Line tamer.
David Yezzi read this poem last night at the PSA’s Tribute to Carcanet Press event. The poem is by Sophie Hannah. It’s a bit of an anthem: If People Disapprove Of You. Make being disapproved of your hobby. Make being disapproved of your aim. Devise new ways of scoring points In the Being Disapproved Of Read More …
Another “morning after” post, this time to sum up the Pushcart Prize reading at the Baruch Performing Arts Center to celebrate Bill Henderson, founder and publisher of the Pushcart Press, and the new book The Best Poems from 30 Years of the Pushcart Prize. The line-up, reading in alphabetical order: Lucille Clifton, Billy Collins, Maxine Kumin, Read More …
Back from Atlanta, where I went partly because the annual AWP Conference was being held there this year, but mainly to run away someplace warmer for a long weekend. I had a wonderful travel companion, Troy, who lived in Atlanta for many years and was able to give me the insider’s tour of hot spots Read More …
Just a note to say I have two poems (“Square Dance” and “Euclid on the Erotic Postulate”) and a poetics essay (“On the Transformative Power of Hybrid Forms”) in Issue 7 of Memorious.
Returned to the Great Hall at Cooper Union last night for Auden’s Centennial celebration presented by the Poetry Society of America. The program presented his work in a chronological manner, starting with “Taller To-day” from 1928, hitting highlights such as “In Memory of W. B. Yeats” and “September 1, 1939” and ending with “The More Read More …
I saw Sonnet Repertory Theatre, Inc.’s excellent production of Shakespeare’sThe Tempest last night at the 45th Street Theatre. They made interesting use of video, projecting water effects superimposed over the eyes of the key players at the beginning, almost as if we were Prospero looking into the waters and divining future events to come. A Read More …
Conversations overhead in the elevator: 1. Morning. Two trenchcoated, suit and tie men bemoan the cold. They pause and the one says “I didn’t even do my hair today.” The other says “Because of your hat? You can always fix it in the bathroom.” 2. Afternoon. Two men, different from the first set, discuss their Read More …
The Great Hall at Cooper Union was filled to capacity last night for Galway Kinnell’s 80th Birthday Celebration. Nice to see such an overwhelming turnout. Highlights and the line-up: Robert Bly opened with Kinnell’s “The Bear” followed by a tennis anecdote from E. L. Doctorow and “On the Tennis Court at Night”. Mark Doty highlighted Read More …
I have two poems included in the Winter 2007 issue of the Michigan Quarterly Review: “H.D. in Prismatic Ecstasy” and “Two Ones Remain Two Ones.” Lots of good people in this issue including my friends Elizabeth Kostova, Jeremy Chamberlin, Travis Holland, Rachel Richardson and Tung-Hui Hu. Check it out HERE. The winter issue can be purchased Read More …
Narcissus Resists has been highlighted as an “Also Notable” manuscript for “prowess in composition and daring originality” in Caketrain’s 2006 Chapbook Contest. Nice to be in the top 5.