Poetry Hut Blog
Henri Cole

Poetry News:

1. — At the New York Times Book Review, all the misogyny is fit to print —
2. — Poetry workshop: May’s shortlist and Gillian Clarke’s responses —
3. — Lambda Literary Awards Announce Winners —
4. — Oldest Profession —
5. — From Shakespeare to Snyder, nothing inspires a poet quite as much as another poet (or themselves). Send us your dedications —
6. — “Why We Wear Masks” —
7. — George Garrett; Critically Acclaimed Novelist and Poet —
8. — I recently learned an interesting stat: 40 years ago 13 percent of the pages in literary magazines pages were women. Now that’s up to 40 percent —

Has anyone ever had “trigger point injections”? Do you know anyone who has ever had “trigger point injections”? Do you have anything at all to say about “trigger point injections” that may (in any way, whatsoever) make “trigger point injections” seem less horrific hahahaha? (I am onward to “Plan B.”) Luckily I am not afraid of needles (though I like to have any procedure explained to me first and I like be shown any equipment beforehand, except at the dentist). But still.

ps. today is Whitman’s birthday. I share a birthday with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Patrick Kavanagh, and Whitey Ford.

This blog is going on temporary hiatus sorry - speaking of Coleridge - I’m on medication that turns me into a somnolent mass.

Poetry News:

1. — Detained poet in hospital with hernia —
2. — Haikuists are adept at juxtaposing vivid imagery during springtime —
3. — For the next four days, the area around U Street and Columbia Heights will be buzzing with the presence of poets —
4. — Stray Questions for: Ishmael Reed —
5. — Current Finalists for the 20th Annual Lambda Literary Awards —
6. — “I think poetry is a much larger part of our lives than popular culture indicates” —

I changed my bracket at the last possible minute before lock-down. Final 4 = Tennessee, Memphis, UCLA and Wisconsin. Still going with UT. (I don’t know what I’m doing.)

Some Split This Rock blogging here and here.

Poetry News:

1. — Shackled Magazine Editors Harm Literature; Says Tom Masson, Who Deplores the Ownership of Magazines by Brokers and Soap-Makers Who Make “Hired Men” Editors - By Joyce Kilmer. —
2. — Nazi Claim May Thwart Bukowski Landmark —
3. — Argentine poet Juan Gelman wins Spain’s prestigious Cervantes Prize —
4. — Visual artist Ann Hamilton and poet Henri Cole, both from Columbus, Ohio, received the USA Fellowships —
5. — Poem Headstone Uncovered at Courthouse —
6. — Everson came of age as a poet with his friends Jack Spicer, Robin Blaser and Robert Duncan, the core members of the Berkeley Renaissance poets —

Poetry News:

1. — For this trio, vive la différence! —
2. — Yeats’s inspirations ranged from folklore to fascism —
3. — Minnesota to get state poet laureate —
4. — The fringe presses with a small margin for success —
5. — One pleasure of art comes from how accurately it can convey ambivalence —
6. — Baseball’s troubadour poet laureate —
7. — Les Murray’s world subtly radiates holiness in whimsical poems —
8. — Fiona Sampson’s exactitude and command of inner space in Common Prayer impress Adam Thorpe —

Deep down, I can’t help but think if we gave the kids in the Middle East 1,000s of electric guitars and amps and drumkits and rock and roll records, everything would turn out O.K.

Emily Dickinson:

Bees are Black, with Gilt Surcingles —
Buccaneers of Buzz.
Ride abroad in ostentation
and subsist on Fuzz.

Fuzz ordained — not Fuzz contingent —
Marrows of the Hill.
Jugs — a Universe’s fracture
Could not jar or spill.

Poetry News:

1. — Let’s do it, let’s fall in luff [link via Avoiding the Muse thank you] —
2. — Here’s a tortoise shell that reminds the poet of a soldier’s helmet and which leads me to a pet hate: computer games —
3. — A two-century jinx on a potential literary goldmine held true today —
4. — Galway Kinnell has recently turned 80, making him - with Richard Wilbur and John Ashbery - one of the grand old men of American poetry —
5. — “At eighteen … [Obama] was already a much better poet than our former Secretary of Defense William Cohen, who keeps publishing terrible poetry” —
6. — Jurek told BlackAmericaWeb.com that Scott-Heron was released by the New York State Department of Corrections about a month ago —
7. — Baghdad suicide blast kills Iraqi poet who urged national unity —
8. — Moazzam Begg, a former Guantanamo detainee whose poetry is featured in the collection, talks with Anthony Brooks —