Poetry and About Poetry

Secure the Shadow by Claudia Emerson My rating: 5 of 5 stars “And I, as I have always known myself, am fallen away then from the present tense into reminiscence–the lucid was.” So Claudia Emerson wrote in this fine collection published in 2012, just a few short years before she did indeed become the “was” no longer lucid. Secure the Shadows is her way of taking stills of what has died, her father, animals, and her future self, now lost to us forever, except in the wonderful poetry she left behind. Her eloquence is in the exact word and image. Her emotion is never untrue but always real—and measured just enough to be contained within those words and images. Emerson’s poetry is very personal and autobiographical—but in her experience we read ourselves and indeed the universal human experience. Most of the great poets writing today are women. It is sad that we lost this one so very early in her life and with so much more we wish we could have heard from her. So take the time to read this

Secure the Shadow by Claudia Emerson My rating: 5 of 5 stars "And I, as I have always known myself, am fallen away then from the present tense into reminiscence--the lucid was." So Claudia Emerson wrote in this fine collection published in 2012, just a few short years before she did indeed become the "was" no longer lucid. Secure the Shadows is her way of taking stills of what has died, her father, animals, and her future self, now lost to us forever, except in the wonderful poetry she left behind. Her eloquence is in the exact word and image. Her emotion is never untrue but always real---and measured just enough to be contained within those words and images. Emerson's poetry is very personal and autobiographical---but in her experience we read ourselves and indeed the universal human experience. Most of the great poets writing today are women. It is sad that we lost this one so very early in her life and with so much more we wish we could have heard from her

Dark Matter Journal will publish my poem “She Asks Me Inside” in January 2017

Dark Matter Journal will publish my poem "She Asks Me Inside" in January 2017 

Reading “is one of the few things you can do alone that can make you feel less alone.” Will Schwalbe

Vine Leaves Literary Journal in Australia has accepted 4 of my poems for its final issue in Spring 2017

Vine Leaves Literary Journal in Australia has accepted 4 of my poems for its final issue in Spring 2017 

“If you’re the only one taking your work seriously, you can do whatever you want. If no one expects anything from you, you can do whatever you want. If you’re underestimated, then potential is your greatest asset. Your art could be anything and everything. Your writing could be about anything and everything. No one expects a certain style or outlook.” –  Josh Spilker 

" If you’re the only one taking your work seriously, you can do whatever you want. If no one expects anything from you, you can do whatever you want. If you’re underestimated, then potential is your greatest asset. Your art could be anything and everything. Your writing could be about anything and everything. No one expects a certain style or outlook." -  Josh Spilker 

The latest Issue of The Hurricane Review includes my poem “Formulary”

The latest Issue of The Hurricane Review includes my poem "Formulary"

An anthology by Into the Void contains 2 of my poems and supports a good cause.

An anthology by Into the Void contains 2 of my poems and supports a good cause.

Latest print issue of Literature Today is on sale until Dec. 25 & contains my poem “The Nostalgia of Frisbees” (also in  Kindle edition )

Latest print issue of Literature Today is on sale until Dec. 25 & contains my poem "The Nostalgia of Frisbees" (also in  Kindle edition )

Dublin-based Into the Void has accepted 2 of my poems for publication in an upcoming anthology.

Dublin-based Into the Void has accepted 2 of my poems for publication in an upcoming anthology. 

Four of my poems are featured in the inaugural issue of Light: A Journal of Photography & Poetry . Audios of my readings are included in the online edition.

Four of my poems are featured in the inaugural issue of Light: A Journal of Photography & Poetry . Audios of my readings are included in the online edition.

Good writers are monotonous, like good composers. They keep trying to perfect the one problem they were born to understand. -Alberto Moravia

Good writers are monotonous, like good composers. They keep trying to perfect the one problem they were born to understand. -Alberto Moravia

Work and Days by Tess Taylor My rating: 4 of 5 stars So often when I read a book that won an award or came from a celebrated new poet, I am disappointed–often amused to try to imagine the criteria for selection. Not so with regard to Tess Taylor and her collection “Work & Days.” There are many fine lines and some fine poems in this gathering of verse inspired by hands-on farming and the reading of Virgil, Hesiod and Clare. The imagery of scent and sound and sight demonstrate Taylor’s knowledge of gleaning from the soil: Cold Trolls the hills even as frozen lakes grow cloud *** Unearthing rocks is like dislodging anger *** Las night I woke to wild unfrozen prattle. Rain on the roof–a foreign liquid tongue. She weaves her biography including a miscarriage into the soil of her reading of old poetry and the daily news and the hard working of the land. The baby I planted this year was only tissue…. [I}ts sac was empty, soil black. I bow into the absence. *** broadcasts poppy harvests

Work and Days by Tess Taylor My rating: 4 of 5 stars So often when I read a book that won an award or came from a celebrated new poet, I am disappointed--often amused to try to imagine the criteria for selection. Not so with regard to Tess Taylor and her collection "Work & Days." There are many fine lines and some fine poems in this gathering of verse inspired by hands-on farming and the reading of Virgil, Hesiod and Clare. The imagery of scent and sound and sight demonstrate Taylor's knowledge of gleaning from the soil: Cold Trolls the hills even as frozen lakes grow cloud *** Unearthing rocks is like dislodging anger *** Las night I woke to wild unfrozen prattle. Rain on the roof--a foreign liquid tongue. She weaves her biography including a miscarriage into the soil of her reading of old poetry and the daily news and the hard working of the land. The baby I planted this year was only tissue.... [I}ts sac was empty, soil black. I bow into the absence. *** broadc

Kill The Dogs by Heather Bell My rating: 2 of 5 stars A collection of angry poetry, bitter to the point of hate. While I have no problem with darkness in poetry (after all there is much darkness in life) this is poetry the way Tarantino does movies. If you like his movies you may like these poems. View all my reviews

Kill The Dogs by Heather Bell My rating: 2 of 5 stars A collection of angry poetry, bitter to the point of hate. While I have no problem with darkness in poetry (after all there is much darkness in life) this is poetry the way Tarantino does movies. If you like his movies you may like these poems. View all my reviews

Garden Time by W.S. Merwin My rating: 4 of 5 stars Give this collection a few pages before you discover the understated eloquence of age and loss and love in the face of it all. While this is not his finest collection, Merwin offers us his truth with language that is accessible to those who do not regularly read poetry. Yet many of the poems have depth of thought and feeling and a koan kind of craft that belies what seems prosaic at first reading. I highly recommend it whether you are in the last third of life or just beginning your too short journey. Poetry like Merwin’s helps us all to pay close attention both to the questions and to the only answers in the now. View all my reviews

Garden Time by W.S. Merwin My rating: 4 of 5 stars Give this collection a few pages before you discover the understated eloquence of age and loss and love in the face of it all. While this is not his finest collection, Merwin offers us his truth with language that is accessible to those who do not regularly read poetry. Yet many of the poems have depth of thought and feeling and a koan kind of craft that belies what seems prosaic at first reading. I highly recommend it whether you are in the last third of life or just beginning your too short journey. Poetry like Merwin's helps us all to pay close attention both to the questions and to the only answers in the now. View all my reviews

Ron Koertge’s short poem “ Lily ” is fine writing. It edges right up to bathos without falling into it and speaks its mourning and hope with depth of feeling and simplicity of language.

Ron Koertge's short poem " Lily " is fine writing. It edges right up to bathos without falling into it and speaks its mourning and hope with depth of feeling and simplicity of language. 

The Write Place at the Write Time has published two of my poems:

The Write Place at the Write Time has published two of my poems:

The latest issue of december literary journal contains my long poem “Psalms in Pieces.”

The latest issue of december literary journal contains my long poem "Psalms in Pieces."

Until we invent telepathy, books are our best choice for understanding the rest of humanity. -Christopher Paolini

Until we invent telepathy, books are our best choice for understanding the rest of humanity. -Christopher Paolini

Aji Magazine will publish 2 more of my poems in Spring 2017. That makes 54 poems accepted by 30 journals in 2016 plus the one chapbook of 20 poems that won an award at GFT Press for publication next year.

Aji Magazine will publish 2 more of my poems in Spring 2017. That makes 54 poems accepted by 30 journals in 2016 plus the one chapbook of 20 poems that won an award at GFT Press for publication next year.

Light: A Journal of Photography & Poetry will feature my poetry in its inaugural issue.

My poem “ Murmuration ” is available in the Fall 2016 print & online edition of Aji Magazine.

Three of my poems are published now on the Arlington Literary Journal .

Carbon Culture Review has just published my poem “T he Wounds of Exile “

October 29, 2016 1pm to 4pm Local Authors Extravaganza Culpeper County Library 271 Southgate Shopping Center  |  Culpeper, Virginia 22701

The Fall Issue of GFT Presents: One in Four includes 2 of my poems plus 3 more excerpted from my upcoming chapbook.

The Fall Issue of GFT Presents: One in Four includes 2 of my poems plus 3 more excerpted from my upcoming chapbook.

GFT Press also has published my poem " Offertory " in its online edition.

GFT Press also has published my poem “ Offertory ” in its online edition.

My poem “ A Lark is Hunger in the Blood ” has been published by Jazz Cigarette.

Please Like my Poet’s Facebook page

Please Like my Poet's Facebook page

My poem “Prayer of Vapor” is included in the fall 2016 issue of Red Savina Review

My poem “ Prayer of Vapor ” is included in the fall 2016 issue of Red Savina Review

Vine Leaves will publish my poem “Absolute Zero” in Issue #19 – their last issue.

Congratulations to Alan Peterson whose Snowbound Award winning collection “ Other Than They Seem ” will be available from Tupelo in November.

Congratulations to Alan Peterson whose Snowbound Award winning collection “ Other Than They Seem ” will be available from Tupelo in November.

Congratulations to Alan Peterson whose Snowbound Award winning collection " Other Than They Seem " will be available from Tupelo in November.

Heron Tree’ s annual print collection with my poetry included is now available.

Heron Tree' s annual print collection with my poetry included is now available.

I am gratified that GFT Press has selected my chapbook Finite to Fail as grand prize winner of its 2016 Chapbook Contest. Congratulations also to Jacquese Armstrong. 

I am gratified that GFT Press has selected my chapbook Finite to Fail as grand prize winner of its 2016 Chapbook Contest. Congratulations also to Jacquese Armstrong. 

My poem “ All Journeys Are Metaphors ” is available in the latest issue of Dual Coast Magazine

My poem " All Journeys Are Metaphors " is available in the latest issue of Dual Coast Magazine

Pinion: An Elegy by Claudia Emerson My rating: 5 of 5 stars Claudia Emerson’s untimely death is still a great loss to those who love great poetry. In this epistolary collection of dramatic monologues from 2002 , Emerson toldthe story of a southern family, hinting at the deeper issues of their relationships while engaging us deeply in their experiences. Her language is always both simple and luminescent: The second day, the creek argued with the rain, grew bolder before losing itself, overcoming the banks that had defined it. The older sister recalls defending a bird against the cruelty of her brother: I turned, grabbed a tobacco stick, and flayed your cap from your scalp, your scalp from your bone, aiming for the coiled quick of you when I failed, plunged my arms in the water instead and saved the thrush, hurled i back at the stunned sky… The younger sister is given a voice in prose to introduce the journals and letters of her (presumably deceased) older siblings as she visits their a

Pinion: An Elegy by Claudia Emerson My rating: 5 of 5 stars Claudia Emerson's untimely death is still a great loss to those who love great poetry. In this epistolary collection of dramatic monologues from 2002 , Emerson toldthe story of a southern family, hinting at the deeper issues of their relationships while engaging us deeply in their experiences. Her language is always both simple and luminescent: The second day, the creek argued with the rain, grew bolder before losing itself, overcoming the banks that had defined it. The older sister recalls defending a bird against the cruelty of her brother: I turned, grabbed a tobacco stick, and flayed your cap from your scalp, your scalp from your bone, aiming for the coiled quick of you when I failed, plunged my arms in the water instead and saved the thrush, hurled i back at the stunned sky... The younger sister is given a voice in prose to introduce the journals and letters of her (presumably deceased) older siblings as she visits

The Fall 2016 issue of The Summerset Review features my poem " Still Knowing "

The Fall 2016 issue of The Summerset Review features my poem “ Still Knowing “

The Hurricane Review will publish my poem "Formulary" in the next issue

The Hurricane Review will publish my poem “Formulary” in the next issue

To the 67 who took advantage of my offer of a free Kindle version of my two poetry collections, thank you. I hope you enjoy reading and please consider reviewing them on Amazon .

To the 67 who took advantage of my offer of a free Kindle version of my two poetry collections, thank you. I hope you enjoy reading and please consider reviewing them on Amazon .

Another of my poems is included in Three Line Poetry

Another of my poems is included in Three Line Poetry

My new “gift book” size collection is available here . 

My new "gift book" size collection is available here . 

For the 61 who've taken advantage of my offer of free Kindle poetry books (over 8/28) please review them on Amazon .

For the 61 who’ve taken advantage of my offer of free Kindle poetry books (over 8/28) please review them on Amazon .

Pharaoh, Pharaoh by Claudia Emerson My rating: 5 of 5 stars Claudia Emerson’s untimely death leaves me wondering what wonderful poetry she would have written. Luckily, we have a number of outstanding collections. “Pharaoh, Pharaoh,” while published nearly 20 years ago, remains a deeply moving collection of vignettes. Emerson faces death and illness with a cold eye for detail but a heart filled with empathy. The phrasing feels conversational, but then sudden brilliant gems arise: Veins as “the dispassionate cursive on the backs/of her hands.” A coffin “inhaled the earth.” A sewing needle” its only eye worn wide, diminishing.” She remembers a woman lost in death, imagining her (as we imagine Emerson) flooring the gas pedal on a wild car as she is “gone before/this fire consumes itself in the void from which she rises.” This is a fine collection, worth living with for some time. View all my reviews

Pharaoh, Pharaoh by Claudia Emerson My rating: 5 of 5 stars Claudia Emerson's untimely death leaves me wondering what wonderful poetry she would have written. Luckily, we have a number of outstanding collections. "Pharaoh, Pharaoh," while published nearly 20 years ago, remains a deeply moving collection of vignettes. Emerson faces death and illness with a cold eye for detail but a heart filled with empathy. The phrasing feels conversational, but then sudden brilliant gems arise: Veins as "the dispassionate cursive on the backs/of her hands." A coffin "inhaled the earth." A sewing needle" its only eye worn wide, diminishing." She remembers a woman lost in death, imagining her (as we imagine Emerson) flooring the gas pedal on a wild car as she is "gone before/this fire consumes itself in the void from which she rises." This is a fine collection, worth living with for some time. View all my reviews

Touch: The Journal of Healing has published 2 of my poems in its Spring/Summer 2016 issue: “ Become a Dark Current “  “ Becoming Stage Three ”

Touch: The Journal of Healing has published 2 of my poems in its Spring/Summer 2016 issue: “ Become a Dark Current “ “ Becoming Stage Three “

Touch: The Journal of Healing has published 2 of my poems in its Spring/Summer 2016 issue: " Become a Dark Current " " Becoming Stage Three "

Two of my poetry collections are free on Kindle until August 28. My Amazon author page is here:  https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K82RUTY  

Two of my poetry collections are free on Kindle until August 28.  My Amazon author page is here:  https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K82RUTY

To celebrate the Fall semester--my last-- I am offering the Kindle version of my 2 poetry collections free Aug 24-28: Memories in Clay, Dreams of Wolves and Dark Land, White Light

To celebrate the Fall semester–my last– I am offering the Kindle version of my 2 poetry collections free Aug 24-28: Memories in Clay, Dreams of Wolves and Dark Land, White Light

The Arlington Literary Journal will publish 3 of my poems in Issue 94.

The Arlington Literary Journal will publish 3 of my poems in Issue 94.

My poem “ Urbanity ” has been published on Rust+Moth.

My poem " Urbanity " has been published on Rust+Moth.

Red Savina Review has accepted my poem “Prayer of Vapor” for future publication.

Red Savina Review has accepted my poem "Prayer of Vapor" for future publication.

The Ghetto and Other Poems by Lola Ridge My rating: 4 of 5 stars This collection of early poems by Lola Ridge is not up to the quality of Sun-Up, but the title poem and several others hows the promise of Ridge’s later work. I am not sure why she gets such little recognition, except that her revolutionary leftism is objectionable to many. View all my reviews

The Ghetto and Other Poems by Lola Ridge My rating: 4 of 5 stars This collection of early poems by Lola Ridge is not up to the quality of Sun-Up, but the title poem and several others hows the promise of Ridge's later work. I am not sure why she gets such little recognition, except that her revolutionary leftism is objectionable to many. View all my reviews

Firekeeper: New & Selected Poems by Pattiann Rogers My rating: 5 of 5 stars In this selection of poems published between 1981 and 1994, Pattiann Rogers reveals the beatification of the natural world and the seer of that world in the interaction of observer and observed. Yes she is more comfortable with science than most contemporary poets who pretend that there is a great divide in the beauty witnessed by both. Rogers knows better as she invests the natural world with love and lust and fills her rooms and her very body with the universe. Her language has a clarity that is not simple and a simplicity that is not flaccid. I recommend her work for those who love great poetry, who love the natural world, and who want to see someone mend the tears we have made in ourselves and between ourselves and our universe. View all my reviews

Firekeeper: New & Selected Poems by Pattiann Rogers My rating: 5 of 5 stars In this selection of poems published between 1981 and 1994, Pattiann Rogers reveals the beatification of the natural world and the seer of that world in the interaction of observer and observed. Yes she is more comfortable with science than most contemporary poets who pretend that there is a great divide in the beauty witnessed by both. Rogers knows better as she invests the natural world with love and lust and fills her rooms and her very body with the universe. Her language has a clarity that is not simple and a simplicity that is not flaccid. I recommend her work for those who love great poetry, who love the natural world, and who want to see someone mend the tears we have made in ourselves and between ourselves and our universe. View all my reviews

My poem “ Pileated ” has been published by Inwood Indiana.

My poem " Pileated " has been published by Inwood Indiana.

Two of my poems have been published in the July 2016 issue of Red Earth Review

Two of my poems have been published in the July 2016 issue of Red Earth Review

My poem “ What is Still ” has been published by Heron Tree.

My poem " What is Still " has been published by Heron Tree.

Aji Magazine has accepted my poem “Murmuration” for publication in its Fall 2016 issue.

Aji Magazine has accepted my poem “Murmuration” for publication in its Fall 2016 issue.

Aji Magazine has accepted my poem "Murmuration" for publication in its Fall 2016 issue.

GFT Press has accepted 3 of my poems, 2 for print and 1 for online publication.

GFT Press has accepted 3 of my poems, 2 for print and 1 for online publication.

My poem “River and Father” was published in Gravel Magazine.

My poem " River and Father " was published in Gravel Magazine.

Jazz Cigarett e has accepted my poem “A Lark is Hunger in the Blood” for publication in October.

Jazz Cigarett e has accepted my poem "A Lark is Hunger in the Blood" for publication in October.