Frustration and Elation
I've been working feverishly to bring you video blogs from some awesome poetry events at Deep Cleveland and Joe Sundae's - but issues with my big computer have ground progress to a halt. I seem to be getting the issues fixed. But after today, I won't have time to work on video until Monday. Frustrating....
I apologize to the folks who've been waiting patiently.
Fortunately, though, I've still been able to use my laptop all day (which does not have the software or memory for video), so I've been able to accomplish quite a few other things. One is adding to my online library.
Last night I added The Flea by John Donne (to whom my high school creative writing teacher generously compared me in the early 1980s) and Prayer by Hilda Doolittle (who I chose as one of my "Favorite Poets from A to Z" in D Is for Doolittle).
Today I added a previously unpublished "epic" poem contributed by Deep Cleveland Poetry Hour founder Mark S. Kuhar (perhaps better known as markk). I'm elated to be able to feature Mark's piece (get your minds out of the gutter!) in the library. And it's a fine piece of work. Please check it out by clicking here - or you can follow this permalink:
http://library.crisischronicles.com/2008/08/21/the-declamatia-by-mark-s-kuhar.aspx
* * *
I'm also excited to announce that I've received many excellent submissions for the library, from both the so-called known and the so-called unknown. I haven't had a chance to respond personally to everybody yet, but wow!... Upcoming contributors I'm particularly thrilled about having onboard include ArtCriminal Steven Smith and Macho Sex author Cheryl Townsend. But let me shut up before I spoil any surprises. Keep an eye out at http://library.crisischronicles.com. Barring an act of God, I plan to post something new there every day. Videos will have to wait until Monday, however....
Here's a photo Dianne Borsenik took of me and my video camera during this month's reading at Joe Sundae's in Sandusky:
Might help if I removed my finger from in front of the lens
I apologize to the folks who've been waiting patiently.
Fortunately, though, I've still been able to use my laptop all day (which does not have the software or memory for video), so I've been able to accomplish quite a few other things. One is adding to my online library.
Last night I added The Flea by John Donne (to whom my high school creative writing teacher generously compared me in the early 1980s) and Prayer by Hilda Doolittle (who I chose as one of my "Favorite Poets from A to Z" in D Is for Doolittle).
Today I added a previously unpublished "epic" poem contributed by Deep Cleveland Poetry Hour founder Mark S. Kuhar (perhaps better known as markk). I'm elated to be able to feature Mark's piece (get your minds out of the gutter!) in the library. And it's a fine piece of work. Please check it out by clicking here - or you can follow this permalink:
http://library.crisischronicles.com/2008/08/21/the-declamatia-by-mark-s-kuhar.aspx
I'm also excited to announce that I've received many excellent submissions for the library, from both the so-called known and the so-called unknown. I haven't had a chance to respond personally to everybody yet, but wow!... Upcoming contributors I'm particularly thrilled about having onboard include ArtCriminal Steven Smith and Macho Sex author Cheryl Townsend. But let me shut up before I spoil any surprises. Keep an eye out at http://library.crisischronicles.com. Barring an act of God, I plan to post something new there every day. Videos will have to wait until Monday, however....
Here's a photo Dianne Borsenik took of me and my video camera during this month's reading at Joe Sundae's in Sandusky:
Might help if I removed my finger from in front of the lens
I think you should add Dr. Suess to your on line library. I like him better than Steven B. Smith. And I like the controversial nature of his work.
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Dr. Seuss sent me to school,
Steven B. Smith picked me up after class
where we smoked some grass
and did some low class
down town get down
(lady smith)
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I would love to add Dr. Seuss as well, if his estate will grant me permission to do it.
Can't afford to get deleted by GoDaddy for copyright infringement... lol
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seems like you were caught off guard in the act of being a card...
I will dig into your library & devote some time
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If I remember correctly, just as she was about to snap a picture of me with the camera (without me being aware of it), I put the camera down. When she informed me of this, I picked up the camera again and posed for this shot.
I will add to the library daily - so though it's a very modest size now, it should become much bigger and cooler - though size isn't everything.
'Twould make a cool comic book: Seuss versus Smith....
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The Suess Smith Versus
or
The Great Smith Suess Versus
i'd buy it.
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I love what you are doing here. I also enjoy the Modernists, and the Renaissance, and everything in between. Thx for posting!
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Thank you, Anna!
I have a lot of Modernists in mind for future additions - different folks define Modernist differently, but I'm thinking in terms of writers like Apollinaire, Baudelaire, Eliot, H.D., Joyce, Kafka, Lorca, William Carlos Williams, Woolf, and Yeats. If you have anyone else specifically in mind, please let me know and I'll aim to include them.
Same goes for the Renaissance... I have Cervantes, Boccaccio and Shakespeare (perhaps Machiavelli and Erasmus as well) on the list of authors I'd to post; but outside of those, I confess a bit of ignorance when it comes to authors from that era. I welcome any recommendations.
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You're looking like Al Pacino in that pic...a very vexed Al Pacino.
cherry blossom in hand
thoughts of love dance in the air
kissing in moonlight
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My Tony Montana look?... lol. Thanks, Susan!
And such a beautiful haiku....
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Well I'd be interested in knowing what kind of hell your computer is putting you thru in trying to do the videos..... these stories when you post them are interesting to read... like your adventure with trying to tape T.M.Gottl reading... they end up being a good blog read.
I for one will have to respectfully disagree with Therese on leaving out Steve Smith and including Dr. Suess in the online library... on two counts...( I hope she was actually joking) one that Dr. Suess is widely available and widely read and Steve Smith is not... and should be. Second... Steve Smith is highly regarded as a top poet to be read now adays if you want to know poetry.. and is stated to be so in the 2009 Poet's Market reference guide... which is a poetry market standard.. and if they regard him highly as a top living poet so should we.
Besides I know and like Steve and his poetry.. it's unique and varied... so from my own personal stand point I'd want him in theonline library too.
My Mighigan 5 cents worth on things..
I'm looking forward to taking the time to rread Marks magnum opus that you've posted...
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Well actually, all I said was that I liked Dr. Seuss better than Steve Smith and no, I wasn't joking about that! I think Smith is an old coot. Maybe Suess was too, for all I know but at least I like his work. Seuss may talk nonsense but Smith makes no damn sense at all and until I can get my hands on some decent drugs, (did you hear that medical marijuana is going to be on the ballot?) I'm stickin' with my story. Are you possibly trying to do a little butt smooching here, Chris? Not that that would be a bad thing (yes it actually would) but you seem to agree with everything that gets posted on this blog. (except this)
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LOL......
no butt smooching here.. I just know Steve and know his work and like it.. end of story... I like things that are different as well as traditional.
So we will have to agree to disagree... which is fine with me.
And no I don't always agree with everything... you'd have to go back to when this blog was posted on MySpace to see that... but I'm a notorious pain in the ass... ask John.
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Hahaha! Thanks, Terese and Chris!
I'm the king butt smoocher and pain in the ass in this neighborhood!
Thank you both for making me laugh this morning.
I still wanna see a Smith versus Seuss comic book. Might have to create one someday, if no one else beats me to it!...
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Oh... You haven't been back to listen to my rants on thr Olympic blog have you?? I do rant once in a while too...
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I think you disagreed with Elena because she said something that was disagreeable to John. So you're a selective smoocher, whereas John just pretty much kisses everyone's butt ( except Elena's. What up with that?)
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Actually I said it because it was disagreeable to me. I don't agree with John on everything.. but on the Olympic thing and China I have an awful lot to say anf happen to agree. Probably not a good thing to get me started on it here I could have said a lot more there...
But yes, I guess I could be catagorized a selective butt smoocher... especially if I regard people as friends...
so guilty as charged ...
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Just say no to butt kissing!
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No offense taken on any account here.... but it made me laugh to be officially tagged a brown-noser... so for the official record.......
By way of a bit of humor....
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Oh, kiss my ass! Just kidding... Have a good one.
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I just finally got around to looking at this latest blog. I never have put my mouth on anyone's butt and I never will. ha ha ha ha...Get real all you kiss asses. It does nobody any good especially the kisser. LMAO And by the way all poets aren't the same and some really are full of shit and expletives.
I personally am not too fond of this kind of poetry either. And I don't consider every poem I see on John's blogs a big WOW!!
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Chris, I don't see you as a butt kisser at all. I think you pretty much speak your mind. I think you are diplomatic but passionate about what you believe and it so happens that much of the time you agree with John, which I do as well. I guess that could be perceived as butt kissing but it is really like mindedness.
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i'll send you some poems today, even though terese seems to feel she'd rather i not.
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LOL! I'd better not say what's on my mind.....
I forgot to wish you luck tomorrow, John
So good luck
I hope you don't suck
Watch your language
Don't say f%@k.
Well, that oughta do it.
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Thanks, Terese! It'll be hard not to say fuck; but I gave my word not to, and will do my best to behave.
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I am extremely honored and happy that you're contributing, Smith. We haven't always agreed on everything (Hillary comes to mind, though in retrospect you hit more nails on the head then than I realized). But (though it might sound like butt-kissing, I'm totally sincere) I believe you are one of the greatest thinkers and artists of our time (or any time). I'm very happy I've had the opportunity to get to know you somewhat - and knowing you has inspired me to be a better artist, writer, and person (though I'm still working on it). I'm thrilled to have the privilege of featuring some of your work on my site.
Having read Terese's blogs for a while, I know she has great intelligence and creativity as well. I'm left to suppose simply that not all art is for everybody. I imagine if everybody liked the same thing, life would become incredibly boring and we might have very little interesting to talk about...
Ezra Pound is by all accounts one of the all time great poets - yet I never totally appreciated him as much as other folks seemed to think I should. Took me a long time to get Flannery O'Connor, too. Hated her work the first time I read it - but was obliged to study it til my brain nearly bled - probably wouldn't have done so if I hadn't needed that course for my degree. But ten years later, I understand a lot better what she was doing and I have a deeper respect for her work. Still don't necessarily like reading her work, but I can recognize the greatness in her art. Maybe my appreciation for Pound would increase if I put a similar effort into studying him, but I just don't have the ambition, desire or interest to do so right now - I have other artists that are more accessible, meaningful and important to me personally at the present moment. Like Smith....
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i don't like jane austen.
*runs and hides in the corner*
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She's easier to endure than O'Connor, though perhaps not as "serious" an artist (whatever that means). I give her kudos for helping blaze a trail for women writers. And she tells a good story, for her era. I read Austen because I felt I needed to for a sense of cultural literacy - and then re-read her because an Ohio University professor assigned her. But I've no desire to ever read her again.
Thinking about reading O'Connor again one of these days though...
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have never tried o'connor, but maybe i might like her.
pound doesn't do much for me either.
as you stated above, if we all liked the same things, it would be a boring world indeed.
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I would recommend O'Connor's Wise Wound as a good starting point. My favorite... and helps illuminate her other work (especially the shorts stories in A Good Man Is Hard to Find, which are what I read first and didn't immediately get).
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thanks john! it's always good to have a starting point.
it sort is how sometimes you like a band, buy a cd, listen and think it's just ok, then find out later you would have liked a different one better.
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i've always had trouble with pound, except for the rare poem. i don't like to study poetry to get it. i want the poem to want me there.
flannery o'connor for some reason liked right away. but it's been 30 years and i cannot remember what i read.
thanks for the the words. i can't do a gary cooper aw shucks in the sand, and i lack the teflon charm of a cary grant, so will just say thanks.
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I had to laugh at just say no to butt kissing with a cigarette. I haven't had a cigarette now for several months and my doctor thinks I am just wonderful for giving it up and also have never had marijuana, cocaine, heroin etc. and never intend to. So who knows by not infecting myself kissing butts or taking drugs I still can be a cynical ass kicker if I want to and a devil's advocate and will be happy making a whole filet mignon for my family this weekend (Kevin is also driving here for my little family reunion) and arriving tomorrow afternoon. My wine club sent 12 bottles of imported wines and today I am trying to get photos on my web site and have 140 slides from a lecture I gave and have to choose a few from these to give to Marc who is creating my new web site. So I don't have a lot of time to check all your blogs and fogs and jogs that are produced on a daily basis.
Dr. Seuss, by the way, is not a poet in the real sense of that word. He is read by kids and doesn't use fuck, damn or shit in his books...so watch your language when you give your poetry tomorrow to the kids in the next reading.
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Thanks, Elena! Have a wonderful time with your family. Say hi from me!
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*pouts*
*nods*
yay for laptops!
and can't wait to read markk's poem.
and...
smith and suess both rock.
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I agree!
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This is all very interesting to me. I prefer to not say bad things about people (except the government) because I don't see any use in it. I'll offer my opinion on things, but I don't have the intent of hurting or dividing. So I probably come off as obsequious for this reason. Why would I bother to comment or read this if I didn't like it? I'm all for freedom of expression but I recommend a good dose of common sense.
However I will and I do "get back" at digs. & I love digging into open cans of worms.
Smith is the best poet I've come across, and he dares to be aware in a stiflingly square world. He is his own boss. That's why I hunted him down and married him. He is a lightning rod for controversy yet he refuses to explain himself, maintaining a gated dignity of sorts. But taste is highly subjective, so to each her own. Ironic that you would use Seuss as a kind of counter example, because I admire both - perhaps I like Seuss as much as Smith - I think Smith is more of an "after school special."
John is writing some pretty good poetry, he's intellectual, he's a good moderator and tries to keep the tone of his site non-toxic, and his blogs are almost like being at the scene. His poetry blogs about other peoples' poetry are very informative. I think most people come here because they're getting something from it, not because they purposefully wish to kiss ass.
Here's a vision test:
Bye Buy
The Man keeps knocking
Down my front door
Wants to sell me some
Sorta social spore
Says grits & groceries
Ain’t enough
In the modern life
You need much more stuff
Made me want to crow
And flap my thing
Chase the hole
Outside wedding ring
So I cut my hair
De-furred my face
Gave the Man a chance
To show a better place
Where the air was clear
The water free
The fair folk there
Accepting me
But when they pursed my lips
To kiss an ugly place
The Man above unzipped below
I said sorry sir I gotta go
Get out of my face
You can keep your fairs
Your free fatted Fraus
The lure of your lair
Is lacking in now
I’ll take the stair
It’s quicker somehow
Cleaner too
Thanks to no you
You can unstab my back
Cuz you’ll need your knife
Rat back to the pack
That leads your life
It’s hit the road Jack
Be ass and back
Or tap taps brutal bell
I bye buy’s black burden
I lay down your load
You ain’t no at
For this gone cat
As for is
You’re due your due
You can go to Hell
Be your own fondue
Drink dropping lake
Eat rising grape
Work rolling rock returning
Dirt burning
s b smith
If you can't see the genius encapsulated in the above poem, I wish I could give you better glasses.
"I actually do think about what people say," Smith tells me, "but you know, Lady, you can never convert people."
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Several things, Lady...
First, thank you for your kind words about my poetry/blogs.
I love the word obsequious.
Smith indeed "dares to be aware in a stiflingly square world." Well said, and another reason I have such high regard for him....
That and his poetry... thank you for sharing this brilliant example.
I tend to try to avoid saying bad things about people, too. When I do do it, I tend to wish I hadn't. That's just me though. On the other hand, there are times when I probably should speak up and be critical, but don't, perhaps because I prefer peace to drama, perhaps because in some cases I'm a coward. But I do recognize that sometimes bad things need to be honestly addressed. And I'm working on finding that balance in my own life. Sometimes I think I have no right to criticize another when I have so much to work on inside me.
I like what Smith said in a recent blog - to what degree it applies here, I'll let others decide:
"the worst thing those supposedly in the know can do is attack another poet - it hurts, undermines their sense of self, may prevent them from rising to the next level of intimacy. and why would anyone want to deprive the world of another poem? - even the worst poem brings a ray of joy into the writer's heart. why not attack tv instead, a genuine abomination whose each hour of daily watching increases one's risk of alzheimer's.
i say you don't like someone, instead of attacking them, don't read them. most poetry is less than perfect be it hearing, reading, or writing. poetry is not for the faint-hearted or the impatient. if you are able to and do want to help another up the ladder, then praise in public, put down in private."
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The last line is my motto... the sentiment is what I wished I had added to one of my previous comments... but didn't. So thank you for saying it.
My feeling is if I have something substantially negative to say...I will not air that in public but share it privately with someone... rather than denigrate or humiliate someone in public... or on their blog... it's not my style.. I will however vehemently defend people.. that I willdo. And will not hold back.
I guess I feel as Lady does... I'd much rather leave a positive supportive comment that a put down or jab... it's just not constructive.
And if that comes off as butt kissing.. so be it... I'll kiss butt for that reason anyday.
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sorry for the typos...
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my own glasses are working just fine.
witty, with bite.
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"I think most people come here because they're getting something from it, not because they purposefully wish to kiss ass."
-Amen-
I love ALL your comments and I enjoy this site so much because of the diversity and also because we do all have something in common as well. I love peace and I don't like conflict. I love people and I want to know about what makes us all tick. Constructive criticism is good. Put downs are bad.
Peace & Love to you all because we all have something to give and we need to stick together. The world is getting tougher as we speak.
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Amen to you as well, Susan!
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i usually leave a comment and never return. lady told me about this so i came back for a marvelous read. what a hoot for this old coot.
Lite Verse
We come from light
We go to light
But what a heavy in between
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was born, am living, will die?
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One of my favorite poems, Smith--thank you for posting it here. And to weigh in on the liking Smith's poems issue, I have been reading a lot of Smith's poems lately, and have developed a deep appreciation for his sense of humor, his deft use of words and wordplay, and his obvious mastery of the art of poetry-- and his ability and determination to break the rules so gloriously! Write on-- and right on! Smith...
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The man is such a lightning rod for controversy... LOL..
How wonderful....
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yr an old coot & attractive to boot
you get my motor thrumming
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You see this is why I like the innocent blogs that seem so harmless and unassuming that you post... they will often surprise you .. jump up and bite you...
There's enough ambiguity for us to feed off of and have some interesting dialogue... Why that happens I'm not sure but it's the short blogs you post that get the most comments.. did you notice that?
I think we like talking to one another...
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OMG! you mean as if we are FRIENDS or something?
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LOL.. Yes...as if we were friends or something...LOL...
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i've got the giggles now. hee hee!
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Life is a woodpecker
It pecks at my sanity
Like it's a tree
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Good luck today on your reading at the Phoenix. I suppose you will be accompanied by your favorite selective
friend and butt smoocher. LOL
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I think people better watch what they are saying in comments. I find usually that "thank you, yes, I love it," etc are good comments. But one must be a bit discriminating with words, even in poetry.
Remember sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never harm me. Silence is golden.
Also who cares about others opinions?
One can have everything one wants while sitting on one's butt. That way nobody can try to kiss it. Just leave your butt out of other's faces. LMAO
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i suspect i've had unpleasantness with this terese before. i was attacked and vilified by someone with the same name and writing style for something i had nothing to do with. but i'll leave the story of that nastiness for another time.
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Well JC's featured reading was a smash. And there were several butt smoochers there and we all had a great time of it... which JC can share when he blogs about it in the future.
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Oh... and I would like to catagorize it as support for a friend and someone trying to make his way in the world not butt smooching... but if that's what that is called now a days...guilty as charged.
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OMG were there other butt smoochers at the Phoenix also besides Chris? I hope you don't have lipstick prints all over your butt after reading your poetry. Waiting to see some of the blogs you promised and the poetry you read. Also I want one of your Bloggerel signed by you. Pretty please!!
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You've got it coming.
Somehow this image seems like a good "final word" for this discussion:
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NOW I AM REALLY LAUGHING MY ASS OFF!!
THIS IS HILARIOUS!! SEE YA SOON I HOPE..
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This leaves me with no IFS, BUTTS, ANDS or ORS..
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After seeing the other posting of Dr. Suess I could resist... sorry...
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I love it!
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