Poetry and About Poetry

As a poet, I know I have been equally influenced by Whitman and Dickinson.  Here are some of my favorite Whitman quotations: “Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes.” I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars.” “I sound my barbaric yawp over the rooftops of the world.”  “Do anything, but let it produce joy.”  “I exist as I am, that is enough,  If no other in the world be aware I sit content,  And if each and all be aware I sit content.” “And your very flesh shall be a great poem.” “Have you learned the lessons only of those who admired you, and were tender with you, and stood aside for you? Have you not learned great lessons from those who braced themselves against you, and disputed passage with you?” “The morning glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books.” “This is what you shall do; Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stan

As a poet, I know I have been equally influenced by Whitman and Dickinson.  Here are some of my favorite Whitman quotations: "Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes." I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars." “I sound my barbaric yawp over the rooftops of the world.”  “Do anything, but let it produce joy.”  “I exist as I am, that is enough,  If no other in the world be aware I sit content,  And if each and all be aware I sit content." "And your very flesh shall be a great poem." "Have you learned the lessons only of those who admired you, and were tender with you, and stood aside for you? Have you not learned great lessons from those who braced themselves against you, and disputed passage with you?" "The morning glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books." “This is what you shall do; Love the earth and

The Dancing Bears by W.S. Merwin My rating: 2 of 5 stars While I can see what the young Merwin was trying to do here, with real or imagined myth and folklore, the poems seem precious, the language stilted and artificially “poetic” and in all I am left cold. View all my reviews

My new writing website is live. www.davidanthonysam.com

My new writing website is live. www.davidanthonysam.com

The End of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light by Paul Bogard My rating: 5 of 5 stars A lyrical lament to what is lost, the darkness that enables us to see and hear more deeply, to experience the falling upwards into stars, the Milky Way. It is sad to understand that for those younger than 50, they probably do not recognize their loss. View all my reviews

Classic Authors Who Suck, According To Other Classic Authors

A Mask For Janus by W.S. Merwin My rating: 3 of 5 stars I admire Merwin’s poetry, so I was interested to see his development from an early age. The poetry here definitely shows great promise in the young man. However, it is stilted and derivative—but don’t we all write that way in the beginning? View all my reviews

A Mask For Janus by W.S. Merwin My rating: 3 of 5 stars I admire Merwin's poetry, so I was interested to see his development from an early age. The poetry here definitely shows great promise in the young man. However, it is stilted and derivative---but don't we all write that way in the beginning? View all my reviews

Dark Land, White Light  (2nd and 40th Anniversary edition) Originally published April 1974 Available on  Amazon  as  Kindle  or  Paperback  This collection was originally self-published as a chapbook in April 1974 by David Anthony Sam. The poems were written between 1970 and 1973, when the author was 20 to 23 years old. Most are here printed exactly as they were in 1974, although the author has made a few minor edits in this second and 40th Anniversary edition.

Dark Land, White Light  (2nd and 40th Anniversary edition) Originally published April 1974 Available on  Amazon  as  Kindle  or  Paperback  This collection was originally self-published as a chapbook in April 1974 by David Anthony Sam. The poems were written between 1970 and 1973, when the author was 20 to 23 years old. Most are here printed exactly as they were in 1974, although the author has made a few minor edits in this second and 40th Anniversary edition.

My new book is on prerelease sale. Please be kind and rate it on Goodreads , Amazon , Barnes & Noble etc.

My new book is on prerelease sale. Please be kind and rate it on Goodreads , Amazon , Barnes & Noble etc.

The Griffin Bookstore in Fredericksburg has generously agreed to my doing a reading and book signing on June 22. Check back for details. http://www.griffinbookshop.com/

Congratulations to Allan Peterson. #yam http://ow.ly/x13YM Tupelo Press is delighted to announce that Ruth Ellen Kocher has selected Allan Peterson’s  Other Than They Seem  as winner of the 2014 Snowbound Chapbook Poetry Award.

Congratulations to Allan Peterson. #yam http://ow.ly/x13YM Tupelo Press is delighted to announce that Ruth Ellen Kocher has selected Allan Peterson's  Other Than They Seem  as winner of the 2014 Snowbound Chapbook Poetry Award.

The Griffin Bookstore in Fredericksburg has generously agreed to my doing a reading and book signing on June 22. Check back for details. http://www.griffinbookshop.com/

A new journal, Literature Today, has accepted my poem “Eden” for future publication.

The Summerset Review has accepted  “This Weaving” for publication in an upcoming issue. http://www.summersetreview.org/

A new journal, Literature Today, has accepted my poem "Eden" for future publication.

The  Summerset Review has accepted   "This Weaving" for publication in an upcoming issue. http://www.summersetreview.org/

Vivarium: Poems by Natasha Sajae My rating: 4 of 5 stars An interesting experimental collection. Saje’ plays with language, etymology, type all organized by the English alphabet. Some of the experiments are a bit too cute. But overall, some fine lines and passionate poetry. Enjoy the vivarium of living poetry. View all my reviews

Vivarium: Poems by Natasha Sajae My rating: 4 of 5 stars An interesting experimental collection. Saje' plays with language, etymology, type all organized by the English alphabet. Some of the experiments are a bit too cute. But overall, some fine lines and passionate poetry. Enjoy the vivarium of living poetry. View all my reviews

A Boy's Will by Robert Frost My rating: 2 of 5 stars Early Frost---with the weakness of late 19th Century "poetic diction," There are glimmers of what great poetry that is to come. If you are studying his development, this is a good collection to see where Frost began, Otherwise, move to later collections for the good stuff. View all my reviews