I was reluctant at first: A friend had taken the ModPo poetry course — twice — and she’s now pursuing an MFA at Columbia, living in a 4th-floor walkup while her wife remains here in San Francisco. I don’t need that kind of hassle in my life.… Read the rest
poetry
Master class on prosody.
Vox just dropped a 12-minute master class on prosody featuring some amazing rap lyrics. Rhyme, beats, metrical motives … this really covers some ground. Super cool.
… Read the restBlink, shimmer.
I made a short, clickable Tapestry story out of an old poem I wrote but had never published. I hope you like it.
… Read the restWoodrat Podcast 21: In which I talk about poetry and technology
Poet and publisher Dave Bonta spoke to me on the phone awhile back for his “Woodrat” podcast. He got me to talk about everything from how I handle submissions to tinywords, what my publishing philosophy is, why haiku is important, and what I learned from studying poetry with Louise Glück.… Read the rest
The importance of “Making”
Frank Bidart:
… Read the restWhat to make, how to make, what does making mean in our lives? What do we make, why do make, when are we making? How important is making? What is the life of a maker, what is the life of an artist, what’s left when you’re not making anything?
Tanka: Deep night
inside the tight curl
of the yucca leaf
a wood spider
untitled poem
3 floors
Tanka
one petal
from the princess tree
clings to the windshield—
I drive away
looking in the mirror
un pétale
de l’arbre impérial
s’accroche au pare-brise
je démarre
en regardant dans le rétroviseur
published in 25 Canadian Tanka Poets in French and English : Atlas Poetica, May, 2010.… Read the rest
A day in the life of a haiku editor.
The haiku and micropoetry journal I edit, tinywords, got 875 submissions in the course of 2 weeks for our upcoming summer issue. Since I expect I’ll be able to publish about 50 or 60 poems in this issue, that means the acceptance rate is going to be significantly less than 10%.… Read the rest