Corky, Corky with a Spoon, Joop

My poem "First Map" has been selected for an honorary mention for Southword Journal, based in Cork, Ireland, home of UCC, the Shaky Bridge to Sunday's Well, potato salad sandwiches, Robert O'Leary and Connor Kinelly, breakfasts with Bretje, and a whole host of other memories . . .

World o Poesy

Since we are a small community (practical invisible to everyone but ourselves but, seen by us through the myopic lens of our genre, we are of Staggering Import), why not hold ourselves up to a higher standard rather than the subpar, low-grade, below standard non-standard standard that poets seem to find acceptable? Why not do right by each other?

To wit: If I submit something in May 2009, let it not be March 2011 when I hear back yea or nay. Let me also not have been the one to folow up on the submission (twice). Let me not be told in January 2010 that my submission is "still being considered" and then, in February 2011 that my submission has been lost, would I please resend it? If those things do come to pass, do not then pass on the poems (ha!) and encourage me to resubmit again in the future.

You know, when the clocks run more slowly and time is not of the essence.

Right, Willow Springs? Does the 30 Years in tagline refer to turnaround time?
Lame ass. Lame.

Also, a word to the wise to the makers of poetry journals and magazines: stop sending your submission form along with a rejection notice. Let the rejection be just that, not also an entreaty. You waste paper.

So, sue me

I am now in possession of the cutest mammal in North America. He is so dear, so sweet, such a laugher. Sleep has been elusive, and equally elusive has been my ability to sit at my desk and write, sleepily or otherwise. My boy is napping now, in a carrier, next to my heart. I can hear him breathing. My brain is emerging from the fog of new parenthood--sharper and clearer for having been fogged in. I am thinking about art and poetry, about attention and what I value. I thank him for this, for making my life make sense so suddenly. More soon.

Sound Advice from Mr. Pound

Merwin, beret tilted at a not-so-rakish angle, told the Times about approaching Pound for advice on how to become a poet, and Pound "told him to write 75 lines every day. Pound also suggested taking up poetry translation to learn what could be done with language". That's in the spirit of putting in the requisite 10,000 hours. With regards to translation, have a looksee at this wee and illuminating tome when you have a moment.

Wordle Me Happy

Heard about this site via the Times and dumped a poem in to see what it would do. Here is my villanelle "Magritte's The Titanic Days (1928)", all Wordled as it were.

Sayeth the Times:
This self-described “toy” allows students to analyze word frequency in any text, from a poem to a science book chapter, by simply copying and pasting “a bunch of text” into the box on the top of this page. Click on “go” and you’ll get a snapshot of the most common words in that text as shown by size. (The most frequently appearing words appear larger.)

Here's also a sestina that I'm working on, Wordled up.

Sunnysider named as Queens Poet Laureate

The next time to apply is in 2013.

Art Show & Fair

If you're around Sunnyside this weekend, I will be showing one of my collages in the juried art show "Portrait of the Exquisite," which will open Sunday, June 13 (as part of Queens Art Express) at Bliss Bistro (45-20 Skillman at 46th/Bliss). The show will be up until July 18. Also on Sunday, June 13, I'll be selling prints along with other Sunnyside Artists during a one-day art fair (Skillman Avenue at 44th Street; 1-5 p.m.). Come by and say hello!