Lightning & Water

I am happy to report I have a new publication available for your reading (and listening) pleasure. My friends at Words Dance have posted my poem "Lightning in a Bottle, Water in a Net," along with a sound file of my reading of it. Check it out and then explore the entire site. It is one of the best online publications I've been associated with (and not just because they have published me a few times). The marriage of visual art, poetry, and sound is always of the highest quality.

Poetry Month

It is April and that means warmer weather (I hope!) and that the flood of poetry in honor of National Poetry Month is beginning. Here's a fine poem by one of our best poets, Yusef Komunyakaa: Daytime Begins with a Line by Anna Akhmatova.

Closer to home, I am delighted to report that my poem "Poem beginning with a found line," recently published in Broadkill Review, will be on display outside the New Deal Café in Greenbelt, MD, as part of their Poetry Moment Project. In connection with this, I will be reading during a National Poetry Month reading and reception on Sunday April 6 at the Café from 2-4 p.m. If you are in the DC area, please attend. The link has information about the Café, including address, phone number, and directions.

Add some poetry to your day every day in April...and always!

Poetic Tourism

The editor of Little Patuxent Review (where I have now had the honor of being published twice), Laura Shovan, recently invited me to be one of her guest bloggers for National Poetry Month. Her theme this year is the Technoverse, so my experience with a podcast poetry tour was a perfect fit. Read it and a supplemental poem and enjoy Laura's wonderful illustrations, in today's edition of Author Amok.

As it happens, today is also Poem in Your Pocket Day, sponsored by The Academy of American Poets. Mine is "The Rain" by Robert Creeley. What's yours?

Stepping Away

I am very pleased to announce that Issue 9 of Stepaway Magazine, containing my poem "On the Green Line," is now available for your reading pleasure. This very fine UK-based journal celebrates the experience of walking around (or, in some cases such as with my poem, being conveyed) around and exploring the urban environment. As the editor puts it, "This is flânerie for the twenty-first century." Having greatly aspired to be a flâneur ever since my first reading of Walter Benjamin, I am naturally thrilled.

It's Out!

In record time from acceptance to publication, my new book is now available on Amazon. If you are in or near D.C., you will be able to purchase a copy from me soon, should you prefer to get it that way. I will of course happily sign and personalize your copy if at all possible.

I am hoping to start arranging readings soon, some I hope in conjunction with my lovely friend, Naomi, as she promotes her own collection (which you should also order if you haven't already: In Yolo County. (Use the pull down and find Naomi Thiers.) It promises to be an exciting Spring!

A Mad Air

Along with the many usual things I am thankful for (health, family, a lovely trip to Texas for the holiday), I am delighted to report a new publication, my second appearance in Mad Rush. I also have a poem appearing soon in a fine journal located in the Eastern Shore of Virginia (very near my beloved Chincoteague) called Rising Tide Review. As always, watch this space for details.

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving!

Ode to Watermelon

My poem "Melon" has just been posted on Deep South. It's my second childhood reminiscence to appear in that excellent journal. Have a look and then browse the site for more poems, stories, recipes, and all good things Southern.

Update 08-08-12: The poem now also resides on its own page: "Melon."

Snapshot

I am pleased to announce a new publication, my poem "Saturday Snapshot" in the fine online journal Zouch. I am particularly delighted about this one in that it documents a visit to one of my favorite neighborhood hangouts.

I also have a poem forthcoming in Deep South magazine; I'll post the news and link when it is posted.

Old Fires

Happy to report that a recent poem has found a home online with a very fine journal called Cactus Heart. It's entitled "Gerhard and Fern," and was inspired by a brief encounter with a charming couple I met at my Iota reading in January.

I am also delighted to have just received the acceptance of two poems for the journal The Rusty Nail. I will post details and link when the time comes. I hope everyone had a happy and poetry-filled National Poetry Month!

Enthralled

I am, as always, very pleased to announce that my poem "Thrall" has been published in Issue 14 of Innisfree Review. This is my second appearance in Innisfree, a local publication with a national reputation, edited by the very fine poet Greg McBride. I am especially delighted to appear in an issue containing work by such notable local poets as my lovely friend Naomi Thiers, Merrill Leffler, Michele Wolf, my recent Iota reading partner Ann Harding Woodworth, and Mr. McBride himself.

Be sure to look through the back issues for many poetic treasures, in addition to my previous appearance.

Warmth Through Cold

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.

Unburdened

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.

Bigger Still

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

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.

Another Stone

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

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

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.

Bourgeoning

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.

Joy Amid Sorrow

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.

Found a Voice

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