R.I.P Robert Creeley

One of America's greatest and most important poets has died. Robert Creeley was the author of more than 60 books, primarily poetry, but also several excellent works in prose. His direct influence on my poetry and my thinking about poetry is too great to be detailed in this small space. Please visit the Academy of American Poets press release.

As my own personal tribute, I offer the following poem:

For Ann

(with thanks to Robert Creeley)

Anger is
a door opens
of itself
speech is
(as Creeley said)
a mouth open
but
inhaling or exhaling?
in any case
a form
of respiration
words take
legs walk
on their own
feet let us
stumble forward
together.
August 1996

Work in Progress (II)

Many thanks to two close friends who commented very helpfully and in detail on my most recent work. Here is version two (actually more like five or six, but no need to post the intervening drafts):

Full Moon at Dusk

Just above the eastern
horizon a pale orange
moon looms huge
cinctured by thin cloud
it rises higher
and pales perfectly
round and clear
a snow moon.

February 23/March 23, 2005

Be sure to visit NPR's All Songs Considered and listen to Wilco's recent 9:30 Club performance while it's still available.

Work in Progress (?)

Well, it's been a long time since I've had any time to post, so I'd better put something up just to keep the thing alive.

Here's a poem I've been carrying around for awhile. I'm not entirely satisfied with it, but I can't think of any further work to do at the moment, so I thought I'd put it here and see if anyone has anything to say about it. If I either decide it's ok as is or do any further revision, I'll let y'all know.

Full Moon at Dusk

A huge pale orange
moon hangs low
in the eastern sky
slashed exactly
across the middle
by clouds. It
disappears as the
train moves on then
reappears higher
and whiter, perfectly
round and clear,
a snow moon.

February 23, 2005

Comments welcome as always.

A Special Day

"Independence is declared; it must be maintained." --Sam Houston

Today is Texas Independence Day. Go and listen to some Bob Wills, or Willie Nelson, or Ernest Tubb, or Lightnin' Hopkins, or some other great Texas musician and ponder the many contributions my native state has made to American music.

Fresh Link

Pay a visit to Blueskies. Countrygrrl the proprietress was kind enough to leave a comment about a recent post. And tell her Enchilada sent ya!