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

Can you write some haiku poetry by tomorrow?

If you so, you might be able to win a $100 pre-paid visa gift card. Think that would be helpful around the holidays? Oh yeah....

Click here for more.

Cowboy Poetry Gathering

2008-10-17T15:10:00.000-07:00

Heber City will celebrate its 14th annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering Nov. 4-9.

People such as "Michael Martin Murphey, Ian Tyson, Red Steagall, Tom Russell, Wylie & The Wild West, the Bar J Wranglers and renowned cowboy poet Waddie Mitchell" will be in attendance. ~more

Less Poetry in Some English Schools

2008-10-17T15:05:00.000-07:00

Poetry has really become the Rodney Dangerfield of the literary world. Just caught this article that said some schools in England are taking poetry out of the lesson plan. ~more

George Wallace Honored at Dinner

2008-10-16T17:53:00.000-07:00

It's nice to see poets getting some recognition, isn't it?

According to the Times Beacon Record Online, Suffolk County's first poet laureate, George Wallace, "will be at a dinner hosted by the North Sea Poetry Scene on Saturday, Oct. 25."

The paper goes on to say that "Wallace, the author of 14 poetry chapbooks, has been translated into nearly a dozen languages. While he reads regularly in Manhattan and Long Island, Wallace has also enthralled audiences across Europe with the drama of his words."