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In Praise of the Short Poem
by Wayne H. Swanger In Praise of the Short Poem I find myself writing more and more short poems, that is, poems of fewer than ten lines. My first thought…
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“Exposed” by Byron Hoot
Exposed Byron Hoot I cannot read certain authors without feeling ashamed. As if all my flaws are exposed. The gift of writing is the double-entendre: what is said, what is…
In April’s Snow-filled Light
On Zagajewski’s “Try to Praise the Mutilated World" Philip Terman Today is the first of April --not only April Fool’s Day, but the first day of what has been called…
Three Challenges of a Book Project in Particular
by Jo Scheier Bugay All writing shares certain inalienable challenges. Regardless of our chosen genre, who among us hasn’t struggled with writer’s block, imposter syndrome, rejection woes, or an existential…
The Matter of Poetry
Each time someone says, “Oh yeah” to a poem something good – in a much broader sense than morality – is birthed. We have seen through the eyes of another and that makes our vision clearer.
Poetry and Worth
As Gioia asks, how did Kool Herc, the father of hip-hop, change the very nature of poetry without an English degree? There is only one conclusion, he asserts: today’s poets do not need a degree. They write while they work as baristas, bookstore clerks, or in law, medicine, and business. Social media is the great equalizer: an online journal requires virtually nothing but someone’s time. Gioia exults that this new Bohemia of poets, existing outside the academic economy, is a vigorous alternative culture. “They have diversified, democratized and localized American poetry,” he crows.
When A Poet Goes Long
Switching genres may make one a better writer— eventually— but it can play havoc with one’s confidence. There are many times I sit back and ask myself what I’m doing. Is this project worth the time and effort? Is it meaningful? It’s one thing when a single poem goes nowhere, but two years of work? That’s quite an investment to ultimately see fall flat.