Hudson River Haiku

A four-minute walk
From front door to train platform,
River view and all.

* * *

4.30.07
9:02 a.m.
approaching Grand Central Station

8-word poem

Fortunately,
Being a poet,
I'm all about
Rejection.

8-word poem

Figuring out
How to be.
Who to be.

8-word poem

In the middle
Of confusion
Lies all understanding.

Hudson River Haiku

The river in rain—
Water dripping on water—
Tears or a bath? Yes.

* * *

4.27.07
8:42 a.m.
approaching Harlem - 125th Street station

Recent reading: THE LAST NOVEL

I had read four of David Markson's books prior to recently picking up and reading his most recent, The Last Novel. I headed downtown to The Strand on the advice of Gina Myers and grabbed a (signed!) copy for myself.

This is another of Markson's amazing and unique books, formed solely of fascinating snippets about history, particularly of the arts: painting, writing, music. The occasional self-referential observation is made about "The Novelist," who is juggling all of these snippets in an effort to make them - and his life's work (or just life?) - cohere.

Two things among the hundreds of factoids that really stuck out: a mention of Wayne Gretzky; and of global warming!

8-word poem

Rumination
Is not
The enemy;
Try it
Sometime.

Sometimes there are no words

Hudson River Haiku

My river! At last!
Sheer cliffs over to my left,
And straight ahead: life.

* * *

4.26.07
8:32 a.m.
approaching Marble Hill station

ECOtality

For the past couple of months I have blogging for ECOtality.com, an environmental concern that is also "a researcher, inventor, developer, acquirer, and licensor of proprietary Green energy technologies."

Our mission is to change the way we power our homes and buildings, our vehicles and appliances, and to change the world and make it a better place for you, your kids and future generations.

ECOtality has partnered with NASA, among others, to develop the hydrogen/magnesium alternative energy source it calls Hydratus.

I encourage readers of this blog to visit ECOtality.com/blog and join the discussion. We are open to all points of view, are eager to share information, and wish to generate a lively debate regarding issues including but not limited to energy, ecology, foreign oil dependence, green technologies, and global warming.

Personally, I have been deeply affected by what I've learned by contributing to the blog. While I have a way to go before I am living a green lifestyle I would consider a good example for others to follow, my eyes have been opened to serious truths about the way we need to treat the planet.

8-word poem

How dare you
Live and breathe
Without him?

Terra Incognita

A fine time was had by all at Sunday's (4/22/07) reading for issue #7 of Terra Incognita.

Pictured to the right is yours truly, getting ready to read from my two chapbooks and some newer items which are being compiled into a volume to be published this year (along with my long-awaited 8-word poem collection).

It was great to be back on the stage at Cornelia Street, a wonderful venue that really takes poetry seriously. What a Godsend for those of us who have chosen to languish in relative obscurity while chasing down that elusive muse of verse.

Pictured below are all of the readers (that's yours truly again, second from the left surrounded by Michele Cooper, Elisabeth Frost and Kathryn Kulpa) along with two of Terra Incognita's founding editors, Alexandra van de Kamp and William Glenn (at right).




(Photos by MsAPhillips)

8-word poem

Compelling evidence:
Be happy
You're not
On trial.

8-word poem

Life:
It's nothing
But uncertainty;
Deal with
It.

8-word poem

No one
Among us
Lives
A shame-free
Life.

8-word poem

He has
A serious belief
In his
God.

8-word poem: THE JUNK MAIL VARIATIONS

Just take this
And become
A real man!

8-word poem: THE JUNK MAIL VARIATIONS

Your wishes
Will be completed
With our help.

Terra Incognita

This Sunday, April 22nd, thanks to Alexandra van de Kamp, one of the fine editors of Terra Incognita, a bi-lingual (English/Spanish) literary journal, I will be back at the Cornelia Street Cafe reading my poetry.

Alexandra chose my poem "A Captain America Pez Dispenser Floating in Brake Fluid," for publication in the most recent issue of Terra Incognita. It's always exciting to have a poem published (as in: I can't believe I am being published!). I am extremely grateful to Alexandra, and looking forward to this reading.

Details:

Sunday, April 22nd 6 p.m.

Cornelia Street Cafe
29 Cornelia Street (between Bleecker and West Fourth)
212-989-9319

$6 get you a free bar drink (you may need it!)

Remember: April is National Poetry Month!

8-word poem: THE DON IMUS STORY

If I say
"Niggardly,"
Will I be
Fired?

8-word poem

People believe
What they want;
It's a gift.

Recent Reading: FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

No man is an Iland, intire of it selfe; every man
is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a
Clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse,
as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Mannor
of thy friends or of thine owne were; any mans death
diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And
therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.

—JOHN DONNE

I recently read the book which takes its title from this wonderful passage by Donne. I had always meant to read this novel; I've read pitifully little by Hemingway.

The book is a stunning meditation on death and war and love and life, in that order (in my opinion). Though it had pacing issues which made me feel somewhat disengaged upon occasion, I would recommend it to those interested in the aforementioned subjects. Also, the book doesn't live up to the brilliance of the epigraph, but what could?

I can't help but feel that a quick listen to "Spanish Bombs" by The Clash would pretty much accomplish the same end as reading this novel, also.

8-word poem

My superstitions
Are getting
The better
Of me.

8-word poem

I can smell
The writing
On the wall.

8-word poem: THE JUNK MAIL VARIATIONS

big black cock
penetration
on white tranny ass

iTuneage - recent baker's dozen

1. "I'm A Little Dinosaur" - Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers
2. "Matthew And Son" - Cat Stevens
3. "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show" - Neil Diamond
4. "Everything's Just Wonderful" - Lily Allen
5. "Speeding Motorcycle" - Yo La Tengo
6. "When It's Over" - Sugar Ray
7. "I Only Want To Be With You" - Dusty Springfield
8. "Mixed Up, Shook Up Girl" - Mink DeVille
9. "Handle With Care" - The Traveling Wilburys
10. "Sad Song" - Lou Reed
11. "Big Boss Man" - Charlie Rich
12. "Heroes And Villains" - The Beach Boys
13. "Lemon Tree" - Trini Lopez

8-word poem

God gave me
All this fear
For something.

8-word poem

Grindhouse:
Half great,
And not
The Tarantino half.

8-word poem

All
The sad, beautiful
Songs
Won't stop
Playing.

8-word poem

Check back
For my plan
On global submission.

8-word poem

Who
Am I?
Mr. Stare Into the Abyss.

8-word poem

Look:
This is it,
There's no
Other tomorrow.

8-word poem

Fate:
Luck has nothing
To do
With it.