Words Of Wisdom

Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.


~Julie Andrews, Actress (b.1935)

Today's Word

MAGNANIMITY

To disdain meanness and pettiness; display generosity.

Diplomacy

A friend and I are going to see this movie tomorrow night at the Film Forum downtown. I've never heard of it but I'm looking forward to seeing it. I'll give a review after I see it.

Today's Word

-GRAPH, n.

Something written or drawn - ex. monograph

Instrument for making or transmitting records>electrocardiograph

Ex.phonograph, telegraph

Words Of Wisdom

Poetry: the best words in the best order.


~Samuel Taylor Coleridge,Poet (1772-1834)

San Francisco Bay Guardian Shuts Its Doors

I read today that the San Francisco Bay Guardian has closed its doors after 48 years. The progressive newspaper, which dealt with controversial topics and supported TLGB  causes was sold to the San Francisco Media Company in 2012. The paper had been losing money for years.  

Many progressive papers have been taken over by large corporations and conglomerates. What I see is a silencing of the voices of the average citizen. Here in New York City, the Village Voice was once one of the most progressive papers in the country. Back in the sixties and seventies the issues were sometimes as much as 100 pages and more. It dealt with controversial topics and radical in its views. It covered many alternative events and people. Today, the Voice is nothing but advertisements and shallow,dumbed-down  articles with little redeeming value or social relevance. 

I read the Guardian on occasion and enjoyed the viewpoints of some of their stories. She had a good run. Whether the Guardian can be resurrected is still in question. I just hope that the progressive voice will not be shut out.

Today's Word

METONYMY

A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated. 

ex. Washington>U.S. government; crown> monarchy  

TODAY'S WORD

HOMUNCULUS

A little man; manikin 

Film Fest In Hollywood and Houston

Those of you who live in Los Angeles, the Hollywood Film Festival begins tonight, October 16th, and goes through October 19th.

www.hollywoodfilmfestival.com


For my friends in Houston, there will be the Houston Cinema Arts Festival from November 12-16. 
For info go to www.cinemaartssociety.org 

Today's Word

HERMOSA

Spanish word which means 'beautiful'.

Words Of Wisdom

When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the areas of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.

~John F. Kennedy, U S President (1917-1963) 

Today's Word

ARCHIPELAGO, n.

A group of islands

A sea or stretch of water containing many islands.

Electric Lady Studio

I have passed by Electric Lady for as long as I can remember. It was much later I learned that this historic place was the brainchild of guitarist extraordinaire Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) and his manager Michael Jeffrey. Jimi's vision was to have musicians from all over the world record and play there. Sadly, Jimi Hendrix never lived to see this happen.

Some great musicians have passed through Electric Lady: Jeff Beck, U2, AC/DC, Bob Dylan, The Clash, and Hall& Oates. Jimi recorded at Electric Lady for about 4 weeks. The studio opened on August 26th, 1970.Three weeks later, Hendrix was dead. He left a state-of-the art studio which still produces some of the greatest music in the world.

Today's Word

PROSODY

The science or study of poetic meters and versification.

White Horse Tavern

I don't usually write about bars, but the White Horse Tavern is a famous part of the history of New York and famous in the literary scene. 

Originally a place where longshoreman could get a brew, it became a gathering place for poets, writers, and artist during the 1950s and 1960s. It's most famous patron was the Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas (below), who recited poetry and drank. He died in November, 1953 a few blocks away at St Vincent's Hospital.  

Other famous patrons were James Baldwin, Bob Dylan, Jane Jacobs, Jack Kerouac, Norman Mailer, Jim Morrison, and Mary Travers (Peter, Paul, and Mary). The Village Voice is said to have started here. 

I passed by the place many times and it's lively and active, especially when the sidewalk seating is open.

Poetry Tomorrow Night 10/10

OMNIDAWN'S ANNUAL POETRY AND  CELEBRATION READING

Friday, October 10 @6PM

Poets's House-Elizabeth Kray Hall
10 River Terrace
New York, NY
Tel.: (212) 431-7920

Free and open to the public

For further info. go to: www.poetshouse.org 

Today's Word

THRENODY, n.

A song of lamentation for the dead, elegy.

Words Of Wisdom

Today's Word

JOUISSANCE

Pleasure; sexual pleasure; orgasm.

Are Poets Rebels?

It seems that when despots take over a country, one of the areas that is taken control of is the media and the arts. All of a sudden poets, actors, and creative types are suddenly obsolete. Here in this country the arts and recreation has been taken out of schools. 

I wonder why are poets a threat to the status quo? Is it because we speak the truth? In the 1940s and 1950s The Beats, led by Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, presented literature in a more open and unconventional style during the staid years after the war. In the 1950s and 1960s, the confessional poets like Robert Lowell, Anne Sexton, and Sylvia Plath wrote about topics that were considered taboo. Depression, mental illness, sexuality, drugs, and suicide were written about with honesty and clarity by the authors.

I've never considered myself a rebel but, maybe I am but don't it. Poetry is to encourage, inform, challenge and create. I want to make a difference in someone's life and this is one forum that is open to me. I have listened to many other poets of all ages and stripes. Each person has their on unique style and voice. Get your work and your voice out because the world needs to hear.

Pictures

I love taking photos using either my phone or a digital camera. I believe that a picture with words adds life and beauty to them.  I believe one needs to to judicious as to when a photo is appropriate. Too many may seem to be more about the photo rather than the words.

Today's Word

PATRON, n.

A person who gives money and support to an artist, organization, etc.


I have heard this word mentioned much over the past couple of weeks. I read today how Olive Higgins Prouty, who authored Stella Dallas,  became a friend and patron to one Sylvia Plath who wrote the poetry in Ariel. Many famous artists have had patrons who supported and befriended them. I'm sure that it's done today but I wonder if in the same magnitude.

When the bourgeois got involved it became more of them building kingdoms and glory for themselves rather than nurturing and supporting the up and coming artists. I began writing poetry almost three years ago and I read occasionally at open mics. Some folks that I've spoken to have said that they received support from another artist or organization.

Chapbooks have opened a way for new writers to get in pr int because the larger publishing house have become concerned with only the writers who will make them money. It's really a shame because they may lose out on an opportunity to nurture some budding writer. There is the need for more patrons.

Today's Word

PRE-

1. Before, prior to earlier than. 
    ex.- prehistoric

2. In advance.  Ex.-prepay.

Today's Word

BHIKKU

A Buddhist monk or religious mendicant (order).

Words Of Wisdom

To read a poem is to hear it with our own eyes; to hear it is to see with our own ears.


~Octavio Paz, Mexican Poet (1914-1998)

The Confessional Poets

Confessional poetry came on the literary scene in the 1950s. Those men and women wrote about topics which affected them deeply. Mental illness, divorce, sexuality, infidelity and death were taboo subjects brought out in the open.

I have read the work of Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton and John Berryman and have come to understand the pain they felt about certain events in their lives. I never experienced a close family member committing suicide (Berryman's father) or being institutionalized (Sexton) however I can see how these traumatic events shaped the way they wrote. The fact that the confessional poets would share openly these events to the public is a testament to their honestly and clarity of their true feelings.

Some other confessional poets are Robert Lowell, who taught both Plath and Sexton, W.D.Snodgrass, Sharon Olds and Marie Howe.  


























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