Drowning the Field

Poet for President

2011-10-28T13:20:00.000-07:00

Big news for verse-lovers today: Ireland's next president is a poet. Michael D. Higgins, referred to simply as Michael D on his website (and no, he's no relation to the Beastie Boys' Mike D), is a long-time civic leader and politician who just happens to author a few books of poetry, including An Arid Season and The Season of Fire. Unfortunately, I was unable to find any examples of his poems

Workshop: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

2011-10-18T12:28:00.001-07:00

It's that time of the year when leaves turn orange and the morning fog can be seen settling in the vineyard rows. That means it's time for Halloween, my favorite holiday, and the telling of scary stories.My favorites came from the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series of books, by Alvin Schwartz and illustrated by Stephen Gammell. If you're near my age, you probably grew up reading these books

On Translation, Part 2

2011-09-22T09:40:00.000-07:00

When "A Ghost Abandons the Haunted" was featured in Ted Kooser's American Life in Poetry project, I had no idea how far-reaching its distribution would be, or how many people would read it. When I googled the poem, I was pleasantly surprised at how many small newspapers include Kooser's article, and that bloggers were getting in on the action as well.When I saw the poem up at Larabee and Liza,

On Translation

2011-09-15T09:59:00.000-07:00

I haven't been here in a while, I know. But when I signed in today, I had a lovely comment from a Spanish poet waiting for me. Jesus Jimenez Dominguez has translated my poem "A Ghost Abandons the Haunted" into Spanish. Beautiful, no?I was reminded of a class I took on translation the final year in my MFA program. Throughout, we discussed the balance between literal translation and the

On Justice and Other Things

2011-08-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

If you know my work, it's probable that you also know dancing girl press. This small press out of Chicago focuses on printing the work of contemporary women poets. It is also the press which released my chapbook, A Classic Game of Murder. And, a while ago, the publisher, Kristy Bowen, invited me and a few other writers to participate in the creation of a poetic Tarot deck. Each card was given to

LocalArts: Digging Davis, CA

2011-08-01T10:10:00.000-07:00

Smack dab in the middle of fields and farms, Davis, California is a little intellectual and artistic haven. Here, bikes rule the street and composting is commonplace. Here, you may just be able to shove your hand into a living cow's stomach or smell a corpse flower named Ted. In Davis, agriculture mixes with environmentalism, conservatism with conservation, and engineering with poetry. It is a

Wide Open Spaces

2011-07-15T14:30:00.001-07:00

It seems like most of my recent posts here have been about spaces, whether it has been my new home or the rural area I live in. So when I saw this recent article on writing spaces in the Chicago Tribune, courtesy of Hayden's Ferry Review, I was interested in what, if any, new revelations regarding space were to be had.But, I must admit, I was a tad disappointed. Based on this (very limited) list

Weekend on the Farm

2011-07-01T14:45:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I've had a weekend on the farm. My new old home in town tends to keep me away. But I'm finally heading to Walnut Grove this weekend to reconnect with all things rural and celebrate in true country style.Kicking off my celebration, I'm indulging in a little late-afternoon reading of a new favorite blog, The Art of the Rural, who is publishing a Rural Poetry series. The

I'm Saying Yes to Knotty Pine!

2011-06-17T08:54:00.000-07:00

I've been wondering for a while what to post (or whether to post anything) about our new home. I didn't want this to become a house-centric blog, but I did want to somehow celebrate the fabulousness of our little bungalow. True, we no longer live on the farm, but we still live in an agricultural area--our new hometown is surrounded by orchards and grape fields, and some mornings I still find

Common People

2011-05-18T09:18:00.000-07:00

So, Obama had a Poetry Night at the White House. Cool. And he invited a rapper. Hm, ok...appealing to the young folks, I get it. Since then, we have all heard (over and over) about what a terrible travesty it was to have Common in the White House. What's shocking is not that hate-mongering folks decided to make this an issue, or that they are blissfully unaware of how offensive their taking

Big Giveaway, Big Wins

2011-05-03T09:44:00.000-07:00

So, I had this great idea about how to choose the winners of my Big Poetry Giveaway...imagine numbered dog biscuits strewn across the floor, winners chosen by which one George eats first. Amazing, right? I was going to take pictures and document the whole, crazy process. It was going to be so cool.Alas, that didn't happen. I woke up yesterday, went to work like usual, signed in at my desktop and

A Couple of Commemorations

2011-04-28T13:50:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday to Harper Lee"I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do."& Bon Voyage to Michael Scott“

Flatman-Sad

2011-04-11T15:48:00.000-07:00

When I met Flatmancrooked editor Steve Owen at the St. Patrick's Day reading, I learned that he would be leaving the organization. Now it looks like he's not the only one. As of last week, Flatmancrooked has announced that they will be shutting up shop--permanently--on May 1st.What does this mean for Flatman fans...and those of you who have been putting off ordering a copy of their Slim Volume of

Through the Desert on a Horse with No Name

2011-04-05T15:34:00.000-07:00

That's where I'm headed this weekend...although probably not on an anonymous steed. But I will be visiting my home state, Arizona, to participate as an instructor in Avondale Public Library's Narrative Poetry Workshop. This great event was organized by a dear friend, who also happens to be the librarian. And it includes another dear friend (who I've written about before), Cynthia Hogue, as well

The Big Poetry Giveaway 2011

2011-03-29T13:07:00.001-07:00

I completely missed the boat on this last year...I guess I was too busy during 2010's National Poetry Month reveling in rural-ness. But this year, I've got myself together and I am ready to participate in Kelli Russell Agodon's Big Poetry Giveaway 2011.Click on the picture above to learn more about this event and find other participating bloggers. If you've found me via Kelli's site, welcome! I

Post-Paddy's

2011-03-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of participating in a reading with some other poets from Flatmancrooked's Slim Volume of Contemporary Poetics: Joseph Atkins, James Benton, Joshua McKinney, and Steve Owen. Though I was the sole female voice there, the range of work was invigorating. From Atkins' sculptural language play to the quiet wit of Benton and McKinney to Owen's raucous surrealism, I felt

Movie Monday: Oscar 2011 Post-Game

2011-03-07T11:45:00.001-08:00

Yikes...I'm almost scared to tally up how my predictions did this year. If I hadn't just got back from Las Vegas--where I lost a whopping $5 on the Magic Unicorn penny slots--I might not even have the energy to do so. But, since I'm on a losing streak, I might as well...Picture -- YESDirector -- NOActress -- YESActor -- YESSupporting Actress -- NOSupporting Actor -- YESAnimated Film -- YESFilm

I Want to Be a Betazoid

2011-03-01T11:20:00.000-08:00

I used to watch Star Trek: The Next Generation with my dad. It was on late...9pm (gasp!), and sometimes it was a struggle to keep awake. But it was worth it. Complex plots, thought-provoking issues of humanity and morality, Patrick Stewart's accent. All these were reasons to stay tuned.My favorite character by far was the half-Betazoid, half-human hybrid Deanna Troi. She was one of my early

Workshop: Redclay Dreamboat Lieutenant Disher

2011-02-17T11:35:00.000-08:00

This workshop is in honor of the Westminster Dog Show, which recently crowned yet another best in show. It celebrates the strange, sometimes hilarious tradition of show dog names. The rules for naming your show dog are simple:Include the name of the kennelIf significant, include an ancestor's nameMake sure the proper name is unique (no duplicates allowed)Decide on the call name, or everyday name

Rainbow, rainbow, rainbow!

2011-02-08T11:07:00.000-08:00

Globe-trotters and rural folks alike, rejoice! In celebration of Elizabeth Bishop's centennial, three new books are to be released which will include previously unpublished work along with well-known favorites. If poets could be saints, Bishop would be the patron saint of travelers...and whether you are interested in exotic lands or small towns (or even if you're a traveler of the animal kingdom)

Movie Monday: Oscar Picks 2011

2011-01-31T13:52:00.000-08:00

I have been gone too long, readers, but the Oscars have brought me back. So, without further delay, here are my uninformed, purely instinctive picks for the big night:Best PictureI don't dig having so many to pick from. There are really only a handful who have a true shot at the award, so isn't it just unfair to those at the back of the line? Of these ten, I wish the conceptual 127 Hours or the

Christmas in the Delta

2010-12-24T08:41:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

My Impossible Christmas Wish List

2010-12-22T09:39:00.000-08:00

1. Alice in Wonderland, 1st Edition2. Winona Ryder's house3. A Blind Melon concert4. A Greek Island5. A ticket to the Academy Awards

Pamela the Poet

2010-12-20T06:44:00.000-08:00

She's known as the queen of Baywatch and star of Borat's fantasy, but did you know that Pamela Anderson is a poet? Neither did I. But Playboy thinks so...here's an excerpt from her debut piece published in the most recent issue, entitled "Musings from the bed of Pamela."The youth ... The wild that rose up from the ashes. The adults ... Living and dead that fought for our rights ... Artists ...

For Crissake...

2010-12-17T06:44:00.000-08:00

A group of scientists has taken every single word out of every book from the 18th Century to the present, and compiled them in a database dubbed Culturomics. They claim that words are like genomes for our culture...hence the name. But is this true? I'd argue that only emotionally charged words and phrases (war, marriage, racial slurs, religious terms, etc.) can be thought of as such. The and's

Workshop: Party On, Wayne

2010-12-15T06:34:00.000-08:00

This is the season of parties--cocktails, dinner, gift-swapping, tree-trimming--yet, I've noticed there are very few poems about soirees and get-togethers. Which is strange. The elements are all there: decorations and outfits that can be either festive or garish, depending on your mood; rich, indulgent food and drink; and fascinating personalities you wouldn't normally come into contact with on

Movie Monday: Who Would Play...

2010-12-12T08:52:00.000-08:00

Unlike most classic Christmas movies, It's a Wonderful Life has never suffered a remake (although it has been adapted to other media). And it's no wonder...it is considered one of those perfect films: perfect stars, perfect story, etc. But, if it were to be remade, who would dare to trod where Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore came before? Here are some possibilities:George Bailey -

It's Friday, I'm in Love

2010-12-10T06:45:00.000-08:00

With:Blossom & BillLarabee & LizaMumford & SonsCrimson & Clover& the Ampersand

Rhymes for Reagan

2010-12-08T06:34:00.000-08:00

Because there just aren't enough poems about our 40th president...Illinois students can enter their best verse in the Poems for the President contest, in honor of Reagan's 100th birthday. I predict many an ode to the Jelly Belly...

On Spiders

2010-12-06T06:52:00.000-08:00

This year, as it got colder and darker, we discovered our heater wasn't working. It was busy--the Thanksgiving holiday, Christmas shopping, repairs to our new home--so we compensated with space heaters. One in the bedroom. One in the office. One in the bathroom. One by the couch. A few nights, when the temp dipped below freezing, we put them all in the bedroom and shut the door to the hallway to

Weekend on the Farm

2010-12-03T07:29:00.000-08:00

frost in the orchard

Do Good This December

2010-12-01T10:49:00.000-08:00

Yes, the holiday shopping frenzy is well underway. Have you checked off your gift list yet? If not, consider buying from Better World Books for your literary friends and relatives. You can find all the newest publications here as well as some great deals on used books. There are even movies, CD's, and package deals (3 books for $10? Right on!). Oh, and did I mention the free shipping? No $25

Movie Monday: Bells Will Be Ringin' Part 2

2010-11-29T06:42:00.000-08:00

As Thanksgiving draws to a close, do you find yourself dreading the weeks of dark chill before Christmas? Want to keep the fun alive? Then you might want to consider popping a movie or two into the ol' VHS (or, you know, stream it on Netflix). Here are a few more worthy holiday movies to choose from:Why it's good: Really, the only Thanksgiving movie out there. And who can go wrong with two kings

Workshop: Oh, Ode-ee oh!

2010-11-24T06:39:00.000-08:00

Since this is the time of year to reflect on what we're thankful for, I thought, what better time than now to write some odes? The ode is a form as ancient as the Greek myths, used to exalt an extraordinary person or event. It was originally put to music and had a regular rhyme scheme:ABABCDECDEKeats wrote the most famous set of odes, which together are known as the Five Great Odes of 1819 and

I'm Thankful for...

2010-11-22T12:55:00.001-08:00

home ownership! Here's a sneak peek outside:And inside:More details to follow...

Regional Pride

2010-11-19T07:05:00.000-08:00

Northern Californians, both natives and transplants, take note: a fabulous new publication is now available to celebrate the place we call home. California Northern: A New Regionalism is a beautiful magazine full of long-form journalism, memoir, and creative writing with a focus on our region's particular concerns and culture. The first volume includes a history of the eucalyptus, an examination

On Princesses

2010-11-17T06:15:00.000-08:00

I learned some lessons about princesses recently. For instance, they're easy to fall in love with. We saw our princess (scientific name: Tibuchina urvilleana) on a day trip to Half Moon Bay. She was fascinating and exotic and absolutely beautiful. We had to have her. The gentleman that sold her to us assured us that she needed moderate watering and loved full sun. Perfect, we thought, for our

Movie Monday: Bells Will Be Ringin'

2010-11-15T06:18:00.000-08:00

Can you believe that there are people out there who have never seen A Christmas Story? I met one recently. She mistakenly thought we were discussing a movie version of the Nativity. That is, until mention of the leg lamp was made.Perhaps it was this conversation--or maybe it's just because it's chilly out and I'm already bundling up in sweaters and slipper socks--but I feel like the holidays have

Weekend on the Farm

2010-11-05T06:25:00.000-07:00

Mt. Diablo and the Delta

Go Giants!

2010-11-03T07:16:00.000-07:00

Movie Monday: I've Been Watching...

2010-11-01T16:43:00.000-07:00

viewing partner: solostars: **1/2notes: A strange mash-up of fifties noir and seventies kitsch. Not Altman's best.viewing partner: Isaacstars: ****notes: Ingredients for a great comedy: Kristen Bell and Aldous Snow--check. Kenneth from 30 Rock--check. Full frontal male nudity--check. A musical about Dracula--check. That's all, folks.viewing partner: Isaacstars: **notes: This could have been so

Four-legged Friday

2010-10-22T06:42:00.000-07:00

Anyone who talks to me for five minutes knows how much I love my dog. I also love poems about dogs, and therefore it stands to reason that I love the current poem up at Ted Kooser's American Life in Poetry. Mark Smith-Soto must have a dog obsessed with coyotes, like mine. Or maybe all dogs just love to bark at things in the night.The Coyote-WhispererThere will be no new posts next week as I will

Workshop: Under 30

2010-10-20T06:43:00.000-07:00

I'm getting ready to coast into a new decade soon, and I'm pretty excited. I'm also pretty excited about these microfictions under 50 words up at We Who Are About To Die. I like microfiction because it seems like something a poet like me with little patience to get beyond the first page can write. So, keeping this post short, the workshop is simple: write a microfiction under 30 words. Go!

On Tomatoes

2010-10-18T06:41:00.000-07:00

We currently have three paper grocery bags full of tomatoes on our counter. They are heavy...about 10 pounds each. They are beautiful and delicious and I have no idea what I'm going to do with thirty pounds of them.My mother recently sent me the Ball Blue Book, a guide to canning and preserving absolutely anything. Wondering how to process rutabagas? Or how to make green grape marmalade? This

It's Friday, I'm in Love

2010-10-15T06:20:00.000-07:00

With:Indian summersHeath CeramicsJukebox recordsRetro RenovationsSurprise fireworksSilver pelicansNew, old friendsKeith's Phoenix:

Movie Monday: Who Would Play...

2010-10-10T07:49:00.000-07:00

James Franco inspires me. Well, at least, he inspired me to write this post, a new feature of Movie Monday. It was the magazine cover in drag that did it. I instantly thought of Tim Curry. And if they ever (they shouldn't, but they might, those kooky Hollywood types obsessed with remakes) redo Rocky Horror Picture Show, here's who should play:Dr. Frank-N-Furter -- James FrancoBrad Majors --

Weekend on the Farm

2010-10-08T06:37:00.000-07:00

The image from my "Justice" card for Kristy Bowen's collaborative tarot deck, hopefully coming soon from dancing girl press.

On Peas

2010-10-06T15:16:00.000-07:00

My dear friend is having a baby, and to celebrate we threw her a party. For the favors, I bought pea seedlings...the metaphor may be obvious, but there's hardly anything subtle about pregnancy, so why not go all the way? We wrapped each little cup in cellophane, tied with a ribbon, and stuck on tags that said "cute as a bug." And they were.The night before the party, I panicked. What if the

Movie Monday: Banned Together

2010-10-04T06:38:00.000-07:00

I hope you celebrated Banned Books Week in an appropriately revolutionary way. As the week wraps up, I feel the need to keep that freedom alive, so I urge you to check out The Huffington Post's great list of (mostly) award-winning movies based on banned books. Here's some others that didn't make it on the list:Based on: the novel by Jodi PicoultBanned for: drugs, suicide, violence, sexism,

Banned Poetry #3

2010-10-01T07:24:00.000-07:00

When I was little, my favorite book was Where the Sidewalk Ends. I still have my original copy in which I have carefully marked with lime green crayon all my favorite poems. These include "Hector the Collector," "Poem on the Neck of a Running Giraffe," and, of course, "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out." Is this why I have such a problem with my own trash-management?I have

Banned Poetry #2

2010-09-29T06:48:00.000-07:00

Charles Baudelaire was, if anything, a contrarian. He began his writing career as an art critic and translator of Edgar Allen Poe's works. His full-length book of poetry, Les Fleurs du mal, was first printed in 1857. Almost immediately, six poems were called out for obscenity because their subject matter included lesbianism and vampires (Twilight fans, take note). Baudelaire oversaw a second

Banned Poetry #1

2010-09-27T08:49:00.000-07:00

For Banned Books Week, I'm spotlighting a handful of banned poets. It's actually kind of surprising that the majority of banned books are fiction or non-fiction. Poetry, it seems, gets a free ride most of the time. Is that because it is a "freer" art form? Or because it is less widely read? Or maybe read mostly by people who disagree with banning books? What do you think?Today's banned poet is

Forbidden Friday

2010-09-24T06:26:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow begins Banned Books Week, a time when we should all be aware of, and do our best to counteract threats to free speech and intellectual freedom, both past and present. We hope that these are mostly past because we like to believe that we live in better, more enlightened times. Unfortunately, this is not always true. Today, the Texas Board of Education will vote on a resolution seeking to

Workshop: Moons and Roses and Sunsets, Oh My!

2010-09-22T06:52:00.000-07:00

Last night, as we walked the dog on the levee, the almost-full moon hung above us. When we turned around to head home, we were faced with one of those spectacular Delta sunsets that seems almost unreal. The cornfield looked like it was glowing, and we felt the need to make silly "chorus of heaven" sounds. If you've never been to the Delta before and want to know what I'm talking about, check out

Movie Monday: Weird Science

2010-09-20T07:21:00.000-07:00

I mentioned our house hunt a while back. Well, it continues...and continues...and continues. Really, it's starting to freak me out. I'm having nightmares about real estate agents, and I can't seem to get the smell of cheap air freshener out of my clothes. We recently viewed a house on Corbin Lane, which I insisted on calling Corbin Dallas Lane. It seemed apt. Not only am I a science fiction fan,

Gaga for Poetry

2010-09-17T10:20:00.000-07:00

Is Lady Gaga promoting Flatmancrooked's Slim Volume of Contemporary Poetics? Hmmm...If you want to read some great new work, then get your own copy. Quick. Before Gaga gets angry.

Here's Lookin at You, Blog

2010-09-15T06:16:00.000-07:00

It's the 2nd Anniversary of Drowning the Field, and I thought I'd celebrate with a new look. To keep the party going, and to honor the muse, here's a tale of creation:Creation Story of the Corner of Barrone and Gravieroriginally published in Perpetual CareShe carves trees out of jade and ivory,branches of wet hairout of a white pillowcase--from skyscrapers she carves this heavy air,the face of a

Movie Monday: I've Been Watching...

2010-09-13T07:01:00.000-07:00

viewing partner: Isaacstars: ** 1/2notes: This movie would have been so much better and made so much more sense if all the deleted scenes had not been deleted.viewing partner: Isaac (again)stars: **notes: Clint Eastwood is a crochety old man who yells at the kids to stay off his lawn. What else is new?viewing partner: Isaac (and again)stars: * 1/2notes: Meh. How the hell did Ricky Gervais get

It's Friday, I'm in Love

2010-09-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

with...lap poolsCarlos Ruiz Zafonsun roomsLagunitas IPAorange tomatoesFonda's loftflights to SedonaPark blanketsquail eggscoming home

Slim, yet Meaty

2010-09-08T06:47:00.000-07:00

Yep, I think that's raw meat.Flatmancrooked's Slim Volume of Contemporary Poetics is now available for order. This local press publishes some highly innovative stuff, and markets its books in really, really cool ways. The anthology includes selections from Forrest Gander, Matthew Dickman, Eleni Sikelianos, and many others. I've got a poem in here too. It's about a cow. Read two selections

Empire of the Ants

2010-09-03T07:16:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I like it when ants eat wasps. But when I wake up to a deluge of ants doing their damnedest to eat my dog's 20lb. bag of food, I start to get a little ornery.This should be no surprise. Year after year, the ants have found clever ways to attack our humble farmhouse. They seem to pass down knowledge of every chink and hole (and there are many) through which they can get in. Once, I

Movie Monday: Holloweyed and High

2010-08-30T06:45:00.000-07:00

Remember how excited I got over the HOWL preview? Well, now I'm even more excited...Mary-Louise Parker admits she's a poetry geek and is super-excited about her tiny little cameo. Could this movie get any better? Oh, wait, it can...John Hamm is in it too. I love you Don...I mean, John. And to top it all off, here's the poster in all its tattered vintage paperback glory:I'm giddy.

Weekend on the Farm

2010-08-27T06:48:00.000-07:00

dog days

Five for Five

2010-08-25T07:42:00.000-07:00

Sunday is the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and the city of New Orleans continues to rebuild. Here are five ways you can help raise awareness of the city's struggle:Read: When the Water CameThis collaborative work by Cynthia Hogue and Rebecca Ross is a collection of photographs and poems inspired by hurricane evacuees. I featured some of the work in a previous post. Both Cynthia and

Five Dollar Friday

2010-08-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

This post is for you locals. Now, I'm pretty sure you're all book-loving folks. Well, then you must get on down to the Delta this Saturday when the Book Keeper (the used bookstore affiliated with the Walnut Grove Public Library) is having a monster of a sale. $5 gets you as many books as you can fit into a grocery bag. You heard right...fill 'er up, and expand your library for the price of a

Workshop: Bad to the Bone

2010-08-18T07:24:00.000-07:00

Hooray, hooray!It's Bad Poetry Day!What do you think of when you think "bad poetry?" Limericks? Greeting card verse? That stuff you wrote in middle school that was all moody and angsty about the end of the world and the inanity of existence? Whatever your definition of bad poetry, today is the day to write some. There are no rules when it comes to bad poetry (except, of course, that it can't

Operation Desert Dove

2010-08-16T06:32:00.000-07:00

The San Xavier Del Bac mission is in trouble. Those of you who have read my first book, Perpetual Care, will recognize that name as the title of one of my poems. The centuries-old building, known as the "white dove of the desert," is a victim of time and bad maintenance. Misguided restoration efforts harmed the structure more than they helped, and a foundation was formed to make sure that any

Watch Out...

2010-08-13T12:33:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday the 13th, friends! If you're in the mood for something a little bit spine-tingling tonight, check out my old post on favorite scary movies. Or pick up a copy of my criminally good chapbook, A Classic Game of Murder, now available on Etsy. However you decide to celebrate, just remember to stay away from abandoned summer camps, barns, cornfields, cemeteries...you know, the kinds of

Workshop: Poetry Code

2010-08-11T07:08:00.000-07:00

Call me obsessive, but I'm still thinking about poem codes. William Briggs, Statistician to the Stars (great title, right?), has a wonderful description of how poem codes work on his blog (though, honestly, I still don't quite get it...guess that's why I got a C- in statistics). But for this workshop, I'm thinking a little more figuratively than literally. That is, I'm thinking a poem can

Speaking of Weddings...

2010-08-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

Have you heard the big news? Chelsea Clinton and her new husband chose a poem to be read during their wedding ceremony. Entitled "The Life That I Have" by Leo Marks, the short piece was originally written in honor of his dead girlfriend. It was later used as a poem code during WWII by a French Intelligence officer named Violette Szabo, who was later captured and killed by the Nazis. I am

It's Official, Part 2

2010-08-04T06:54:00.000-07:00

Faithful readers of this blog will remember that I have lately been involved in many weddings, as both a member of the wedding party and a writer of wedding poems. I even helped one friend with planning for the event and another with research for an appropriate, non-religious ceremony reading. Well, at the request of two friends, I took this involvement to a whole new level. After becoming

It's Official...

2010-08-02T07:17:00.000-07:00

I am officially a Reverend of the Universal Life Church:Details to follow...

Save the Coast, One Subscription at a Time

2010-07-30T09:38:00.000-07:00

You love great contemporary literature, right? Of course you do, you're reading this blog. And I bet you love the environment, too. And you've probably been tearing your hair out, like I have, over the debacle that is the Gulf Coast Oil Spill. Well, Gulf Coast, University of Houston's literary magazine, has a plan. The income from all new subscriptions ($6 from every $16 subscription) will

Angelheaded Hipster

2010-07-28T07:32:00.000-07:00

Franco is so cool, he gets to play both James Dean and Allen Ginsberg:http://thenewgay.net/2010/07/howl-preview.htmlStylistically, this movie already has me in its clutches. If the trailer is to be believed, it will do what most poetry movies don't -- recreate the poem visually. I've got my fingers crossed for this one.

Movie Monday: I've Been Watching...

2010-07-26T07:31:00.000-07:00

viewing partner: Isaac, post-Vegas tripstars: ***notes: Yes, we finally saw this, just so we were in on all the "wolf-pack" references our friends were making. If you're wondering, we are a three-wolf wolf-pack.viewing partner: just myselfstars: ****notes: Guy Pearce in drag is - dare I say it? - fabulous. I want to drive with him across Australia in a big pink bus.viewing partner: a group of

A Mouthful of Bliss

2010-07-23T07:55:00.000-07:00

Pear season has officially started here in the Sacramento Delta. The river road is crowded with large trucks hauling sky-high crates to packing sheds, where the fruit will be washed, wrapped, and shipped off to those of you who get your fruit via supermarket. Me, I'm waiting for my farmer to bring home the first Comice of the season, an unbearably sweet dessert pear that, paired with Cypress

What a Crock(er)

2010-07-21T07:01:00.000-07:00

Sacramentans rejoice: the Crocker Art Museum is expanding. I drive by the museum every day on my way home from work, and I am excited by what I see. While I know that some locals have a nostalgic soft spot for the original Victorian house, I believe the open layout and lighting of museums such as the SFMOMA or the Getty are much more conducive to a positive and impactful art-viewing experience.

Doppleganger

2010-07-19T07:54:00.000-07:00

Stephen, I knew we were soul-mates. According to the website I Write Like... I write likeStephen KingI Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!Want further proof? I recently discovered the joys of mowing the lawn. Afterwards I drank a cold beer. With my dog. Then, I fought an ancient demon with with

Local Arts 3: Wild, Wild West Coast

2010-07-16T07:57:00.000-07:00

Can you see the Pacific Ocean from your state's (or province's) western border? Then this call for submissions is for you. Breadline Press, co-founded by Brian Schlosser and Richard F. Yates (the poet, not to be confused with the WWII-era author), is looking for poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction from West Coast writers, including those in Western Canada and Mexico. There are no

Local Arts 2: What's the Opposite of Ekphrasis?

2010-07-14T07:07:00.000-07:00

Whatever it is, North Lake Tahoe Arts Center would like you to participate. In a recent call to artists, the Arts Center announced it was looking for submissions of fine art media, including painting, photography, fabric art, sculpture, jewelry, functional art and craft, which incorporates or is inspired by a favorite poem. The application fee for the November exhibit is $15.

Local Arts: Gems of Wisdom

2010-07-12T08:37:00.000-07:00

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,And nodding by the fire, take down this book,And slowly read, and dream of the soft lookYour eyes had once, and of their shadows deep~W.B. YeatsBarnes & Noble is partnering with the California Assisted Living Association and AgeSong Senior Communities to host the Gems of Wisdom Poetry Contest. This contest, open to all California writers who consider

It's Friday, I'm in Love

2010-07-09T06:29:00.000-07:00

With:Merwin (yep, still celebrating his recent appointment as poet laureate)mountains (miss them, now that I'm back in the Delta)and...dogs (mine's happy the Fourth is over).So here's a poem for the weekend that combines all three:The Mountainsby W.S. MerwinThere are days when I think the future setsbeyond the mountainsthen I lay me downin fear of departuresand a heavynet drops on me when I

An Unconventional Pair

2010-07-07T08:20:00.000-07:00

William Carlos Williams wrote that "It is difficult/to get the news from poems," but the Learning Network, a blog affiliated with the New York Times, is proving him wrong. Each Thursday, the weekly poem featured by Ted Kooser's American Life in Poetry Project is paired with a recent news item. In much the same way that a rare steak is complemented by a great Cabernet Sauvignon, a complimentary

Weekend on the Farm

2010-07-02T11:44:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence, friends!

Newsflash for NPR Listeners...

2010-07-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite writers, W.S. Merwin has been named the 2010 Poet Laureate of the United States -- hooray! You can read some of his work here and congratulate him here. Or, you can listen to Fresh Air on NPR today at 10am, when Terry Gross will interview both Merwin and Stephen King, another favorite of mine. I haven't been this excited for a radio show since Pearl Jam was live on air in

Workshop: Hot Hot Heat

2010-06-30T15:07:00.000-07:00

I'm not talking about the peppy indie band from Canada, folks. I just got back from the high desert winds and 100+ degree days of Vegas, expecting cool delta breezes, but guess what -- it's hot. I'm supposed to be mowing the lawn right now. I should probably be staking my Early Girl tomatoes before they go wild. And I definitely need to clean out my car. But all that is put on hold --

The Wonderful World of Wimblewords

2010-06-28T08:34:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder why people think poetry is silly? This is why.

Real, Real Gone

2010-06-17T06:33:00.000-07:00

I know, I've been a bad blogger. It's been a long, busy, overworked stretch for me, but I can finally see the light...wait...is that Vegas?That's right, friends, I'm off to Sin City for a little well-deserved rest and relaxation with my man. While I'm gone...and since I've gotten many a complaint about poor Mr. Whitman's bearded mug still at the top of my blog...here's a link to the newest

Weekend on the Farm

2010-04-30T14:24:00.000-07:00

I had no time to put together a profile of my last rural poet, but he really needs no introduction. He is, of course, Walt Whitman, the first poet I read who found a way through words to encompass the vast skies and canyons of my childhood home. Enjoy this final rural poem, straight from the barbaric yawper himself:The Prairie-Grass DividingThe prairie-grass dividing, its special odor

Weekend on the Farm

2010-04-23T06:55:00.001-07:00

Because I haven't yet posted a poem about a river:Climbing the Chagrin Riverby Mary OliverWe enterthe green river,heron harbor,mud-basin linedwith snagheaps, where turtlessun themselves--we pushthrough the fallingsilky weightstriped warm and coldbounding downthrough the black flanksof wet rocks--we wadeunder hemlockand white pine--climbstone steps intothe timeless castlesof emerald eddies,swirls,

Rural Poet #3: Mary Oliver

2010-04-20T15:31:00.000-07:00

No list of rural poetry would be complete without a mention of Mary Oliver. Born in Ohio, Oliver made her way to the rich green world of New England, and her work is brimming with both the wild plains of the midwest and the verdant hollows of the forest.May, and among the miles of leafing,blossoms storm out of the darkness --windflowers and moccasin flowers. The beesdive into them, and I too,

Weekend on the Farm

2010-04-16T08:23:00.000-07:00

This poem by David Lee, my rural poet of the week, struck a chord with me. We are considering leaving the farm (gasp!) and moving into town...though it's hard to think about leaving when the weather is so spectacular. So, as we consider the pros and cons, you can enjoy this wonderful poem. And who knows? Maybe it'll make our decision easier.The FarmWe sold it. To a manwho would be a

Rural Poet #2: David Lee

2010-04-14T06:45:00.000-07:00

David Lee's locus is the southwest, a completely different kind of country and one I know well. Growing up in rural Utah and working for pig farmers, it was inevitable that Lee's first, and most well-known book was named The Porcine Legacy.For I will consider my black sow Blackula.For she is the servant of the god of the feed bucket and serveth him.For she worships the god in him and the secret

Weekend on the Farm

2010-04-09T11:12:00.000-07:00

Since I am celebrating rural poets this NPM, I thought it would be nice to feature a complete poem as well. And, of course, I love poems about dogs. So, here's a little piece of the farm for the weekend, by Jane Kenyon:The ClearingThe dog and I push through the ringof dripping junipersto enter the open space high on the hillwhere I let him off the leash.He vaults, snuffling, between tufts of

Rural Poet #1: Jane Kenyon

2010-04-04T10:38:00.000-07:00

Jane Kenyon was born in Ann Arbor and attended the University of Michigan. After earning both a B.A. and an M.A., Jane married Donald Hall, and the pair moved to Eagle Pond Farm in New Hampshire.A fly wounds the water but the woundsoon heals. Swallows tilt and twitteroverhead, dropping now and then towardthe outward-radiating evidence of food. from The Pond at DuskKenyon's poems about this

Going National

2010-04-02T13:19:00.000-07:00

How perfect that National Poetry Month kicks off spring every year. As our wisteria goes bonkers and our chestnut tree is about to burst into Eighties-style neon splats of flowers, I find myself in a very country state of mind. So, I've decided to celebrate by showcasing the rural poets I know and love. Look for the first profile on Monday. Happy reading, happy spring, and happy NPM!

Goodbye, Ai

2010-03-29T15:45:00.000-07:00

The poet Ai died last week. She was fierce in every sense and, I always thought, audacious to choose her name, as if she were saying, "I, poet." Of course, I was unaware that "ai" means love. And it was a strange love she wrote, too, for the violent, the destitute, and the debased. You could hear her scream or grit her teeth through a line. Electifying, intoxicating stuff. Why don't we read

Where Y'at, MOMA?

2010-03-26T06:58:00.000-07:00

Apparently, MOMA has acquired the @ symbol. Um, ok. So, what does this mean, exactly? That they can display a giant, screen-printed @ on their walls? Yes. That they can expound upon the design genius of said symbol? Most definitely. That they are well on their way to acquiring parentheses? Maybe. That they must now employ a typesetting expert to track down @ forgeries? Probably not.I'm

Movie Monday: Crossover, the Sequel

2010-03-22T11:08:00.000-07:00

Remember this post about Slope's themed issue on Movies and Poetry? Well, Puerto del Sol, the wonderful lit mag produced by New Mexico State University, is now accepting poetry and fiction on the theme of Pop Culture and Film. But hurry and submit now; the deadline to send work in for this special issue is the end of March...only eight days away!A bit of a side note about Puerto del Sol: I have

Grammar in the Wild

2010-03-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

I've been advocating for "funner" and "funnest" to be grammatically proper for years. Finally, someone else agrees: