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How I Learned to Stop Analyzing and Embrace “The Hug,” with Tess Gallagher
I thought of the title “Saved by ‘The Hug,’” but that seemed just a tad too cute. There is something transcendent though in this poem. I wanted to title this post with something about becoming totally engrossed in the unexpected. I thought of the word “surrender,”‘ but there is no war in this poem. I…
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Raymond Carver, Not Plagiarizing on “Kafka’s Watch”
There is an intriguing little blog called Mutligrafias, a Daily Artists’ Dialogue. It’s a site where artists who participate in the day’s post will build on a theme. The contributions can be visual, poetic, audio, video, whatever they are inspired to do, but they must somehow be related, even obliquely, and they seem to enjoy…
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Philosophy and Poetry: “Table Talk,” by Billy Collins
There is so much I could say here in commentary. I could talk about how I really am uncomfortable with the lumping together of philosophers and poets. I am uncomfortable with modern philosopher-poets who attempt to either teach or impress me with their deep difficulty of thought. I could say how so much of it…
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Richard Blanco Inspires Again, Penn State Edition
Thursday evening a hoard of PUPPs (Poetry Under the Paintings Peeps) descended on the State College Campus of Penn State University to hear Inaugural Poet Richard Blanco read in the Foster Auditorium. I think the exact number in our hoard was 8, but that’s a pretty dang good showing for a poetry field trip in…
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Richard Blanco and Poetry Under the Paintings
Ah, if it were only true that Richard Blanco was joining us at Poetry Under the Paintings, but alas! Such is not to be. But then again, maybe if we asked him. . . Hey, you never know. Anyway, I know that most of my readers here are not members of my local community, but…
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An October “Treat” from Poet Marjorie Maddox
I’ve mentioned that I’d be bringing you a review of Marjorie Maddox’s new book Local News from Someplace Else. Well here is a preview, and a poem which is just perfect for these early days of October. The book is about living, not just surviving, but growing, finding hope in a dangerous world. In Marjorie’s…
