Category: Poetry Monday

Poetry Monday: August 2, 2024
By Categories: Poetry Monday
Good Morning, Everyone,
I
Good morning, everyone, In keeping with our plan of re-visiting poets and their work that have been especially popular with our readers, we are again featuring Alicia Ostriker.Her wise, beautiful poems help women understand themselves better and men understand women in a way they never did before.

The poem below: “Blessing of The Old Woman, the Tulip and the Dog” appears in her book, “The Book of Seventy”:

To be blessed
said the old woman
is to live and work
so hard
God’s love
washes right through you
like milk through a cow.

To be blessed
said the dark red tulip
is to knock their eyes out
with the slug of lust
implied by
your up-ended
skirt.

To be blessed
said the dog
is to have a pinch
of God
inside you
and all the other dogs
can smell it.

This was my first introduction to these three characters who may not be talking to each other at all but rather addressing the audience in a series of down-to-earth dramatic asides.  We can almost see them on stage, casting an occasional sly look or even a wink at one or both of their companions.

So, as waiters say in restaurants before setting out a delicious feast,”Enjoy”

Irene Willis
Poetry Editor

Continue reading Poetry Monday: August 2, 2024

Poetry Monday: May 6, 2024
By Categories: Poetry Monday

David Holper

Good Morning, Everyone,

Our poet today, David Holper, has an unusually interesting background.  He lives in Eureka, California, where he served as the City of Eureka’s inaugural Poet Laureate from August 2019-August 2021.  He has published three collections of poetry, including Language Lessons: A Linguistic Hejira (Deeper Magic Press, 2023), from which today’s poems have been chosen.  Other books have been The Bridge (Sequoia Song Publications) and 64 Questions (March Street Press).  His poems have appeared in many literary journals and anthologies, and have won numerous competitions, including the Synkroniciti award for best poem in its September 2023 issue; second place in relationships for Write from the Heart Anthology 2023; the Barbara Curiel Award for his poem “Depaysement” in Toyon 2018; and the Jodi Stutz from Toyon 2017 for his poem “Cana de Azucar.”  Additionally, he has been nominated for a Pushcart by Relief Journal for a poem called “Doubt.”

He is also a writer of fiction, which has appeared in various quarterlies, including Grand Street, the New Virginia Review, and Callaloo.

It’s my pleasure to share the following three poems from his latest book, Language Lessons: A Linguistic Hejira:

Vade Mecum

Perhaps a book, discovered you
when you were young, Continue reading Poetry Monday: May 6, 2024

POETRY MONDAY: APRIL 1, 2024
By Categories: Poetry Monday
Good morning, Everyone:
This, as you may or may not know, is National Poetry Month.
If your neighbors are poetry-lovers or poetry-aware, you may have seen posters up in a few places.
This is the morning when we don’t show anyone’s photo.  Instead, we ask that you visit your local bookstore (even if it’s a chain) and take a little time to look over their poetry collection.  Flip through the pages of one or more or find a comfortable place to sit and read a few poems.  You may discover someone you’ve never heard of and/or a poem or two you really love — perhaps enough that you’re willing to stop at the cash register on your way out.
Some stores will have posters or flyers for local poetry readings.  If you’ve never been to one, or not in a long time, you’ll find it a great way to make new friendships or renew old friendships.  You may even get your book signed and begin or add to your collection of first editions.
IRENE WILLIS
POETRY EDITOR

POETRY MONDAY: March 4, 2024
By Categories: Poetry Monday

Good morning, everyone.  In keeping with our policy of re-visiting poets who were especially popular with our readers, we’ve chosen to say hello again to the late Maxine Kumin, who last appeared here in 2014.

Here, exactly as she appeared then, is the widely adored poet, Maxine Kumin.

— Irene Willis
Poetry Editor

POETRY MONDAY: May 5, 2014
Maxine Kumin: A Postlude

Those of us still mourning the loss of former U.S. Poet Laureate Maxine Kumin, who died on February 6 of this year at 88, have a welcome gift, knowing that she didn’t stop.  Her new book, And Short the Season (New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2014) is available now, and her voice is as strong as it has always been. Sharp-eyed, keen-witted and ironic as ever, she shies away from nothing in this collection, dedicated to her daughter Judith, whom we Continue reading POETRY MONDAY: March 4, 2024

Poetry Monday: January 1, 2024
By Categories: Poetry Monday

Lewis Warsh  Photography by Max Warsh

Good morning, everyone — and a happy, hopeful New Year to you.  Poetry is truly medicine for the soul, and this is surely a time when our souls can use some healing.

Our poet today, Lewis Warsh, is one whose poems I confess I didn’t know until I went to a reading at The Bookstore in Lenox, Mass., where several of his longtime friends celebrated his work and life.

Lewis Warsh was not only a poet but also an editor, visual artist, educator and author of over thirty volumes of poetry, fiction, and autobiography.

The three poems that follow are from his last book, Elixir (Ugly Duckling Press, 2022).

BLUE MOON

There are some buzzwords you
need to know if you want to get on
in the world, keep up with
current events, for instance, but Continue reading Poetry Monday: January 1, 2024