March 23rd forum announcement

Dear Poetry Aficionados,

Poetry & Poets in Rags blog


It's a week of laureates. Our News at Eleven section headlines former poet laureate of Britain, Ted Hughes. He's followed by Nobel laureate Derek Walcott. We end, on our Back Page, with the new poet laureate of Brooklyn, Tina Chang. But just before hers is a link to a Bill Manhire article. He's the former New Zealand Te Mata Estate Poet Laureate. In the middle, we link to a story on Maxine Kumin, former Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress.

Then, in our Great Regulars section, we have poetry by Fleda Brown, former poet laureate of Delaware; Carol Ann Duffy, Britain's current poet laureate; and Kay Ryan, the current Poet Laureate of the United States.

In Poetic Obituaries, we find former poet laureate for the state of Iowa, Robert Dana, who passed last month. Also in that section, we have an obituary on Ai, who died this past week.

There is plenty more to the poetry news this week. Another theme, for instance, is William Shakespeare, who has two article links out of News at Eleven and another by Great Regular John Timpane.

Thanks for clicking in.

Yours,
Rus

Our links:

IBPC: Poetry & Poets in Rags

Poetry & Poets in Rags blog

IBPC Home

~~~~~~~~~~~

News at Eleven: Dr. [John] Hall said: "Deciding within a few years

of people's death that they will be remembered in hundreds of years' time is of course impossible.

"And yet, it is sometimes right to make such a decision, as Deans have done over the centuries.

"By no means every poet laureate has been commemorated in Poets' Corner.

"But the overwhelming weight of advice I have received suggests that this is the right decision."

from BBC News: Poets' Corner memorial for Ted Hughes
also The Times: Ted Hughes taught other writers to be fearless

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News at Eleven: [Derek Walcott] would often launch himself

into the first person, then retreat into the mercy of the third, as if the exposure of speaking as himself were too great.

It is easy to guess why this might be. For in this collection, he is writing his own valediction (a risky undertaking). He wonders whether, at the age of 80, these poems might be his last. He explains that if he felt his gift had "withered", he would "abandon poetry like a woman because you love it/and would not see her hurt, least of all by me. . . ."

from The Guardian: White Egrets by Derek Walcott

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News at Eleven: "He told me, 'When I'm gone, make sure

others read this so people don't forget what happened,'" follower Sokhar Sao said. "I didn't really understand until he was gone."

Next month, friends and followers will release a book of poetry by Ly Van [Aggadipo], who survived the brutal communist Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia and later led the Glory Buddhist Temple in Lowell from 1988 until his death in January 2008. The book, entitled "O! Maha Mount Dangrek," is a collection of two lengthy poems: one an autobiographical piece on the horrors of the Khmer Rouge, the other about a friend's story of love in the time of genocide.

from Contra Costa Times: Late Mass. monk's poems recall Khmer Rouge horrors

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News at Eleven: Well, not quite "American Idol":

Contestants compete not in singing but in traditional Arabic poetry. Over the past episodes, poets sitting on an elaborate stage before a live audience have recited odes to the beauty of Bedouin life and the glories of their rulers or mourning the gap between rich and poor.

Then last week, Hissa Hilal, only her eyes visible through her black veil, delivered a blistering poem against Muslim preachers "who sit in the position of power" but are "frightening" people with their fatwas, or religious edicts, and "preying like a wolf" on those seeking peace.

Her poem got loud cheers from the audience and won her a place in the competition's finals, to be aired on Wednesday.

It also brought her death threats, posted on several Islamic militant Web sites.

from WHNT: Protesting in verse: A Saudi woman criticizes Muslim clerics' in a TV poetry contest

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News at Eleven: This is [Maxine] Kumin's poetic realm,

and it's the world of "Where I Live."

The book's selected poems can also be read as a chronicle of Kumin's life and times during the last two decades. The strongest run comes from the 1996 collection "Connecting the Dots"--"Chores," "The Word," "From the 18th Floor," "Beans, Beans, Beans."

Here is one of those poems, "Gus Speaks":

from Nashua Telegraph: Muse still strong for poet from Warner

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News at Eleven: Yet the voice [Jerome] Charyn has created

for Emily Dickinson doesn't truly suggest this range of personalities. This Dickinson is forever defined by--if not trapped in--the breathless yearnings of a (female) adolescent as imagined by a (male) novelist: we are led to wonder of the Emily Dickinson who read widely, and purposefully, in all the great poets she could get her hands on, including Shakespeare, Byron, Keats, and "Mr. and Mrs. Browning"--what of the poet who read with an eye for the craft of poetry? It is surely true that lines came like "lightning" to the poet--as to many poets; but it is also true that Dickinson worked and reworked her poems, often over a period of years, as she worked and reworked her brilliantly teasing letters.

from The New York Review of Books: Ardor in Amherst

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News at Eleven: The first line is mildly mucky.

"Nothing" is a euphemism for female genitals.

The second line changes the rhythm subtly, with a tripping beginning that establishes a certain light, wry tone. The long vowels in "far" and "more" are almost sarcastic.

The next two lines have prompted more speculation than any others in Shakespeare's sonnets, as they give us a physical description of the so-called Dark Lady, who was the object of his desire. "Dun" means grey or brown. The combination of "wiry black" hair and non-white skin has led to a great deal of speculation about Shakespeare's African mistress.

from Scotland on Sunday: Poetry: Rhyme and reason

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News at Eleven: For two centuries after Shakespeare's death,

he points out, nobody doubted that Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare. Doubts started because a powerful new idea took hold in the early 19th century, which was that artworks are expressions of their creator's inner self, and should be interpreted as spiritual autobiography. This change was part of the tectonic shift that we call Romanticism, and it affected Shakespeare because the few surviving documents relating to his life in Stratford did not suggest he was a spiritual sort of person at all.

from The Sunday Times: Contested Will: Who Wrote Shakespeare? by James Shapiro

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News at Eleven: [Stephen Halliwell] accompanied his reading

with a timely reminder that reworking myths is far from a modern phenomenon--the Greeks re-imagined and subverted every bit as much as poets do today.

The "myth kitty" is clearly a rich and valuable resource for writers, from Tiffany Atkinson transporting the forms of Catullus to a contemporary Welsh seaside town, to Moniza Alvi finding a way to write about rape through the myth of Europa. And that myth kitty has itself become enriched down the years by other legends.

from The Scotsman: StAnza festival plunders the myth kitty to great effect

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News at Eleven: Bill Manhire, former poet laureate,

Victoria University professor and patron saint of its publisher, VUP, has a new string to his literary bow: jazz lyricist.

Manhire has collaborated with Wellington composer Norman Meehan on the album Buddhist Rain, using poems from his latest collection, The Victims of Lightning.

Meehan, who teaches at the NZ School of Music in Wellington, has used poetry before in his compositions, having set 20th-century US poet EE Cummings' work to music in "Sun Moon Stars Rain".

from Stuff.co.nz: Bill Manhire: Lightning conductor

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News at Eleven (Back Page): After Tina Chang puts her 7-month-old son, Roman,

to bed, she pads, barefoot, about three feet over to her office, where a desk cohabits with the changing table. She opens the window to take in the sights and sounds of her neighborhood, Park Slope--men arguing on the street, neighbors sipping wine on fire escapes, apartment lights twinkling. She opens a spiral notebook from the 99-cent store and begins scribbling. One night she started with a recipe for black bean sauce, another with the first line of a rejection letter from a literary journal, another with a to-do list.

from The New York Times: A Poet Who Doesn't Do Lofty
also The New York Times: Birth of a Poem

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Great Regulars: So what drew the airman there, to fight?

"A lonely impulse of delight," he says. What else can I say, beyond that?

I let him disappear into my mind. I remember a story book--it's actually "Make Way for Ducklings" now that I think of it, but I made it into one of those books that you flip the pages fast and it looks like the images are moving. What made me think of that? I guess the danger, the innocent ducks trying to get through the traffic. The ducks made it; the soldier didn't.

[by Fleda Brown]

Here, In Silence, Are Eight More

from Fleda Brown: The Washington Post: Political Poet's Choice: "Here, in Silence" by Fleda Brown

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Great Regulars: [Freya Manfred] published poetry books are:

A Goldenrod Will Grow (Groveland Press), Yellow Squash Woman (Thorp Springs Press), American Roads (Overlook/Viking), Flesh and Blood (Red Dragonfly Press), My Only Home (Red Dragonfly Press), and Swimming With A Hundred Year Old Snapping Turtle (Red Dragonfly Press). Nature and the outdoor world, as well as the relationships between human beings--family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers--are the primary subjects of her work.

The Owl Cries at Night

from Marianne Combs: Minnesota Public Radio: State of the Arts: Minnesota Poetry: Freya Manfred's "The Owl Cries at Night"

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Great Regulars: By Carol Ann Duffy

)))) Listen

Achilles

--for David Beckham

from Carol Ann Duffy: PBS: Newshour: 'Achilles'

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Great Regulars: To her, these young men walk along haughty

and boisterous as they go "tussling at one another with words." They are not actually communicating; they are merely razzing each other, probably engaging in a mental one-upmanship.

The speaker claims that this group is "excited by talk." Unlike the old men who cannot even think of anything to say anymore, these young men "can still see the danger" in their conversing, and it rouses them. The speaker allows the reader to fill in the exact nature of the "danger" they perceive.

from Linda Sue Grimes: Suite101.com: Borson's Talk

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Great Regulars: All Night Long

by Anne Pierson Wiese

The First warm evening in spring--the evening

from Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: All Night Long by Anne Pierson Wiese

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Endymion (extract)
by John Keats

Book I

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:

from Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: Endymion (extract) by John Keats

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Monopoly
by Connie Wanek

We used to play, long before we bought real houses.

from Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: Monopoly by Connie Wanek

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The Name of a Fish
by Faith Shearin

If winter is a house then summer is a window

from Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: The Name of a Fish by Faith Shearin

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Plastic Beatitude
by Laure-Anne Bosselaar

Our neighbors, the Pazzotis, live in a long

from Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: Plastic Beatitude by Laure-Anne Bosselaar

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Trust
by Thomas R. Smith

It's like so many other things in life

from Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: Trust by Thomas R. Smith

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Turtle
by Kay Ryan

Who would be a turtle who could help it?

from Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: Turtle by Kay Ryan

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Great Regulars: These days are brim full of bad news

about our economy--businesses closing, people losing their houses, their jobs. If there's any comfort in a situation like this, it's in the fact that there's a big community of sufferers. Here's a poem by Dana Bisignani, who lives in Indiana, that describes what it feels like to sit through a bankruptcy hearing.

Bankruptcy Hearing

from Ted Kooser: American Life in Poetry: Column 260

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Great Regulars: E. Ethelbert Miller: How might the changing political relationship

between Cuba and the United States influence Cuban-American literature?

Virgil Suarez: There are some quick and not-so-subtle changes going on with immigration to and from Cuba. I know because I have lots of recently arrived family on my mother's side coming and going, and they are doing so on a yearly basis. This is good for stories, this back and forth and bridging. It's good for the writing and for the literature.

from E. Ethelbert Miller: Foreign Policy in Focus: Interview with Virgil Suarez

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Great Regulars: Huu Loan's second wife, Pham Thi Nhu,

was the sole surviving daughter of a family that was wiped out during the campaign to exterminate "landlords."

When he found her in 1953, she was picking up trash to make a living.

Huu Loan's response was to marry her and resign from the Party in a very public protest.

The result was many years of extreme poverty and social isolation, but relatives say the marriage was stable and happy, and the couple had a large family.

from Luisetta Mudie: Radio Free Asia: Vietnamese Poet Dies

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Great Regulars: It is [Thomas] Campion's wonderful art

to be seriously playful. Catullus is playful, too, but more intense; the Elizabethan keeps lusty defiance in check. "My Sweetest Lesbia" is only partly a carpe diem poem. It moves us because it celebrates love without begging or bragging, and because of the pathos of its minor key; its unconsoled, recurring awareness of that "ever-during night".

My Sweetest Lesbia

from Carol Rumens: The Guardian: Books blog: Poem of the week: My Sweetest Lesbia by Thomas Campion

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Great Regulars: Scholars have known about this claim for centuries.

Many have discounted Theobald, who, to be kind, was less than Shakespearean. Some just figure it's all a hoax, a forgery.

Well, move over, Hamlet. An edition of Double Falsehood was published yesterday in England as part of the eminent Arden Shakespeare series. The U.S. edition will appear on May 17. Brean Hammond, professor of English at the University of Nottingham in England, showed Arden his decade of literary detective work--and the publisher was persuaded.

We're not talking about proof. Just about being convinced there's a chance. And both Hammond and the Arden folks say, guardedly, that they are. "There could be Shakespeare here," says Richard Proudfoot, general editor of the Arden series.

from John Timpane: Philadelpia Inquirer: The stamp of Shakespeare's on it

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Great Regulars: The essay was prompted, [Albert J.] Nock says,

because "I was mildly astonished to hear the other day that a person very much in the public eye, and one who would seem likely to know something of what I have been up to during all these years, had described me as 'one of the most intelligent conservatives in the country.'"

The reason for Nock's astonishment was that "for more than a quarter of a century I have been known, in so far as I was known at all, as a radical." When called upon "to label myself with reference to particular social theories or doctrines," he had described himself as "an anarchist, an individualist, and a single taxer."

from Frank Wilson: When Falls the Coliseum: That's What He Said: Political labels are invariably misleading

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Great Regulars: Leonard Kline, of Elk Rapids, was interviewed

by Grace Cizma. She wrote "Forfeit" in seventh grade. She is now a freshman. Joe Hooper, of Kingsley, was interviewed by Grace Fitzimmons and Katie Jackman when they were in middle school. I think they are now juniors. I wrote Joe's poem.

from Terry Wooten: Traverse City Record-Eagle: Sharing the Elders Project: Lifelines: Rough gyms, terrifying bus rides

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Great Regulars: Song of the Affluent

by Ed Emerson

for billy collins

It is so nice and comforting a thought

from CounterPunch: Poets' Basement: Emerson and Beaudin

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Great Regulars: [John] Updike lived out his life in Massachusetts,

spending his final days in a hospice. He died of lung cancer on Jan. 27, 2009. The announcement was made by Nicholas Latimer of his longtime publisher, Alfred A. Knopf.

Updike continued to write until his final months, publishing a review of Toni Morrison's "A Mercy" in the Nov. 3, 2008 edition of The New Yorker and a short story, "Nessus at Noon," in the winter 2009 issue of The American Scholar.

The New Yorker's "Remembering Updike" section has contributions from dozens of authors, including Tobias Wolff, E.L. Doctorow, Joyce Carol Oates, ZZ Packer and Jeffrey Eugenides, who each define Updike's writing style and strengths, and explore the influence he had on their own work.

from findingDulcinea: Happy Birthday: Happy Birthday, John Updike, Prolific Novelist, Critic and Poet

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Great Regulars: Air India

by Derek Mahon

from The Guardian: The Saturday poem: Air India by Derek Mahon

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Great Regulars: Titian vs. Roadrunner

by Dan Chiasson

from The New Yorker: Poetry: Titian vs. Roadrunner

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Great Regulars: [by Allison Cobb]

Lit a live

from The Oregonian: Poetry: Excerpt from 'Section III: The Foreign Birds' by Allison Cobb of Portland

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Great Regulars: By Chet Taylor

Another green world out of place:

from San Antonio Express-News: Poetry: 'A Last Green World'

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Great Regulars: "The Witch and MacDuff Exit My Neighbor's House"

By Kathryn Maris

from Slate: "The Witch and MacDuff Exit My Neighbor's House"--By Kathryn Maris

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Great Regulars: C.H. Sisson's "Waking", by contrast,

is a summer poem, published the year before Larkin's death, that finds a comparably ghastly prospect not in the night but in the day. The poem makes an art of world-weariness; and unlike Larkin, Sisson had another twenty years to live . . . .

Waking

from The Times Literary Supplement: Poem of the Week: Waking by C.H. Sisson

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Poetic Obituaries: I assume that the chaos will now ensue.

Oklahoma State will get bombarded with telephone calls on Monday. Ditto W.W. Norton & Co. Services will be arranged. All that human stuff. But the poems, Ai's poems, will remain as immortal as ever. Here's exquisite proof:

Conversation by Ai

from The Best American Poetry: In Memoriam to Ai (1947--2010) by Jerry Williams

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Poetic Obituaries: [Kay Kinney Carlson] was serving her second term

as treasurer of the Powell Valley Health Care Board of Directors.

Kay had a wonderful, wry sense of humor and a quiet, kind demeanor which belied her compassionate and persistent activism. She was known for her love and kindness for everyone, particularly her family. She composed poetry and held a lifelong passion for the written word.

from Powell Tribune: Kay Kinney Carlson

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Poetic Obituaries: In the last years of her life [Liz] Carpenter

grew increasingly frail, but she tried to keep up with her singing group, the GBATTs (Getting Better All The Time), and regular poetry readings.

"Nobody gets by without performing," she would say. "Why should you have a bunch of . . . empty-headed dullards standing around?"

from Houston Chronicle: Liz Carpenter, part of LBJ circle, dies at 89

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Poetic Obituaries: [Robert] Dana founded and served as Editor-in-Chief

for the revived North American Review from 1964 through 1968. He helped to negotiate a special arrangement with then Senator Claiborn Pell of Rhode Island, who claimed rights to the magazine, which had published such important writers as Walt Whitman and Mark Twain for 125 years until it ceased operation in 1940.

At the time, Dana was also teaching English literature at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. When he retired in 1994 after 40 years of teaching, he was the college's Poet-in-Residence. He also served as a visiting writer at Stockholm University, Beijing University, and several American colleges and universities, including University of Florida, Wayne State University, University of Idaho, and Wichita State University.

from Cornell College: Robert Dana, 1929-2010

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Poetic Obituaries: [Jim Hawkes] was also a strapper at a horse stable

and a talented and naturally gifted horseman and track rider.

He could leap on a 17-hand thoroughbred from a standing start. Jim's selfless attitude helped support his brothers and sisters.

For hobbies, Jim was a pigeon fancier. He was also an exceptional artist, emu egg carver and a poet.

from Warren Advocate: Devoted family man laid to rest

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Poetic Obituaries: An athlete, Kate [Huether] excelled in soccer,

swimmimg, and lacrosse. A creative thinker, Kate also loved to write, including poetry.

She was a Girl Scout and participated in a student exchange program to New Zealand and Austrailia with People To People.

After high school, she moved to Vermont, then to Portland, to work and attend college.

An avid hiker, Kate loved the outdoors.

from Doylestown Intelligencer: Katherine Best Huether

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Poetic Obituaries: Despite failing health, Mr. [Neil] Hulm continued to write

and sign books and he marked his 80th birthday on February 25 with a party attracting 100 guests.

Among them was Canberra bush poet Jim Weatherstone, who read Mr Hulm's Back to the Hills, and yesterday trumpeted his friend of 20 years.

"He knew the bush and he knew what he was talking about, he had been there and done that," Mr Weatherstone said, "he had written about the stuff that people think they know about, but only imagine."

from The Border Mail: Poet's immortal mark

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Poetic Obituaries: [Cherie] Geauvreau recalls [Sandra Patricia] Hunter

as being one of the six founding members of SWOVA as well as an original member of Salt Spring's marimba band and of Samba du Soleil.

"She was a fabulous painter, she was a poet, she could write, she could sing and I'll never forget her laughter," Geauvreau said. "Sandy has affected a lot of people in her life and lived life to the fullest."

Her outdoor pursuits included sailing, dragon boat racing, riding horses and motorcycles.

from Gulf Islands Driftwood: Former resident killed in motorcycle accident

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Poetic Obituaries: During the French war, he [Huu Loan] joined the People's Army

and after 1954, he worked at the Literature and Art newspaper. After retirement, he returned to his hometown.

Huu Loan is known for a poem titled "Deo Ca" and especially "Mau Tim Hoa Sim". The latter work was written in 1949 after his first wife died.

from Viet Nam Net: Renowned poet passes away

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Poetic Obituaries: At Gloria Dei Farms she [Lorraine E. Mitchell] wrote

and edited the monthly residents' newsletter, Glory Bee, sang with the Choristers, and led the monthly poet's corner. She was a published poet and a member of the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges.

from Doylestown Intelligencer: Lorraine E. Mitchell

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Poetic Obituaries: [Charles] Muscatine's "Chaucer and the French Tradition: A Study in Style and Meaning,"

published by the University of California Press in 1957, remains an essential work for understanding one of England's greatest poets. Expanding his inquiries beyond the traditional source studies, Mr. Muscatine rejected the widely held view of Chaucer as a poet who had progressed from stilted conventionalism to a robust, purely English realism. Rather, Mr. Muscatine described an artist who had shaped to his own uses the themes and devices he found in the courtly and bourgeois poetry that developed in France in the 12th and 13th centuries.

from The New York Times: Charles Muscatine, Chaucer Scholar, Dies at 89

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Poetic Obituaries: Dorothy [M. Phelps] accumulated numerous rental properties

over the years, and was a well-respected landlord. She loved her children and grandchildren and to tend to her flower gardens. She enjoyed reading, wrote poetry and bowled on a women's league for many years.

from The Gouverneur Times: Dorothy Mae Phelps, 90, of Gouverneur

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Poetic Obituaries: More than two hours before the crash, [Andrew] Riddell

contacted his mother. He sent her a text that read: "I love you, good night."

The Olathe South senior would have graduated in May and looked forward to a career in the military.

He was eager to do well in school and to please his parents.

"He always wanted to make me proud," his mother, Melinda Riddell, said.

Riddell had varied interests, ranging from writing songs and poems to playing football and tennis. His latest obsession was inline skating.

from The Olathe News: Olathe teens killed in wreck recalled as fun-loving, well-liked

~~~~~~~~~~~

Poetic Obituaries: Throughout her life she [Ann Joan Sam] also wrote poetry

and drew cartoons and pencil drawings, played piano and organ, and cooked the most amazing desserts. She gave her love for animals and nature, for reading, for writing and for art and music to her children and grandchildren.

from Free Lance--Star: Ann Joan Kon Sam

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Poetic Obituaries: Late in her life Ms. [Jane] Sherman published poems,

gathering them into little books, some of which commented on aging. In a poem from her self-published book "Songs of Senescence" (2003) she affirmed that

this leathery hen will not call it a day
Nor has any intention to do so.
For my wattles are up and I'm on my way
To as many farewells as Caruso.

The poem is titled "Take It From a Tough Old Bird."

from The New York Times: Jane Sherman, Dancer and Writer, Dies at 101

~~~~~~~~~~~

Poetic Obituaries: In 1971, Mrs. [Ethel A.] Smith began writing poetry,

and a copy of her poem, "Turn Back to God," which she sent to Barbara A. Mikulski, prompted a 2001 note from the Maryland senator.

"Your poem is very moving. I loved the words of your poem so much that I submitted them to the Congressional Record," wrote Senator Mikulski.

She composed her last poem in 2004, said her son, Allen D. Keller of Parkville.

from The Baltimore Sun: Ethel A. Smith, waitress and poet, dies at 101

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Poetic Obituaries: In September 1979 [William] Wolfe stood against

the revered Dr Robert McIntyre for the party presidency and lost, but ousted him a year later with backing from the Left. He left the post prematurely in 1982, amid a storm over an article he wrote in the Church of Scotland's magazine criticising Britain's acceptance of an ambassador from the Vatican.

Wolfe was at various times president of Heriot-Watt University students' association, treasurer of Scottish CND, secretary of the Scottish Poetry Library, treasurer of the Saltire Society and a member of the Forestry Commission's Scottish national committee.

from Daily Telegraph: William Wolfe

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March 16th Poetic Ticker Clicking

News Article Tape: (ragline)___The Daily Mail: Shakespeare's 'lost' play is published. . . or is it just a Double Falsehood?___(ragline)___The Guardian: 'Shakespeare's lost play' no hoax, says expert___(ragline)___The New York Times: New Life for an Old Play, but Is It Shakespeare's?___(ragline)___Press-Register: 'Anna, Washing' by Ted Genoways___(ragline)___Asian Tribune: Suu Kyi denounces Myanmar junta's new election rules___(ragline)___Calgary Herald: Myanmar court rejects Suu Kyi bid for freedom___(ragline)___Radio Free Asia: Opposition Leader Describes Imprisonment___(ragline)___Mizzima: 2010 election carries no weight___(ragline)___Reuters India: France condemns Iran for barring poet from event___(ragline)___The Nation: A Body on the Gears: On Mario Savio___(ragline)___San Francisco Bay View: For Akua Njeri (Deborah Johnson)*___(ragline)___The Scotsman: Interview: Seamus Heaney, poet___(ragline)___Los Angeles Times: 'Other Flowers: Uncollected Poems' by James Schuyler___(ragline)___San Francisco Chronicle: Weaving ups, downs into award-winning poetry___(ragline)___The Huffington Post: Poetry Helps Some Cope With An Earthquake's Aftermath___(ragline)___Bryan Appleyard: The Sunday Times: Is there anybody out there?___(ragline)___Fleda Brown: Traverse City Record-Eagle: On Poetry: Two art forms 'talk'___(ragline)___Jeffrey Brown: PBS: Newshour: Conversation: Perspective on Google Books from Authors Guild Member James Gleick___(ragline)___Tom Chandler: The Providence Journal: Poetry Column: Inspiration derived from Native Americans___(ragline)___Marianne Combs: Minnesota Public Radio: State of the Arts: Minnesota Poetry: Minnesota Poetry: Leslie Adrienne Miller's "The Dead Send Their Gardener"___(ragline)___Bill Diskin: Independent Tribune: Poetry Corner: Mount Pleasant poet finds meaning, muse in ordinary things___(ragline)___Carol Ann Duffy: BBC News: David Beckham's ankle immortalised by poet laureate___(ragline)___Carol Ann Duffy: The Guardian: Older and wiser: Carol Ann Duffy introduces poems of ageing___(ragline)___The Guardian: Dannie Abse--The Old Gods___(ragline)___The Guardian: Fleur Adcock--Mrs Baldwin___(ragline)___The Guardian: Linda Chase--Old Flame___(ragline)___The Guardian: Maureen Duffy--That Time Of Year Thou Mayst In Me Behold___(ragline)___The Guardian: Ruth Fainlight--Ageing___(ragline)___The Guardian: Elaine Feinstein--Long Life___(ragline)___The Guardian: Anthony Thwaite--Silence___(ragline)___Terry Eagleton: New Statesman: The Books Interview___(ragline)___Linda Sue Grimes: Suite101.com: Good-Bye Darjeeling___(ragline)___Katie Haegele: The Philadelphia Inquirer: Poems of sparkling spontaneity___(ragline)___Kristen Hoggatt: The Smart Set: Ask a Poet: All Good Things. . .?___(ragline)___Bob Hoover: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: E-book worries on the rise___(ragline)___Hillel Italie: The Canadian Press: Acclaimed translator says literary translation about fidelity and feel___(ragline)___Hillel Italie: Associated Press: Mantel's 'Wolf Hall' wins fiction prize in NYC___(ragline)___Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: Almost a Conversation by Mary Oliver___(ragline)___Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: Fields by Faith Shearin___(ragline)___Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: Good! by John Maloney___(ragline)___Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: Honey by Connie Wanek___(ragline)___Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: Puttanesca by Michael Heffernan___(ragline)___Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: Retriever by Faith Shearin___(ragline)___Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: Sonnet 65: Since brass nor stone nor boundless sea by William Shakespeare___(ragline)___Adam Kirsch: The Wall Street Journal: From J.D., P.O. Box 32___(ragline)___Ted Kooser: American Life in Poetry: Column 259___(ragline)___Robert Pinsky: Slate: Sex, Violence, and the Supernatural___(ragline)___Robert Pinsky: The New Yorker: Whale___(ragline)___Carol Rumens: The Guardian: Books blog: Poem of the week: Sir Patrick Spens___(ragline)___B.T. Shaw: The Oregonian: Poetry: A Q & A with Barbara Drake, author of 'Driving One Hundred'___(ragline)___John Timpane: Philadelpia Inquirer: Disquiet in Google's online library___(ragline)___Frank Wilson: When Falls the Coliseum: That's What He Said: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing___(ragline)___CounterPunch: Poets' Basement: Pointer, Orloski and Holt___(ragline)___findingDulcinea: Happy Birthday: Happy Birthday, Jack Kerouac, Beat Author of "On the Road"___(ragline)___Guernica: Poetry: Three Tales___(ragline)___Lawrence Journal-World: Poet's Showcase: 'E-mail Disclaimer'___(ragline)___Morning Star: Well Versed: Missing History___(ragline)___The New Yorker: Poetry: Ecclesiastes 11:1___(ragline)___PBS: Newshour: Weekly Poem: 'July in Washington'___(ragline)___Portsmouth Herald News: Poem: Clock Woes___(ragline)___San Antonio Express-News: Poetry: Los Brazos de Jesus___(ragline)___The Washington Post: Poet's Choice by Julie Carr___(ragline)___The Assam Tribune: Bireswar Baruah passes away___(ragline)___The Times-Picayune: Joseph and Maxine Cassin, married 55 years, die days apart___(ragline)___The Citizen: French singer Jean Ferrat dead at 79___(ragline)___Coshocton Tribune: Wayne E. Hunley___(ragline)___St. Petersburg Times: Mom of man killed in hit-and-run says driver who returned should never have left___(ragline)___Philadelphia Inquirer: Maisha W. Johnson, 61, executive___(ragline)___Moody County Enterprise: Betty Jones, 96___(ragline)___Spicezee: Jnanpith Award winner Vinda Karandikar dead___(ragline)___DNA: Marathi literature loses its maverick genius___(ragline)___The Del Norte: Elton Calvin Kroschel, 84___(ragline)___The Villager: David Nolan, 48, 'the soul of Wetlands,' radio host___(ragline)___The Associated Press: Body of missing NH mother found in Maine___(ragline)___SmallTownPapers: Bernice Van Otterloo___(ragline)___Star Beacon: Conneaut icon, Ken Vaughn, dies at age 72___

Blog Entry Tape: (ragline)___The Daily Mail: Shakespeare's 'lost' play is published. . . or is it just a Double Falsehood?___(ragline)___The Guardian: 'Shakespeare's lost play' no hoax, says expert___(ragline)___The New York Times: New Life for an Old Play, but Is It Shakespeare's?___(ragline)___Press-Register: 'Anna, Washing' by Ted Genoways___(ragline)___Asian Tribune: Suu Kyi denounces Myanmar junta's new election rules___(ragline)___Calgary Herald: Myanmar court rejects Suu Kyi bid for freedom___(ragline)___Radio Free Asia: Opposition Leader Describes Imprisonment___(ragline)___Mizzima: 2010 election carries no weight___(ragline)___Reuters India: France condemns Iran for barring poet from event___(ragline)___The Nation: A Body on the Gears: On Mario Savio___(ragline)___San Francisco Bay View: For Akua Njeri (Deborah Johnson)*___(ragline)___The Scotsman: Interview: Seamus Heaney, poet___(ragline)___Los Angeles Times: 'Other Flowers: Uncollected Poems' by James Schuyler___(ragline)___San Francisco Chronicle: Weaving ups, downs into award-winning poetry___(ragline)___The Huffington Post: Poetry Helps Some Cope With An Earthquake's Aftermath___(ragline)___Bryan Appleyard: The Sunday Times: Is there anybody out there?___(ragline)___Fleda Brown: Traverse City Record-Eagle: On Poetry: Two art forms 'talk'___(ragline)___Jeffrey Brown: PBS: Newshour: Conversation: Perspective on Google Books from Authors Guild Member James Gleick___(ragline)___Tom Chandler: The Providence Journal: Poetry Column: Inspiration derived from Native Americans___(ragline)___Marianne Combs: Minnesota Public Radio: State of the Arts: Minnesota Poetry: Minnesota Poetry: Leslie Adrienne Miller's "The Dead Send Their Gardener"___(ragline)___Bill Diskin: Independent Tribune: Poetry Corner: Mount Pleasant poet finds meaning, muse in ordinary things___(ragline)___Carol Ann Duffy: BBC News: David Beckham's ankle immortalised by poet laureate___(ragline)___Carol Ann Duffy: The Guardian: Older and wiser: Carol Ann Duffy introduces poems of ageing___(ragline)___The Guardian: Dannie Abse--The Old Gods___(ragline)___The Guardian: Fleur Adcock--Mrs Baldwin___(ragline)___The Guardian: Linda Chase--Old Flame___(ragline)___The Guardian: Maureen Duffy--That Time Of Year Thou Mayst In Me Behold___(ragline)___The Guardian: Ruth Fainlight--Ageing___(ragline)___The Guardian: Elaine Feinstein--Long Life___(ragline)___The Guardian: Anthony Thwaite--Silence___(ragline)___Terry Eagleton: New Statesman: The Books Interview___(ragline)___Linda Sue Grimes: Suite101.com: Good-Bye Darjeeling___(ragline)___Katie Haegele: The Philadelphia Inquirer: Poems of sparkling spontaneity___(ragline)___Kristen Hoggatt: The Smart Set: Ask a Poet: All Good Things. . .?___(ragline)___Bob Hoover: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: E-book worries on the rise___(ragline)___Hillel Italie: The Canadian Press: Acclaimed translator says literary translation about fidelity and feel___(ragline)___Hillel Italie: Associated Press: Mantel's 'Wolf Hall' wins fiction prize in NYC___(ragline)___Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: Almost a Conversation by Mary Oliver___(ragline)___Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: Fields by Faith Shearin___(ragline)___Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: Good! by John Maloney___(ragline)___Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: Honey by Connie Wanek___(ragline)___Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: Puttanesca by Michael Heffernan___(ragline)___Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: Retriever by Faith Shearin___(ragline)___Garrison Keillor: The Writer's Almanac: Sonnet 65: Since brass nor stone nor boundless sea by William Shakespeare___(ragline)___Adam Kirsch: The Wall Street Journal: From J.D., P.O. Box 32___(ragline)___Ted Kooser: American Life in Poetry: Column 259___(ragline)___Robert Pinsky: Slate: Sex, Violence, and the Supernatural___(ragline)___Robert Pinsky: The New Yorker: Whale___(ragline)___Carol Rumens: The Guardian: Books blog: Poem of the week: Sir Patrick Spens___(ragline)___B.T. Shaw: The Oregonian: Poetry: A Q & A with Barbara Drake, author of 'Driving One Hundred'___(ragline)___John Timpane: Philadelpia Inquirer: Disquiet in Google's online library___(ragline)___Frank Wilson: When Falls the Coliseum: That's What He Said: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing___(ragline)___CounterPunch: Poets' Basement: Pointer, Orloski and Holt___(ragline)___findingDulcinea: Happy Birthday: Happy Birthday, Jack Kerouac, Beat Author of "On the Road"___(ragline)___Guernica: Poetry: Three Tales___(ragline)___Lawrence Journal-World: Poet's Showcase: 'E-mail Disclaimer'___(ragline)___Morning Star: Well Versed: Missing History___(ragline)___The New Yorker: Poetry: Ecclesiastes 11:1___(ragline)___PBS: Newshour: Weekly Poem: 'July in Washington'___(ragline)___Portsmouth Herald News: Poem: Clock Woes___(ragline)___San Antonio Express-News: Poetry: Los Brazos de Jesus___(ragline)___The Washington Post: Poet's Choice by Julie Carr___(ragline)___The Assam Tribune: Bireswar Baruah passes away___(ragline)___The Times-Picayune: Joseph and Maxine Cassin, married 55 years, die days apart___(ragline)___The Citizen: French singer Jean Ferrat dead at 79___(ragline)___Coshocton Tribune: Wayne E. Hunley___(ragline)___St. Petersburg Times: Mom of man killed in hit-and-run says driver who returned should never have left___(ragline)___Philadelphia Inquirer: Maisha W. Johnson, 61, executive___(ragline)___Moody County Enterprise: Betty Jones, 96___(ragline)___Spicezee: Jnanpith Award winner Vinda Karandikar dead___(ragline)___DNA: Marathi literature loses its maverick genius___(ragline)___The Del Norte: Elton Calvin Kroschel, 84___(ragline)___The Villager: David Nolan, 48, 'the soul of Wetlands,' radio host___(ragline)___The Associated Press: Body of missing NH mother found in Maine___(ragline)___SmallTownPapers: Bernice Van Otterloo___(ragline)___Star Beacon: Conneaut icon, Ken Vaughn, dies at age 72___

March 16th forum announcement

Dear Poetry Aficionados,

Poetry & Poets in Rags blog


Even if you have a complete works, you may not have all of Shakespeare's plays on your book shelf. A new addition is where we begin this week.

We also continue with the oppression of poets around the globe. This week, we go to Burma, where the illegal government is not only keeping (poet) Aung San Suu Kyi from running against them, but forcing her party, the National League for Democracy, to dissolve. I'm trying to imagine the logic here, where Than Shwe, who keeps jailing Suu Kyi and putting her under house arrest says something like, "What do you mean we're illegal? Whah? Aung San Suu Kyi didn't even run for election." If you recall, it was this military junta that removed her after she won the election for Prime Minister in 1990. Poet U Win Tin chimes in on this issue as well in our News at Eleven section.

We've also got some excellent poetry to read. Great Regular Robert Pinsky is outdoing himself, for instance. Carol Ann Duffy brings us a collection on aging. And Garrison Keillor's selections are included as ever. But there's more, much more.

Thanks for clicking in.

Yours,
Rus

Our links:

IBPC: Poetry & Poets in Rags

Poetry & Poets in Rags blog

IBPC Home

~~~~~~~~~~~

News at Eleven: In a move bound to spark

heated scholarly discussion the play is being included by Shakespeare publishers Arden in a new series of the Bard's work.

The publication of the play, in fully annotated form, comes after a 10-year mission to crack a literary mystery by Professor Brean Hammond, of the University of Nottingham.

He is now convinced that the play originates from a collaboration between Britain's best-known playwright and Jacobean dramatist John Fletcher.

from The Daily Mail: Shakespeare's 'lost' play is published. . . or is it just a Double Falsehood?
also The Guardian: 'Shakespeare's lost play' no hoax, says expert
also The New York Times: New Life for an Old Play, but Is It Shakespeare's?

~~~~~~~~~~~

News at Eleven: To write of this collection as a sonnet sequence,

though the term is a convenient shorthand, is to misdescribe it in some ways. Yes, each poem is a sonnet, but [Ted] Genoways has taken the trouble to roughen the surfaces so that the content, not the form, is most apparent at first. A number of the poems are standard 14-lines-on-the-page blocks, but others are staggered, with broken lines that mask the poems' identity and provide visual variety. His most strikingly appropriate use of form is in the only poem of rhymed couplets in the book, "Washday Song," placed just after Anna has lost her husband. After Abe's death, Anna is now uncoupled, unrhymed, and Genoways' use of the form makes the loss all the more poignant.

from Press-Register: 'Anna, Washing' by Ted Genoways

~~~~~~~~~~~

News at Eleven: Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's opposition leader,

has denounced the military government's new laws passed earlier this week that bar her from running for office as "unjust" and "repressive".

Commenting for the first time since the set of five laws were passed on Monday, she said she is surprised but undaunted by the laws which will also bar her from voting in elections expected later this year.

The country's ruling generals enacted five election-related laws on Monday to govern the polls, and have been gradually unveiling details in state-run newspapers. Several provisions announced so far severely curtail Aung San Suu Kyi's involvement in national politics, even if she were to be freed from house arrest before her term ends in November.

from Asian Tribune: Suu Kyi denounces Myanmar junta's new election rules
also Calgary Herald: Myanmar court rejects Suu Kyi bid for freedom

~~~~~~~~~~~

News at Eleven: Win Tin sent a video message

to a crowd attending a promotion ceremony for the book held in Maesot, Thailand, on March 12. The ceremony was organized by the Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners (Burma), a group formed in 2000 by former Burmese political prisoners.

"I felt that I had to write this book so that people know the truth and can empathize with the real plight of Burma's political prisoners. I hope that when they understand the situation, they will be motivated to oppose Burma's dictators and fight them," he said.

"I know that I face great risk in writing this book, but I refuse to be intimidated by this danger. I purged all of my fears and wrote frankly about what everyone should know."

from Radio Free Asia: Opposition Leader Describes Imprisonment
also Mizzima: 2010 election carries no weight

~~~~~~~~~~~

News at Eleven: "France deplores the decision by Iranian authorities

to prevent Simin Behbahani . . . from leaving Iran when she should have travelled to France," Bernard Valero, the spokesman for the French foreign ministry, said in a statement.

"Her courage echoes that of numerous Iranians, who, despite the repression, lead a non-violent struggle to assert their fundamental rights," he added.

from Reuters India: France condemns Iran for barring poet from event

~~~~~~~~~~~