Poetry Month

Hey April is National Poetry Month!  That's exciting.  Well if you're a poet it is. 

To celebrate, I will be posting something poetry related each day in April.  To start with, Here's a recommendation:

Horoscopes for the Dead by Billy Collins.  If you haven't read it yet, it's his latest book and it's a great place to start if you're thinking about getting into poetry. 

New Review

A while ago I was offered the opportunity to review a book of poetry, and since I have some down time these days... 

It was a challenge for sure, but I enjoyed it... if you want to know more about it, hit up the link! 

http://erb.kingdomnow.org/of-indigo-and-saffron-michael-mcclure-feature-review

House Husbandry, Day 1

Today I begin a new chapter in life:  today I become part-time-writer-part-time-stay-at-home-dad.  I'm  still working at the school on Thursdays and Fridays, so I'm also still a part-time bilingual para-educator, but that's not new.

I'm a pretty undisciplined writer, so it's going to be a challenge for me to get writing done with all the cooking and housework and napping that could also get done.  As of now my plan is spend nap time writing.  She falls asleep, I write.  I feel like this will be a really natural use of our time together, since writing is pretty quiet and since sleeping is one of her main pass-times.

However, already during today's nap there has been a washer beep, asking me to unload it and some beans for dinner that needed to be soaked.  So we'll see how it works out.   Here are some projects on the horizon though:

-short story collection (already about 2/3 done)
-posting poems that have been submitted but rejected (they might as well get read somewhere)
-researching self-publishing a poetry collection.  I'm talking about REALLY self publishing, like making the books myself, even down to designing the font. 

We'll see.

Tweet.

I've never done this before (and won't really be able to do it tonight) but there is a poetry party tonight at 6 (9 Eastern) here.  You can tweet your own lines or just sit back and read some interesting ideas.  I'll be interested to see what it's like.  More tomorrow.

The Weight

They walk with the weight of the world
on their feet
the weight of the world
pressing against the soles
of their souls
the weight of the world
they’re tired of waiting
the waiting
the waiting
the wait of the world
for the bus
with a sigh of the times
they board their bus
a sigh of the times
they sit back
as far back as possible
and time begins to fly
for everyone else in the world
except them
the weight of the world
pressing against the thin plush seats

Simile, you're on JTV...

I was working with a fourth grade class yesterday and they were learning about similes. Though I'm thrilled they are learning the basics, I was a little disappointed with the lack of imagination, and the lack of encouragement or inspiration they received. All the examples were pretty obvious and cliche. It reminded me of how powerful a good simile can be, and how I don't use it enough. today's fog was thick like cafeteria gravy the kind that you might lose a kid in...

I once was found...

I once was found but now am lost was fine, but now I see a prodigal son reunited only to find I was switched at birth with an Imam from Detroit so certain my of destiny only to lose reception in the spiritual bay bridge-tunnel. I see people around me fain confidence and then crack, I wonder why being confused is so socially distasteful? When I grow up I want to do something that pays very little and requires very few teachable skills. And I want to be the best at it. I don't even know how to know the things I need to know to know the one who puts these lines in my head.