Enchilada's Salon

Warmth Through Cold

2012-01-26T11:27:00.001-05:00

Just received word of yet another online publication. Words Dance was originally intended to be a new print poetry journal, but various logistical concerns dictated that it go on the Web instead. In any case, the lovely and charming (and very productive!) Amanda Oaks has done a splendid job presenting a new poem daily with beautiful associated images. Read my "Cold Water Morning," then browse the site for other fine poems.

You can see what else Amanda is up to at Kind Over Matter.

A Fine Madness, Bourgeoning

2012-01-25T15:12:00.000-05:00

My latest two pubs are now available, one for sale and another just a click away.

It's extremely gratifying to have a poem in a print journal after many have recently appeared online. Mad Rush Issue One has just been published; it contains my poem "A Picture of Flowers. The magazine has an wide variety of poems and short fictions and is very nicely designed and produced. Click the link to order a copy.

I am also please to report that the title poem of Drinking Weather has been posted on Bourgeon, an online journal covering DC arts.

As always, thanks to my many readers who provide the support and encouragement to help me keep going!

Unburdened

2012-01-13T15:34:00.001-05:00

My poem "Burden: 2 am" has been published in the January 2012 issue of Foundling Review, now online. I am especially pleased about this publication because it is a poem I have especially wanted to see published in a journal. It first appeared in my chapbook, Signs of Small Grace, and I am delighted it has now found a wider audience.

In other poetry news, my Iota reading went splendidly and I am happy to announce another one upcoming on Thursday March 15 in Takoma Park, part of the Third Thursday series there. I'll post full details when the time draws closer.

Upcoming Reading

2012-01-05T15:29:00.001-05:00

As many of you already know, I will be reading from my two books and some newer work this coming Sunday, January 8, at 6:00 pm, at Iota Club & Cafe in Arlington, VA, on a bill with the very fine DC poet Anne Harding Woodworth, with open mike to follow. I hope those of you in or reasonably near the DC area will join us.

UPDATE: This is my 250th post!

Bigger Still

2011-12-20T16:35:00.001-05:00

Apparently the readership for Bigger Than They Appear is bigger than it might have appeared. The first print run is almost sold out and a second printing is starting up. So this is a good time to remind you to order this fine anthology from Accents Publishing. I would recommend this even if I didn't have a poem in it. Especially for those who like their poems short, terse, and intense.

Famous

2011-11-08T16:38:00.000-05:00

By the kind invitation of Ilse Munro, I have become a contributor to the online version of the very fine journal, Little Patuxent Review, published in Columbia, MD. My first contribution is a review of an excellent collection of poems by Maryland poet Bruce Sager, entitled Famous.

Ilse and LPR have been very supportive and welcoming of my work in both poetry and prose. My poem, "A Decent Happiness," you may recall, was featured in the Winter 2010 issue. I encourage you to follow their blog and acquire copies of some of their issues.

Getting Bigger

2011-11-03T16:53:00.001-04:00

I am very pleased to inform you that a new and very fine anthology from Accents Publishing that includes a poem of mine will be published very soon. Entitled Bigger Than They Appear, the volume contains 192 poems of 50 words or less (including titles), chosen from over 1000 submissions. Naturally, I am honored to be included, but beyond my own small contribution, the book includes many fine pieces that will reward a close look. For more information and to order, visit Accents.

Miscellaneous Poetry News

2011-10-19T11:16:00.007-04:00

I am delighted to share this recent profile by Joshua Gray in the Washington Examiner's online edition. Once you're read it, please browse around for some of his other profiles of DC-area poets. Joshua is an accomplished poet himself and you should also visit his website.

I am also happy to announce that the lovely Fiona Robyn has accepted two more of my "small stones" for publication in the near future. I'll post links as they appear, but you should start following a handful of stones now.

UPDATE 10-27: New "small stone is posted. Scroll to October 25 post at a handful of stones.

God's Jukebox

2011-09-14T14:18:00.001-04:00

I've added a musical link to my list at the left. Michael Woodward, proprietor of God's Jukebox, was kind enough to respond to a recent tweet about George Jones (Happy Birthday, Possum!) with a link to his excellent blog. Pay a visit and check out the great country, gospel, blues, roots rock, and other fine music, plus a host of interesting links.

Crickets

2011-09-06T14:18:00.000-04:00

My third and final "small stone" has been posted at a handful of stones. Pay a visit and look around.

Another Stone

2011-08-22T16:49:00.000-04:00

My second "small stone has" been posted at a handful of stones. Once again, I encourage you to look around the site; there are many gems to read and contemplate.

Dusk

2011-08-18T21:09:00.000-04:00

I just returned from a wonderful vacation at Chincoteague. Just before I left I received word that my recent poem "Dusk" had been accepted by a very fine online journal called MP. It was posted while I was away so I'm a bit late getting the word out. Read it here: http://magnoliaspress.wordpress.com/

Take some time to look around the site. it contains many excellent poems and other writing and it's beautifully produced.

Unburdened

2011-08-05T14:34:00.001-04:00

This week I received the welcome news that my poem "Burden, 2 a.m.," which I have especially wanted to get published, has been accepted by a very fine online journal called Foundling Review. It will be posted within the next three months. In the meantime, I've recorded a reading that is available here: http://soundcloud.com/dctexpoet/burden-2-a-m.

A Fly at Dusk

2011-08-01T14:17:00.000-04:00

The first of three "small stones" of mine has been posted at a handful of stones. The others will follow and I'll alert blog readers as they appear. Spend some time there; each day Fiona Robyn posts short, intense bursts of observation, meditation, or just lingistic dazzle, "celebrating the extraordinary in the ordinary."

I recently recorded and posted a reading of my latest poem "Dusk." Go give it a listen and let me know what you think.

Support Your Local Music

2011-07-27T14:32:00.000-04:00

I don't generally promote music on this blog, though I do link to some excellent music blogs. But I recently received an e-mail from an up-and-coming DC-based band, gave 'em a listen, and decided to try to give them a little boost. Go to their website and check out the sample tunes, maybe look at their gig schedule and plan to catch a show. We need to support our local artists of all kinds.

http://www.reverbnation.com/atlasmusicdc

And watch this space for a new recorded poem and some publication news coming soon!

Good Friday, Published on Friday

2011-06-24T11:52:00.000-04:00

My latest publication is now open for viewing at The Montucky Review. Please take some time to look around the site; it's very nicely designed and contains much work of great interest.

Good

2011-06-03T13:48:00.000-04:00

Continuing my recording and posting of poems, here is a very recent one, offered in memory of my mother. What would have been her 82nd birthday came the day after Good Friday this year.

Good Friday.

Non-Denial

2011-05-10T14:20:00.000-04:00

Continuing to record and upload poems. My latest:

http://soundcloud.com/dctexpoet/deny

Found Again

2011-04-17T11:38:00.000-04:00

I've posted a new recording, "Poem Beginning With a Found Line." http://soundcloud.com/dctexpoet/found-line

Bourgeoning

2011-04-13T10:09:00.000-04:00

The first of two poems is up at Bourgeon, an excellent DC arts and entertainment website. Pay them a visit and check out the many other items of interest for residents of the DC area.

New Pubs

2011-04-07T11:38:00.000-04:00

Just prior to, during, and just after my Texas trip, a number of acceptances and publication notices arrived. They provided a wonderful boost as my family and I were saying farewell to my mother and spending time together in Dallas. I have sent these out piecemeal, but thought to gather the most recent to provide easier access for those interested.

Praxilla: http://www.praxilla.net/Praxilla/Poems/Entries/2011/3/20_day_and_hour.html
Be sure to browse the entire issue. My Lovely Friend Naomi also has poem therein, and there is other fine work as well.

Deep South: http://www.deepsouthmag.com/?page_id=1020
I'm especially happy about this one because it refers to my maternal grandfather.

MiPOesias: http://mipoesias.com/2011-2/gregory-luce/
A very nice presentation including a photo and reading.

My profound thanks for all the messages of love and support I received in regard to my mother's passing. I am blessed by a remarkable number of very good friends.

Joy Amid Sorrow

2011-03-31T22:16:00.001-04:00

Most regular readers of this blog probably know from other sources that my mother died recently after a battle with cancer and that I am currently in Dallas with my siblings, sister-in-law, and nephew. Despite the sadness this event has brought, I have received great joy from reuniting with family and from the many messages of love and support I have received from friends near and far.

I have also continued to be rewarded with publications. I have poems appearing in several online journals now or soon. Currently, I have a poem in Issue #3 of Praxilla, and will soon have others in MiPOesias and Bourgeon, a DC-area arts and events site. Watch this space for links.

I am very grateful to ALL my readers and friends for their continued support and inspiration.

Weather Fronts Everywhere

2011-03-10T09:49:00.000-05:00

(It's getting hard to keep thinking up weather-related plays on words.)

I have been receiving reports that Drinking Weather is arriving for those who pre-ordered. Please let me know when it appears in your mailbox. I remain profoundly grateful for all who have supported me in my work, whether through feedback, encouraging words, or orders. Please let friends, family, and any poetry lovers in your life know that the book is available here
http://www.finishinglinepress.com/NewReleases.htm
or here
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/1599247232

My first book, Signs of Small Grace remains available here
http://www.puddinghouse.com/chapbooklist.html

Weather Arrived

2011-03-08T08:58:00.001-05:00

I arrived home rather late yesterday after a reading to find in my mailbox a package receipt for a delivery from Finishing Line. I hurried down this morning and retrieved a box full of copies of Drinking Weather. The wait is over!

Please let me know as your copies arrive; or, if you still need to order, follow the link to the right or go to Amazon.

Crafty

2011-03-07T13:54:00.001-05:00

Regular visitors will no doubt recall some recent posts about the Little Patuxent Review Water issue that my Lovely Friend Naomi and I were published in. As a follow-up, I was asked to contribute some thoughts about the craft of poetry to be posted on their web site. My response has been posted here and I invite you to have a look:
http://littlepatuxentreview.org/2011/03/07/concerning-craft-gregory-luce/

You can also watch the video of my reading at the issue's launch party.

Shipping Weather

2011-03-05T21:02:00.000-05:00

Today I received the very welcome news that Drinking Weather has started shipping. Those of you who have ordered should have your copies in hand by early next week. If you would like to order you can still use the link to the right for a little while longer, or you can now find it on Amazon! (More welcome news.)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/1599247232

Contact me through the comments or by e-mail if you would like your copy personalized and signed. Thanks once again for all the support and encouragement!

Found a Voice

2011-02-28T14:15:00.009-05:00

I am experimenting with recording some of my poems with a view to sharing across various platforms in other media besides print/written words. Give a listen and let me know what you think.

Download Gregory Luce - Poem Beginning With A Found Line

Be Wet

2011-02-22T15:02:00.003-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=LX4Zp2vHTLE

Weather Delay

2011-02-15T19:35:00.000-05:00

I have just been informed by Finishing Line of a slight delay in printing Drinking Weather. However, they assure me that it is printing now and promise that it will ship by the end of the month. I thank everyone who ordered for their patience. No one is looking forward to it more than I am.

Watch this space for further information. I am planning to host a launch party for my local readers; those of you who live farther away are invited to contact me to arrange for your copies to be inscribed. My sincere gratitude to all for your interest and support!

Immersion in Poetry

2011-02-07T15:11:00.001-05:00

The annual Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) conference came to Washington last week. I am well outside of academe and so did not attend any official functions. However, there were many offsite reading and other events open to the public; in addition, "civilians" were welcome at their magnificent and overflowing bookfair on Saturday, the final day of the conference. I went to a very inspiring and enjoyable literary house party in Adams Morgan (not far from my home) on Friday night. I heard many good poems, met in person for the first time a virtual friend and fellow poet, Bernadette Geyer, and made the acquaintance of the editors of Drunken Boat, 32 Poems, and several other fine little mags.

The bookfair on Saturday was equally inspiring. I got to visit with dozens of representatives of small presses and little mags, shook hands with poets Dana Gioia and Stanley Plumly, picked up a bag full of poetry books, journals, and free goodies, and best of all got to meet the publishers of my first chapbook, Jennifer Bosveld and Chris Groce of Pudding House Publications.

After so many years of effort, with two collections published, I was deeply gratified to feel myself among my peers, not like the kid with his nose pressed against the window of the candy store.

Drinking Weather starts shipping this Friday! Use the link to the right to order, or contact me for your personalized, autographed copy.

One Month & Counting

2011-01-12T11:13:00.000-05:00

I just mailed the galleys of Drinking Weather off to Finishing Line Press, along with my choice of cover stock. Again, I want to thank everyone who ordered and helped me reach the pre-order goal of 55 copies. If you have not ordered but would like a copy of the book, you can still do so (see the link to the right), or you can contact me and I'll happily handsell you one. In either case, I will be sure to arrange to sign and personalize copies for anyone who wants.

The book starts shipping in exactly one month!

Walt Whitman as Buddhist Sage

2011-01-04T16:26:00.002-05:00

"What is called good is perfect, and what is called bad is just
   as perfect,
The vegetables and minerals are all perfect, and the imponderable
   fluids are perfect;
Slowly and surely they have pass'd on to this, and slowly and surely
   they yet pass on." (from "To Think of Time")

Blue Moon on Buffalo Creek

2011-01-03T16:13:00.001-05:00

Barely three weeks from submission to publication has to be a new record. The Winter issue of Buffalo Creek Review, containing my poem "Once in a Blue Moon," is available. Check it out; there are many good poems therein.

Happy New Year!

Blue Moon

2010-12-15T14:06:00.001-05:00

Sometimes the good things keep coming. Today, within a couple of hours of submission, I received another poem acceptance, this one from Buffalo Creek Review, which took "Once in a Blue Moon" for its Winter issue. Watch this space for further information.

The pre-ordering period for Drinking Weather is nearing the end, but there's still time to reserve a copy or two. Look to the right, click the link, and scroll down.... Happy Holidays to all!

On the Waters

2010-12-09T11:08:00.001-05:00

As my Grandfather Denham once said, "Cast your bread upon the waters, and it will come back as fish sandwiches." I just received the very gratifying news that my poem "A Decent Happiness" has been accepted for the upcoming Water Issue of Little Patuxent Review. A publication reading is scheduled for Sunday January 30 in Columbia, MD, in which I hope to participate. Watch this space for details.

Statuesque

2010-11-16T15:17:00.000-05:00

I went to Martin Luther King Library in downtown D.C. the other night to see a photo of mine in the Free Space Exhibition. The Smithsonian Museum of American Art is just across 9th Street and the luminous blue color of this sculpture caught my eye. Looked at one way, it's a rather stylized (cubist?) face; another, and it's an interesting abstract; another...?

Grace Received

2010-10-22T19:52:00.002-04:00

I knew this was printing, it has been listed on their website for a few weeks, and yet, like grace, it arrived without my expecting it today. So as I originally thought, this is my first book. (And how thrilling to know there is a second coming just behind it.) If anyone would like a copy, I have about 10 available now and will gladly take orders after those are gone. Or you can write to the press:

Pudding House Publications
81 Shadymere Lane
Columbus, OH 43213
www.puddinghouse.com

They have not set up online ordering, so best to use postal mail. It's a very reasonable $10 a copy too.

I'm still somewhat in shock, but happy shock!

Ordering Weather!

2010-10-19T13:51:00.001-04:00

A bit earlier than expected, Drinking Weather is now available for pre-order. If you possibly can, please place an order for a copy (or several: The holiday season is imminent!). I need to get at least 55 paid orders by December 16. Click here and scroll down.

This book represents the culmination of many years' efforts and I owe an unpayable debt to many people who have offered feedback on work as well as continued encouragement and moral support. My thanks to all my friends, followers, and loyal Salon readers!

Floating the Muddy River

2010-10-18T10:47:00.001-04:00

After a lengthy delay due to "technical issues," Muddy River Poetry Review #2, featuring my poem, "Bridge," has finally appeared. (When you click my name, a Word document will either open or download.) While you are there, be sure to look at the work of featured poet Afaa Michael Weaver.

Covering

2010-10-15T16:20:00.000-04:00

Today I received the mock-up of the cover of Drinking Weather. Pre-ordering starts in ten days. Excitement mounts!

Rewards of Getting Up Early

2010-09-22T10:50:00.003-04:00

I am not a morning person. However, getting up early sometimes has its rewards. I took the above photo recently at about 7:45 a.m. on 16th Street in Mt. Pleasant as I was walking down to the bus stop from my building.

An Interesting DC Guide

2010-09-08T16:07:00.000-04:00

I was recently contacted by one of the founders of askalo, a new online guide to all sorts of happenings in and around Washington. While this blog is not primarily for dispensing such information, I am always happy to help a local enterprise that is trying to enhance our lives here. So pay them a visit!

Book Updates

2010-08-20T15:20:00.002-04:00

Both my books continue to move forward toward publication. I just mailed a package to Finishing Line Press containing the contract for Drinking Weather, along with a number of other items requested. Last night I received a galley proof of Signs of Small Grace from Pudding House. So it's a race to see which book will be my first.

In the meantime, please move your eyes to the right and note the links to the presses publishing my work. Take a bit of time to examine their offerings and consider purchasing something in addition to one (or both!) of my books. They are both small presses devoted to producing and promoting high quality poetry; it's an honor to be published by both and I hope you'll join me in supporting them. Without such dedicated presses and their hard-working editors, the situation of contemporary poetry would be considerably diminished.

More Good News

2010-08-14T01:20:00.001-04:00

Freshly back from vacation in Chincoteague, I unexpectedly heard from Jennifer Bosveld, the editor at Pudding House. We sorted out the delays and it appears that Signs of Small Grace is back on track. I had a very kind note from Jen expressing her pleasure at being able to publish the book and I am delighted to have a second book in the works. It is immensely gratifying after so many years of effort to receive this recognition and I thank all of you loyal readers for the support and encouragement you've given me for so long.

Linked!

2010-08-05T09:47:00.000-04:00

I was recently asked to have the Salon linked to the directory at DCGuide. I was naturally flattered and agreed promptly. The permanent link to the Guide is at the right just under my profile. My posts are linked there under Greg. My thanks to Mike at DCGuide! Please pay it a visit.

Jukin'

2010-07-19T11:02:00.001-04:00

More happy publication news. I have two poems in the newly posted issue of Juke Jar. Be sure also to read editor Phil Rice's very engaging memoir in the same issue.

Publishing Weather

2010-07-14T15:57:00.002-04:00

I just received the exciting news that my second chapbook, titled Drinking Weather, has been accepted for publication by Finishing Line Press, a very fine small press that has a stellar list of poets and other authors, including at least one other DC poet, Cliff Bernier, whose work I admire a great deal. I will need to generate a number of pre-orders starting sometime in August, so please stay in contact for details.

This may well end up being my first book, since I have had no word from Pudding House about the release of Signs of Small Grace. I hope eventually that one will come out (feel free to contact them and inquire!), but for now, I'm thrilled about this new book.

Meet Dulcie

2010-05-04T10:50:00.001-04:00

My new cat, brought home Monday May 3.

Pause for Reflection

2010-04-16T13:35:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted in awhile. I do have a new poem, but it needs a bit more polish. I've been enjoying the spectacular D.C. Spring and the arrival of migrating birds. Other than that, I've been working hard.

And on the subject of work, a bit of news: I have decided to leave my part-time job at Borders Books & Music after nearly 12 years. I had many wonderful experiences, learned a great deal about books and the retail business, and made uncountable new friends. However, at almost 56, I'm tired of trying to juggle two jobs, fatherhood to one teenager and one young adult, a lovely romantic relationship, my poetry, and everything else that comprises my life. I am looking forward to more free time, new adventures in writing, and more time with my sons.

Happy Spring!

Into the Ordinary

2010-03-16T15:08:00.003-04:00

This poem started as one thing and turned into something else. I seem to have a deep well of childhood and youthful memories that are suddenly clamoring to be articulated and shared. This development is extremely gratifying as I have carried them inchoate for many years with a strong desire to make poems of them.

An Ordinary Evening

I've washed my hands
about six times tonight
and brushed my teeth,
not rituals, just ordinary
ablutions on an ordinary night.
Now time to read before
sleep: a little poetry,
Henry James on the novel.
When I turn the light off
the heater will hum
like the car engine,
me lying in the back seat
watching lights smear
the windows, a few stars,
barely hearing the buzz
of voices on the radio.

Wind From the Past

2010-03-11T15:13:00.001-05:00

February Wind

Yes it does howl
even here this far
from the Plains
and my windows held
though my door rattled
until I shoved
a matchbook into the frame.

I finally slept
but some wind was still
moaning inside my head
and I woke up shivering
but not cold.

And I’m still thinking
about it days later
that wind brought
something back.

I am moving around
the rim of memory
looking in and back
and the wind,
the wind without end
blows across the tops
of the tall grass
and makes waves in
this endless inland sea.

Another unexpected memory poem. One more (for now) will follow this one.

Tree of Memory

2010-03-09T11:20:00.006-05:00

I have been blessed by repeated visits from the Muse of late, bringing a new wealth of childhood memories. One result is this poem, also inspired by my immersing myself in the work of Charles Wright, in my opinion America's greatest living poet, whose wonderful recent reading at the Folger I was fortunate enough to attend, along with my lovely friend Naomi.

Mimosa

"I remember the way the mimosa tree buttered the shade
Outside the basement bedroom, soaked in its yellow bristles."—Charles Wright

I too remember mimosas
two of them in my grandparents’
yard the pink bottle-brush
blossoms helicoptering down
the almost-not-there scent
trailing and how I had to sweep
them off the driveway
or scrape them when
the rain glued them down
to the concrete
how hateful the labor
and how much would
I give to do it again
now as my grandfather
finishes mowing the lawn
after dinner and starts
the sprinklers and we go
inside for one last iced tea
cicadas burring the
evening air.

R.I.P.

2010-02-18T11:16:00.001-05:00

I had no idea when I posted my previous entry that it would turn out to be so apropos. And the other day, as we are still digging out here in DC and getting reacquainted with the sun, came the sad news of Lucille Clifton's passing.

Despite the sadness of her loss, however, one can find great warmth and uplift in reading her poems. Look here and here.

Spring is only 11 days (meteorological) or 30 days (astronomical) away!

A Noteable Birthday

2010-02-02T09:47:00.000-05:00

Today is the 128th birthday of James Joyce, creator in my opinion of the most beautiful prose in English. To wit, this passage, the lines that close "The Dead":

Yes, the newspapers were right: snow was general all over Ireland. It was falling on every part of the dark central plain, on the treeless hills, falling softly upon the Bog of Allen and, farther westward, softly falling into the dark mutinous Shannon waves. It was falling, too, upon every part of the lonely churchyard on the hill where Michael Furey lay buried. It lay thickly drifted on the crooked crosses and headstones, on the spears of the little gate, on the barren thorns. His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead.

Happy New Year, only one month late!

#200!

2009-11-13T10:21:00.000-05:00

How fitting that my 200th post should honor the first poet I read on my own as a small child (after having A Child's Garden of Verses read to me before I could read it myself.) Happy Birthday, Robert Louis Stevenson!

"This is the verse you grave for me:
'Here he lies where he longed to be;
Here is the sailor, home from the sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.'"

Famous in Shreveport!

2009-11-09T15:28:00.002-05:00

I was recently very pleased to learn that four of my poems were chosen to be displayed on an electronic message board outside the main branch of the Shreveport, Louisiana, Public Library. They will also be posted on the library's web site and e-mailed to library patrons.

I am thrilled to have my work appear in an accessible, public venue in the home state of my maternal grandfather, Ted Denham. I only wish he were still around to see this.

This post is number 199. Back soon with number 200!

Concisely Delighted

2009-09-11T10:13:00.001-04:00

Issue One of Concise Delight, with four poems by me and one by Naomi, is on sale now. Please buy one (or several—it would make a lovely Christmas or Hanukkah gift!) here:
Concise Delight at Lulu

I will be happy to sign copies for anyone in or near D.C.

Genius

2009-09-08T14:35:00.003-04:00

In addition to the delights of Shakespeare (Washington Shakespeare Theatre's free production of The Taming of the Shrew), quiet time and relaxation (alone and with friends), and the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival, I had the pleasure of receiving word of another poem accepted for publication. One of the editors and driving forces behind the Is Reads program (public poetry posting in several cities) also has an online publication. Visit Everyday Genius for a look at my poem "Finite." Then look around the site; there is other good work there.

News

2009-09-02T14:31:00.002-04:00

This is my 196th post, which means, naturally, that I am rapidly approaching 200. It also happens that the fifth anniversary of this blog is coming soon. I don't think these milestones will occur simultaneously, but I am delighted to have their arrivals imminent.

I am also delighted to report that four of my poems have been accepted for publication in the forthcoming premiere issue of Concise Delight, a magazine devoted to very short poems. I am further pleased to mention that my dear friend Naomi will also have a poem in that publication. When the issue is available for order, I'll post the link again with that information.

Declining Summer

2009-08-19T14:06:00.003-04:00

It's been awhile. I've had a very busy summer, though we did manage to make our annual trip to Chincoteague (see above).

I've also gotten quite a bit of writing done. Below is one of several poems I have finished over the course of the last couple of months. Comments welcome as always.

Torn From a Notebook

if it rained an ocean, I’d drink it dry
and lay me down dissatisfied --Townes van Zandt

... how in the middle of the night
it sits on your chest
like inert gas and seeps
through your pores
and caresses your nerve ends
until they quiver like wires.

When you get up
the coffee tastes of
metal and awakens but
imparts no energy.

Plowing your way
through a metro station
like a small boat overladen
in a crowded harbor you
are still utterly alone.

On the train you are
jostled, shaken, a dry
stick fallen away
from the bundle.

Speaking of Birthdays

2009-07-28T08:43:00.002-04:00

Today is the birthday of Gerard Manley Hopkins, one of the greatest poets to write in the English language. I don't have time for a long post, so check out Garrison Keillor's note on The Writer's Almanac.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2009-07-27T10:15:00.001-04:00

Just a quick note for those who don't know from any other source: I am 55 years old today!

Birthday Greetings!

2009-07-02T11:09:00.002-04:00

Wislawa Szymborska, July 2, 1923.

And Happy Independence Day to all!

Floating

2009-06-16T11:17:00.002-04:00

The other new poem mentioned in my previous post. It incorporates two recent "fragments" and may add more.

Cloud Suite

I.
One small cloud floats over
white smudge on otherwise
perfect sky I watch it
drift beyond sight
edges fraying.

II.
Lightning nibbles around
the edges of sky above
the buildings but farther
down the street the moon
glows faint behind
a shred of clouds.

I seem to have developed an obsession with clouds. Though perhaps not as great as these people:
The Cloud Appreciation Society.

Pattern

2009-06-11T16:35:00.003-04:00

Tile

I laid it out for you
like tiles black and white
on the bathroom floor
and you still wouldn’t see
it you kept adding
yellow or red and
it’s such a simple pattern
I can replicate
until it hits the wall.

This poem is new. I have another new one as well, but I'm especially happy with this one. I was at a very fine musical event the other night and the phrase "black and white" was used in a song in more or less the same sense as here. It got me thinking and I wrote this poem in the train on the way home.

I'll post the other new work soon.

Do Something Else

2009-06-02T09:54:00.003-04:00

"I have always believed in Jean Cocteau's dictum that the artist should find out what he can do and then do something else. The poet should always be venturing, trying out new things. One doesn't want experimentation for its own sake, the sense of the freakish doctor surrounded by retorts in the laboratory, but one does want the poet who is willing time after time to risk everything and play for the highest stakes. The poet must be constantly exploring, going out on a limb. This does not mean the continual development of wholly new styles, but rather the enlargement and expansion of one's basic style. It means putting out new shoots, growing as a tree grows up and out, feeding more and more on light and air."—William Jay Smith

My friend Bernadette Geyer posted this excerpt from Poets on Poetry (ed. Howard Nemerov) and I liked it so much I decided to pass it along. I find it inspiring as I grapple with the Hopkins-inspired poem I mentioned in the previous post.

Fragments

2009-05-20T09:17:00.010-04:00

I recently re-read G.M. Hopkins' "The Wreck of the Deutschland"—really, I was reading it for the first time since my previous encounter was in graduate school and I rushed through it as one tends to do in such cases. it struck me with great force this time. It is not intended as a narrative and doesn't tell the "story" of the disaster; indeed, the tragedy is not even mentioned until stanza 12 in Part the Second. Rather, it came across to me as 35 tight, intensely composed poems linked by their theme of struggling to perceive God's grace and mercy in the midst of pain, suffering, and sorrow. The poem beautifully displays Hopkins' powerful gifts—his highly original rhythms and brilliant images—as well as his occasional lapses into obscurity and labored diction. I strongly commend this poem to your attention. It will remind you in some places of Whitman, in others early Robert Lowell (cf. especially "The Quaker Graveyard in Nantucket), yet remains utterly original.

The lines from the first stanza have inspired me toward a possible new poem (watch this space!):

"Thou hast bound bones in me, fastened me flesh,
And after it almost unmade, what with dread,
Thy doing: and dost thou touch me afresh?
Once again I feel thy finger and find thee."

As if carrying that around in my head and trying to bring to life what it evoked isn't enough, last night another image floated into my imagination; this morning on the bus I composed the following fragment—or maybe it's a full first draft? Comments welcome as always.

One small cloud floats over
white smudge on otherwise
perfect sky I watch it
drift beyond sight edges
fraying.

Ending the Month

2009-04-30T09:11:00.004-04:00

This April has been too busy for much posting, so I have been unable to post excerpts from favorite poems as I have done in the past. However, I am happily able to close out National Poetry Month 2009 with a new poem of my own. Once again, a few minutes at One Word has produced pay dirt.

Glossy

the sky yesterday
where it edged
the roofs of buildings
and lay on the surface
of the water in the
fountain basin in the park
and how the sun poured
down and gave
a sheen to the feathers
of the grackle bathing
in the fountain and to
all of us just
and unjust alike
out under the sky

The poem evokes a lunchtime walk I took on Tuesday to Lafayette Park (last four pictures).

Happy May!

Listen

2009-04-16T10:01:00.002-04:00

The Smoking Book has posted a sound file of my reading my poem, "Mescal." They continue to receive and post some excellent work, both poems and prose, so visit often.

Until Everything Goes Dark

2009-04-07T15:15:00.004-04:00

Drinking Weather

Sky perfect dull gray
intermittent spits of rain
not cold or warm
and just enough wind
to get inside a jacket
and I have nothing to do
and all the time in the world
to do it. A good day
to go home early
turn out all the lights
open the bottle
and look through the window
at the sky until everything
goes dark.

Just about a week ago, the weather was as described in the poem and and it made me feel as described in the poem. Instead of getting drunk, I wrote the poem.

Gray

2009-04-03T10:51:00.003-04:00

It's a gray and cool early Spring day in Washington and I've been in a mood to match. This weather is excellent for poetry, however, so in honor of National Poetry Month, here's an older one of mine from an unpublished manuscript called The Sunflower Notebook. Though the season it depicts is different, the mood and color are the same:

Cold Day in June

Gray thoughts on a gray day.
Gray wind drives gray rain
into gray faces. Tires hiss
on gray pavement. And yet
on a cold day in June
the work of a year
is finished after all,
and reading Rilke,
“feeling yourself among stones
that listen,” you feel something
stir: a gray happiness.

I seem to be busier this year, so my poetry month postings may be fewer than in previous years. Don't let that stop you from going out and trying some new poetry or revisiting old favorites this month!

Post-Surgical Reflection

2009-03-24T09:59:00.004-04:00

"...That time may find its sound again, and cleanse
Whatever it is that a wound remembers
After the healing ends."—Weldon Kees from "Small Prayer"

As my recovery proceeds and I experience longer stretches of time without pain, I am reminded of this lovely short poem by Weldon Kees. It can be found in his Collected Poems and is well worth seeking out. I am indebted to Naomi for calling my attention to it.

Gratitude

2009-03-23T10:55:00.003-04:00

Most of my readers know I recently underwent some minor surgery. Both as I was preparing and afterwards, I was stunned by the enormous volume of good wishes I received viae-mail, Facebook, et al. My gratitude is boundless, as is my appreciation for the friendships and connections I have been able to forge.

I am also gratified by two recent publications that I learned of during my time off for recovery. The Smoking Book is a very interesting online publication that is in the process of of gathering poems for an anthology of smoke-themed poems, and apparently posting poems accepted as they are received. I will be adding an .mp3 of my reading of the poem soon, so check back later.

Hit and Run Magazine takes images of works-in-progress and other "raw materials" of literary creation and posts them online. A very cool site well worth checking out.

Both pubs are still actively soliciting submissions, so if you have work, drafts, sketches, coffee-stained notebook pages, etc., consider sending them in!

Happy Birthday Lightnin'!

2009-03-18T10:22:00.003-04:00

Sunday the 15th was the birthday of Lightnin' Hopkins, greatest of all Texas bluesmen. Thanks to Fitz for the reminder.

Black Pears Are Tasty

2009-02-23T14:47:00.002-05:00

I recently received my copy of Pear Noir! #1, featuring my poem, "The Last Night of Winter." It's a very nicely produced, perfect-bound journal, containing an eclectic mix of poetry and fiction. The editor was even kind enough to highlight my contribution in his introductory note!

Unfortunately, the contents are not online, but if you'd like to order a copy, you can visit their site. Not everything in the issue is to my taste, but you're sure to find some work that you enjoy, in addition to having the satisfaction of supporting a fledgling journal of high quality.

Funneling the Muse

2009-02-19T13:22:00.005-05:00

I happened to hear the word "funnel" yesterday and for some reason it stuck in my consciousness. I decided to give it to myself as a prompt a la One Word. As I was on the Metro on the way to Greenbelt to see my sons, the association with geese flying occurred to me and the rest came together on the bus.

Funnel

A flock of geese
funnels down the sky
aiming vaguely southward
though it's late winter and
an ashy scrim of clouds
spits cold drops mixed
with bits of ice
that stick in my hair
while I'm waiting
for a bus far from home
and the wind slices
at my coat.
Nevertheless my eyes
follow the V of geese
until long after they
have disappeared.

Funnel any comments to me at your convenience.

Yes, I was there!

2009-01-22T09:54:00.003-05:00

I hope to be able to share some reflections on my experience attending the Inauguration, but I'm still collecting my thoughts, not to mention trying to re-establish what passes for my normal life. In the meantime, here's an old poem I stumbled on while gathering some others for submitting to various journals. I had completely forgotten about it and had never shown it to anyone. I made some revisions and then submitted it to Naomi's keen eye. The final result:

To the Woman on the Bus

I thought I’d seen
you here before when
you sat down across
from me you caught
my eyes and smiled
before looking
away you seemed
as distant as I felt yet
when our eyes met
again you smiled
again you twice softly
blessed the sneezing woman
sitting beside me.
I got off before you
and haven’t seen you since.

One Word, Two Poems

2009-01-12T13:28:00.003-05:00

Once again I have been able to draw inspiration from One Word. I had a partial draft of "Deny" going in a notebook and most of "Finite" written in my head and miraculously on Saturday night had time and inclination to finish them. Naomi looked at them with her customary acuity and the results are below. Comments welcome as always.

Deny

Don't deny the wound:
the cigarette burn in
the white shirt
the red wine stain
on the beige carpet
the piss stains
on the marble fireplace
the razor scar
the rust colored splotches
on the bathroom sink
the crack in the alarm clock
the rent in the curtain
that lets the moonlight in.

Finite

An anthill has a floor
and a hole in the top
a beehive the same
only in reverse
yet there is an inexhaustible
supply of ants and bees.
A river begins in a glacier
or spring and ends
in the ocean but
the river never
ceases flowing.
In finite things
the infinite.

I also added a new link at the bottom of the list. I don't know how to categorize Chlorista Twist's Warped Reality, so I'll just say it's well worth a visit. She kindly commented here recently and invited me to link to her and I'm happy to comply.

Comings & Goings

2009-01-08T10:43:00.004-05:00

A new year inevitably brings changes and the blogosphere is no exception. Two of my favorite blogs, Old Blue Bus and Trout Fishing in Minnesota, are ceasing posts. Follow the links to each and say goodbye to Ed and Jim. Backbeat has disappeared without warning and I have removed that link.

I'll be looking for new blogs to replace the Bus and Trout Fishing. Suggestions welcome.

Poem for Epiphany

2009-01-06T09:09:00.004-05:00

Today is Epiphany or Three Kings Day. Even if one is not a believer, the symbolism of earthly power paying homage to a higher, spiritual power is very meaningful. T.S. Eliot, in "Journey of the Magi," used the story as a metaphor for the difficult path to new religious belief. In "The Gift," William Carlos Williams sees the Magi's tribute as worship of love, both divine and human.

The Gift

As the wise men of old brought gifts
guided by a star
to the humble birthplace

of the god of love,
the devils
as an old print shows
retreated in confusion.

...the imagination
knows all such stories
before they are told
and knows the truth of this one
past all defection.

"The Gift" appears in the book Pictures From Breughel, Williams' final collection. I highly recommend getting hold of a copy and reading this poem in its entirety, as well as the many other fine pieces in the book.

Exhausted Realist

2008-12-17T09:42:00.002-05:00

I recently acquired a copy of the new (1990) edition of Wallace Stevens' Opus Posthumous, to replace my lost copy of the earlier edition. On browsing through it I ran across the poem "Anecdote of the Abnormal," whose last stanza particularly spoke to me:

Crispin-valet, Crispin-saint!
The exhausted realist beholds
His tattered manikin arise,
Tuck in the straw,
And stalk the skies.

Happy Holidays to all!

Very Thankful!

2008-12-03T09:25:00.003-05:00

I went to visit family in Dallas for Thanksgiving and had, as usual, a wonderful time. The weather, the food, and most of all the company were first-rate. And not long after I returned home, I received word that Pudding House has accepted for publication my chapbook, Signs of Small Grace. Watch this space for details about availability, ordering, etc. Needless to say, I am thrilled and truly thankful for the fulfillment of many years of effort.

Suspension

2008-11-19T15:27:00.002-05:00

I skipped last week's prompt at One Word—couldn't work with "convertible." But this week I scored again:

Suspend

suspend judgment
critical thought
talk breath
even
just look
listen smell
breathe slower
now

Don't follow the directive of the poem: Please comment!

Startled

2008-11-11T11:18:00.001-05:00

Another poem prompted by One Word:

Startled

startled by sudden
cessation while listening
to Schoenberg
transfigured afternoon
suddenly quiet
around me
even my fingers
paused

Comments & suggestions welcome as always.

A Way of Saying It

2008-11-06T08:40:00.004-05:00

"Poetry is not a thing, but a way of saying it."—A.E. Housman

Now that the election has come to its very happy conclusion, we can return to poetry. Here are two alternate versions of the poem I posted most recently. Comments welcome; I am still deliberating.

Gentle

the flow of water
under and around
the leaves on the
surface just ruffled
by a gentle breath
of wind gentle as
a sun ray on a
winter afternoon.

Revision 11/3/08

gentle the flow of water
under and around
the leaves on
the surface
just ruffled by
a gentle breath
of wind gentle as
a sun ray on a winter
afternoon

Revision 11/5/08

Don't Forget

2008-11-03T10:57:00.001-05:00

Graphics & Myspace layouts

Prompted

2008-10-29T10:48:00.004-04:00

I haven't posted in awhile, so I thought I'd let readers know I'm still around and even—when I can—still writing. I recently stumbled upon (using StumbleUpon!) an interesting site called One Word. Each week, they present one word and you have 60 seconds to write whatever that word inspires. You can then save the result, post it, or just move on. As someone who sometimes needs a bit of a jolt to get writing, I've found it very stimulating. Here's a recent draft:

Gentle

gentle the flow
of water under and around
the leaves on the surface
just ruffled by a gentle
breath of wind gentle as
a sun ray on a winter
afternoon

I hope to find some time to develop this soon. Comments as always are welcome.

New/Old Poem

2008-10-02T15:06:00.002-04:00

Recently, while riding the bus to work, I reached into the inside pocket of the jacket I was wearing and found one of the many small notebooks I use to jot down ideas, lines, images, or more mundane items I need to remember. I came upon the following lines that I had originally put down in October 2004. At the time I must have considered them an opener which eventually became a fragment. But on reading them again four years later, it seemed to be a fairly complete poem. As always, I ran it by Naomi for her usual keen insights, made a couple of minor revisions, and present it now. Comments still very welcome.

A Kind of Dawn

Full moon shines
through a tissue
of cloud that
falls away
and drifts like
breath slowly
along a deep
blue-black
surface of sky.

Success

2008-08-27T10:10:00.003-04:00

“But it is better to fail in originality, than to succeed in imitation. He who has never failed somewhere, that man cannot be great. Failure is the true test of greatness. And if it be said, that continual success is proof that a man wisely knows his powers — it is only to be added that, in that case, he knows them to be small.”—Herman Melville

This blog has been on (unplanned) hiatus recently due to vacation and then a very busy work schedule. However, when I ran across the above Melville quotation for the second time in less than two weeks (today on the Maud Newton Blog, previously while reading White Heat, Brenda Wineapple's excellent book about the friendship between Emily Dickinson and Thomas Wentworth Higginson), I took it as a sign. As Miss Dickinson put it:

Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne'er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.

Read the full poem.

Chronogram Update

2008-08-09T12:30:00.001-04:00

My poem is now viewable online at Chronogram. While you're there, take a look around the site.

Packing a New Pub!

2008-08-05T11:36:00.004-04:00

I just received word that Chronogram, a free culture and arts magazine published in Upstate New York, has accepted one of my poems. You might be able to get a copy by following the link to their website. I assume it will eventually appear there as well. In the meantime, you can see it in its published context here: Packing My Books. Or if you just want to read it:

Packing My Books

I’m wearing an old shirt
a half-size too large
that my brother gave me.
The books go into boxes
as I think of you
at the other end
of the world,
or so it seems
tonight.
Dust brings tears
to my eyes and dries
my throat so I stop
for a drink of water
and remember a day
when I was fifteen
and home from school,
sick, wearing an old shirt
of my father’s, and how
good it felt, so soft
against my hot skin.

Vanity

2008-07-11T13:21:00.003-04:00

"There is no doubt that in exchanging a self-centered for a selfless life we gain enormously in self-esteem. The vanity of the selfless, even those who practice humility, is boundless."—Eric Hoffer, The True Believer

I have been filling in a gap in my self-education by reading the book from which I took the above quotation. I highly recommend it; the style is clear and pithy, almost aphoristic at times, and it contains many provocative observations and much food for thought. The frequent parallels to Nietzsche's thought, such as the observation quoted, are remarkable.

New Publication

2008-06-10T15:22:00.002-04:00

I just uploaded a book—actually a pamphlet—of five poems to issuu.com. It's called leaf, and it contains five short poems. This is an experiment in self-publishing. You can follow the link and read the book online or download and print a copy, all for free. I only ask that you let me know and perhaps give me some feedback.

Grit & Glitter

2008-06-09T16:02:00.004-04:00

My younger son underwent minor surgery last week at Children's Hospital here in DC. While I was waiting for him to wake up so we could take him home, I found myself pondering the mystery of human suffering, especially children's. I have no answer (I'm not even sure of the question), but this poem came to me and, as always, Naomi helped me put it into proper shape.

The Half-Life of Human Suffering

Residual like the grit
left in a dry stream bed: rough
but it glitters in the moonlight.

Found

2008-06-03T08:48:00.005-04:00

A new poem:

Found Money

Windfall: a ten-dollar bill
on the library floor next to
the drinking fountain and
with about four dollars
in my wallet and another
fifty in the bank I
could really use it but
I looked around and asked
a man going out if he
had dropped it and he said
no and I thought
I might have said yes
since who would know
but then I noticed
his small daughter
tugging his pant leg
and staring up at him
and I thought
he's setting an example
and then I thought
of my two teenage sons
who miss nothing
and felt a mild pang
at their absence
and also at my
imagined dishonesty
how many moments
in one's life pivot
on seeming luck
or grace like
found money.

As always, this poem benefited greatly from the careful attention and insightful suggestions of my friend Naomi. So I am very pleased to note that she has followed me into The Scrambler. Follow the link to read her poem in the June issue.

On a less happy note, Liza at copy, right? has decided to cease. Since I love finding unusual cover songs, I have added a link to a very good covers blog entitled Coverfreak. Check it out!

Secret Knowledge

2008-05-27T11:13:00.004-04:00

"All civilization is held together by a series of suggestions made by an invisible hypnotist, artificially created illusions. The knowledge of reality is always by some means or other a secret knowledge. It is a kind of death."—W. B. Yeats, Journal

Sunday was the 100th birthday of the great American poet Theodore Roethke. His hometown of Saginaw, Michigan held a celebration. His home is now a museum that can be visited online as well as in person. Here's an excerpt from one of his finest poems; the entire poem and others can be read at the museum website:

In a Dark Time

In a dark time, the eye begins to see,
I meet my shadow in the deepening shade;
I hear my echo in the echoing wood--
A lord of nature weeping to a tree,
I live between the heron and the wren,
Beasts of the hill and serpents of the den.
What's madness but nobility of soul
At odds with circumstance? The day's on fire!

Surprise

2008-05-12T14:42:00.005-04:00

A new poem is always a surprise, but in fact that's the title of my latest. It may still get a bit of fine-tuning, but it's mostly done:

Surprise

All that day the wind
blew me along but
gently and the gray
clouds came and went
but left no rain
and in the intervals
the sunlight glittered
in the puddles I
slogged through
the day before.

The latest issue of The Scrambler with two of my poems is now online. In addition to the poems, you can listen to sound files of me reading them. It's one of the best online journals I've seen—and I thought that before the editor accepted my work. It's worth bookmarking and I've added a link to the sidebar.

Breaking news, 5/13: I've had another poem accepted for publication by a journal in Sacramento, CA, called Rattlesnake Review. It's due out in mid-June. This one's a print 'zine, but you can follow the link and probably get a copy.

Lightning & Water

2008-05-08T13:45:00.007-04:00

NaPoMo and NaPoWriMo may be over, but I'm still writing of course. Here's a new poem, accompanied by the usual thanks to Naomi for her usual insightful and incisive comments:

Lightning in a Bottle, Water in a Net

I.
Dozens of interlaced
nerves branch out
like ant pathways
in all directions
crackling like a hundred
tiny electrical fires if
I could find the switch
I could sleep.

II.
I grasp for words
that slip like tiny
fish through fingers
the thoughts behind
the words trickle into
tiny streams and sink
below ground if
I could collect them
you would stay.

The Great Figure

2008-04-30T09:25:00.002-04:00

We'll close National Poetry Month with William Carlos Williams, one of America's greatest and most important poets. He influenced many poets across a wide and diverse range, from Robert Lowell, to Robert Creeley to Allen Ginsberg. My own work owes a great debt to his.

The Great Figure

Among the rain
and lights
I saw the figure 5
in gold
on a red
firetruck
moving
tense
unheeded
to gong clangs
siren howls
and wheels rumbling
through the dark city.

April may be over, but keep poetry part of your life every day!

Don't Love Your Life Too Much

2008-04-25T10:21:00.003-04:00

Continuing our National Poetry Monthly selections, an excerpt from Mary Oliver, one of our finest poets and one of the few who can actually sell out a reading:

For years and years I struggled
just to love my life. And then

the butterfly
rose, weightless in the wind.
"Don't love your life
too much," it said,

and vanished
into the world.
from "One or Two Things"

And something new from me:

Lightning in a Bottle

Dozens of interlaced
nerves branch out
like ant pathways
in all directions
crackling like a hundred
tiny electrical fires if
I could find the switch
I could sleep.