Poetry and About Poetry

Outtakes by Charles Wright My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is a lovely books a artifact, which may become more the way of things to come as eBooks take over the basic function of texts. The juxtaposition of black and white art with Wright’s sestets, the latter captured from his original typewritten manuscripts including smudged keystrokes, makes for an aesthetically pleasing art work. And further, Wright’s poetry is real, rich in imagery, and fine in word choice, with a sense of form and willingness to play freely against that form. View all my reviews

Outtakes by Charles Wright My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is a lovely books a artifact, which may become more the way of things to come as eBooks take over the basic function of texts. The juxtaposition of black and white art with Wright's sestets, the latter captured from his original typewritten manuscripts including smudged keystrokes, makes for an aesthetically pleasing art work. And further, Wright's poetry is real, rich in imagery, and fine in word choice, with a sense of form and willingness to play freely against that form. View all my reviews

My thanks to The Griffin Bookshop and Coffee Bar  and to all who attended my poetry reading Sunday June 22, 2014.  Thanks also to those who purchased copies of  “ Memories in Clay, Dreams of Wolves .”

My thanks to The Griffin Bookshop and Coffee Bar  and to all who attended my poetry reading Sunday June 22, 2014.  Thanks also to those who purchased copies of  " Memories in Clay, Dreams of Wolves ."

Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam by Omar Khayyam My rating: 4 of 5 stars I originally read this in high school and have not ventured back since then. It is in many ways a long plea for carpe diem and a kind of “To His Coy Mistress” seduction song, with the mistress being both a woman and wine. I was reminded of the number of common expressions which came from this poem. One I did not recall, but admire is: “The Stars are setting and the Caravan/Starts for the Dawn of Nothing…” View all my reviews

Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam by Omar Khayyam My rating: 4 of 5 stars I originally read this in high school and have not ventured back since then. It is in many ways a long plea for carpe diem and a kind of "To His Coy Mistress" seduction song, with the mistress being both a woman and wine. I was reminded of the number of common expressions which came from this poem. One I did not recall, but admire is: "The Stars are setting and the Caravan/Starts for the Dawn of Nothing..." View all my reviews

Here is a map showing my 1972 backpacking/hitchhiking trip that inspired the poems in “Memories in Clay, Dreams of Wolves” – Section “Driftwood Memories or Waiting for Fire.”

Here is a map showing my 1972 backpacking/hitchhiking trip that inspired the poems in "Memories in Clay, Dreams of Wolves" - Section "Driftwood Memories or Waiting for Fire."

The First Four Books of Poems by W.S. Merwin My rating: 3 of 5 stars There are a number of fine poems in this collection, and Merwin’s use of language and his varied subjects are commendable. However, sometimes the language drifts to the needlessly archaic and verbose. View all my reviews

The First Four Books of Poems by W.S. Merwin My rating: 3 of 5 stars There are a number of fine poems in this collection, and Merwin's use of language and his varied subjects are commendable. However, sometimes the language drifts to the needlessly archaic and verbose. View all my reviews

One of my favorite professors, and one who helped me see the leader inside me, just paid me a wonderful compliment about my book; Milton Foster was Department Head for English at Eastern Michigan  University  when I attended. He drew me out of class and invited me to  participate  in student government. Milt is a WWI Army Air Corps  veteran  and and mentor and role model for me. Because he is  a retired English professor and  because  he is a man I  respect, his words below mean a lot to me: From  Milton Foster : “Hi David – Your book of poems is wonderful. I especially enjoy the scenes from your life in the Pittsburgh area and your life in Michigan because I know those places well. Your poems are rich in concrete and specific details, making them very readable. Milt Foster”

One of my favorite professors, and one who helped me see the leader inside me, just paid me a wonderful compliment about my book; Milton Foster was Department Head for English at Eastern Michigan  University  when I attended. He drew me out of class and invited me to  participate  in student government. Milt is a WWI Army Air Corps  veteran  and and mentor and role model for me. Because he is  a retired English professor and  because  he is a man I  respect, his words below mean a lot to me: From  Milton Foster : "Hi David - Your book of poems is wonderful. I especially enjoy the scenes from your life in the Pittsburgh area and your life in Michigan because I know those places well. Your poems are rich in concrete and specific details, making them very readable. Milt Foster"

Green With Beasts by W.S. Merwin My rating: 3 of 5 stars Merwin’s third collection shows promise for what follows. His use of language harks back to Anglo-Saxon beat lines and alliteration, and is a rich music. Many of the shorter poems are quite good. Many of the longer poems seem to need paring down as they show his love of language sometimes overcoming his art. View all my reviews

Green With Beasts by W.S. Merwin My rating: 3 of 5 stars Merwin's third collection shows promise for what follows. His use of language harks back to Anglo-Saxon beat lines and alliteration, and is a rich music. Many of the shorter poems are quite good. Many of the longer poems seem to need paring down as they show his love of language sometimes overcoming his art. View all my reviews

Congratulations to Charles Wright, Poet Laureate.  http://ow.ly/y1O3E

Congratulations to Charles Wright, Poet Laureate.  http://ow.ly/y1O3E

The Summerset Review Summer 2014 edition has been released including my poem “This Weaving.” Go to my website  http://www.davidanthonysam.com/   and on the right sidebar menu select “This Weaving.”

The Summerset Review Summer 2014 edition has been released including my poem "This Weaving." Go to my website  http://www.davidanthonysam.com/   and on the right sidebar menu select "This Weaving."

Starting Friday June 13, & to celebrate the official release of my new book, the Kindle version of my first book is free for a very limited time.

Starting Friday June 13, & to celebrate the official release of my new book, the Kindle version of my first book is free for a very limited time.

Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham My rating: 4 of 5 stars in an interesting analysis of Jefferson as a man comfortable exercising political, positional and personal power to achieve his desired ends, Meacham proves himself to be a Jefferson advocate if not apologist. He takes Jefferson’s version of events, giving him credit for the meeting that led to a vital compromise on the new nation taking on the debts of the states, for the Monroe Doctrine, etc. While I do not entirely agree with this stance, I do agree that this biography is a worth addition to the many available seeking to better understand America’s most enigmatic president. View all my reviews

Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham My rating: 4 of 5 stars in an interesting analysis of Jefferson as a man comfortable exercising political, positional and personal power to achieve his desired ends, Meacham proves himself to be a Jefferson advocate if not apologist. He takes Jefferson's version of events, giving him credit for the meeting that led to a vital compromise on the new nation taking on the debts of the states, for the Monroe Doctrine, etc. While I do not entirely agree with this stance, I do agree that this biography is a worth addition to the many available seeking to better understand America's most enigmatic president. View all my reviews

Kindle Countdown sale of " Memories in Clay, Dreams of Wolves" has begun today, June 8. If you buy a copy, please highlight your favorite lines and thank you.

Diaries: The Python Years, 1969-1979 by Michael Palin My rating: 3 of 5 stars I love Monty Python, and looked forward to hearing some of the behind scenes of how their creative processes worked together. In that, this book did not disappoint. It is a diary, however. And as with any of us, much of Palin’s life described therein is filed with the daily mundane that is less interesting. View all my reviews

Diaries: The Python Years, 1969-1979 by Michael Palin My rating: 3 of 5 stars I love Monty Python, and looked forward to hearing some of the behind scenes of how their creative processes worked together. In that, this book did not disappoint. It is a diary, however. And as with any of us, much of Palin's life described therein is filed with the daily mundane that is less interesting. View all my reviews