Poetry News:

1. — In a country where poets are revered like rock stars, Akhmatova was a celebrity, but that also made her a dark, dangerous figure in the Socialist paradise —
2. — The lone witness in poetess Madhumita Shukla murder case was attacked in his village Gohadia in Kaiserganj, police said on Tuesday —
3. — It is based on Anne Sexton’s “Transformations,” a poetic, adult reinterpretation of familiar fairy tales —
4. — France Encrusts Wall-to-Wall Poetry in Sofia [I like the idea of something being "encrusted" with poetry] —
5. — Hear Gwendolyn Brooks read “the mother” and Theodore Roethke read “My Papa’s Waltz,” with insights by ex-US Poet Laureate Donald Hall. [MP3] —
6. — Salt has launched Horizon Review, its second online literary magazine and part of its planned expansion into free-to-view Web journals —
7. — Perhaps it’s the duality between the intuitive, interiority and the strong authoritative, apocalyptic voices that guide these poems —

I changed our dental insurance to a more local dentist - Dr. Anissa Burgess. Darryl went in for a teeth cleaning & sat down in the chair & asked if the TV (People’s Court) could be turned off. She said no. He asked if it could be turned down. She said no & told him that he seemed like the problematic type who wouldn’t be satisfied with the teeth-cleaning job & he said all I want is a teeth cleaning, then he left. LOL way to make a good first impression, new dentist of ours! (And Darryl is a polite sensitive new age guy so I doubt he was a jerk about it.) He said there was no TP or paper towels in the bathroom, either. Meh. We are both stuck in bizarro world these days. He didn’t get into the dental chair until 55 minutes after the time of appointment; maybe she wanted him to leave because they were overbooked? Or perhaps she simply (obviously) really, really, enjoys daytime TV & would have preferred to watch the People’s Court in peace?

Unfortunately, I’ve been seeing a lot of the medical profession these days - 3 appointments so far this week. Most of it has been a good experience but I have to wonder what in the heck some people are thinking. My [very few] “WTF encounters” have been with Interns or with office staff. With the Interns - most of my care is at a University Medical Center - it’s like they didn’t know yet that it’s not cool to exclaim “is that permanent??!!” or whatever. And with the staff: yes I want to stand in front of the little window in the packed waiting room, giving you my medical history in front of everyone so you can decide if you want to pronounce my “referral fax form” worthy enough to give to the Dr. or not. (Was not at the University Medical Center.)

Poetry News:

1. — British publisher touts American Indian poets —
2. — Even 33 years after I first read Sharon Olds, I remember the fresh shock her poems delivered like a body blow —
3. — The Guardian reports that Carol Ann Duffy has written a poem called Mrs Schofield’s GCSE in response to the removal of her poem from the GCSE syllabus —
4. — Recently re-released in the U.S., Ian Monk’s Writings for the Oulipo dazzles with its display of samples —
5. — Toilet door poetry project launched —
6. — In praise of the praise of poetry —
7. — Hands That Speak, Hands That Rhyme —
8. — New Old Visual Poems Posted on Spore —

Where’s the rest of the review? It that all?

Poetry News:

1. — Thanks to poetry, X=imagine the possibilities —
2. — Salt To Expand Its Stable Of Free Online Literary Magazines —
3. — His meteoric poetic output began with his first professionally published poem at 16, but by 20 he stopped writing poetry and would later declare of his work: “All of that was just pig swill.” —
4. — Bookstore and poet in war of words over reading —
5. — The work of American poet George Oppen is not widely known to a general audience, but some scholars at the University at Buffalo think it should be —
6. — Reading can generate as much of a hit as writing, says poet and author Edward Hirsch on today’s episode of Titlepage.tv —

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.