THE ARTIST'S LOUNGE
A journal is to a writer as a sketchpad is to an artist.
Tuesday, April 08, 2025
Friday, April 04, 2025
OBSCURE POET
MARINA TSVETAEVA
(1892-1941)
Russian poet
Published first collection of poems, Evening Album, at age 18.
Life coincided with the Russian Revolution
Married in 1912; had two daughters and one son
Emigrated to Paris in 1912 with family where they lived in poverty.
Corresponded with Rainier Maria Rilke and Boris Pasternak.
Returned to Russia in 1939
Died by suicide in 1941
from “An Attempt at Jealousy”
Thursday, April 03, 2025
WORDS OF WISDOM
Story ideas may come at odd moments. Always have a pen and pad handy to record those thoughts. The moments don't last forever.
Tuesday, April 01, 2025
TDOV-THOUGHTS
Just thinking about Transgender Day of Visibility, I wonder how many folks were encouraged to proceed on their journey to transition. By being out and living authentically, I pray that someone was helped.
I am mindful of the struggles of folks who want live authentic but are are afraid of crossing that path. There may be someone watching me who is at a crossroads. I pray that they move ahead toward being the person they truly are.
Monday, March 31, 2025
INFLUENCES
Similar to my taste in music, my writing influences are eclectic.
Major influences: Edgar Allan Poe, Lanston Hughes, Sylvia Plath, Herman Melville, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Jack Kerouac
Other Influences: Maya Angelou, Zora Neal Hurston, William Shakespeare, John Milton, Mary Oliver
Authors I Want To Read: D. H. Lawrence, Ezra Pound, Walt Whitman, Derek Walcott
Friday, March 28, 2025
OBSCURE POET
GEORGE OPPEN (1908-1994)
Chief exponent of Objectivism, which emphasized simplicity and clarity.
Becam more engaged in politicsduring the great Depression, becoming a member of the Communist Party. Supported workers rights.
Discrete Series- Oppen's first book published in 1934
Did not write poetry again until 1958.
The Materials- Oppen's 2nd book
Poetry is lean and precise using words sparingly
Won Pulitzer Prize in 1968 for his book Of Being Numerous.
Died from complications of Alzheimer's disease