I took a bit of an unintended break there the past couple months. Between my recent creative pursuits and some unexpected personal stresses, I just didn’t find I had much to say on the blog. But the stresses I was experiencing with the day job are coming to an end as I transfer to another group within the Firm. And my mom, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma back in April, is finishing up a successful round of chemo.
So I’m back! And here’s a peek at what I’ve been up to:
- * I delivered the Phi Beta Kappa speech at Muhlenberg College back in May, and it was a wonderful homecoming. I was able to speak with some undergrads that afternoon about life after graduation, MFA programs, career opportunities for aspiring writers, and how to support yourself while pursuing your passion. I’ve posted a copy of the speech in the essays section of my site if you want to take a look.
- * I also participated in the Theopoetics Symposium in May, sponsored by the Society for the Arts, Religion and Contemporary Culture. I read a couple poems from Pear Slip and was interested in the connection made between Theo- and Mytho-poetics during the course of the evening. You can read more about theopoetics here.
- * I took a class on “Poetry [&] Comics” with Paolo Javier at Poets House which returned me to my drawing roots. I adapted a few poems, including a couple of my own, to comic strip format and have some ideas for more poem comics that I’ve sketched out in my notebook. The big news is: I’m looking for an illustrator to collaborate with on my book-length comic book poem, so if you know of anyone willing to enter into such a project with me, send me a message and I’ll share the details.
- * I also just finished a class on “Poets and Painters” with Mark Tursi at MoMA. I drafted a new ekphrastic poem, which turned into an experimental sestina, in response to Kandinsky’s Panel for Edwin R. Campbell No. 1. I have some other prompts I hope to play around with to make my own, and have the take-away of another take on ekphrasis, and a deeper understanding of the whole poem-painting connection that obsesses me so.
- * I’m working on new poems, most of them for a project tentatively called “The Book of M” and it includes more forays into the life of Marilyn Monroe: a villanelle in the voice of Marlene Dietrich reflecting on M, and a poem in the voice of Mae West also reflecting on M. There are some prose-poems documenting my dreams about M. I have a few more drafts in M’s voice and some other ideas sketched out, so we’ll see where this writing jag takes me. I’m looking forward to working more on the project later this month when Michael and I take a much needed vacation in Montreal. Riding the train up and everything!
That’s all for now. There are many exciting things coming down the road, including more collaborations with John Glover, one of which is debuting this October. And a new look for this site! Stay tuned…I promise to be more frequent with the posts!