Today's Word

PELL-MELL

In mingled confusion or disorder.


Ex. Papers strewn pell-mell on the desk.

Centennial Celebration

There will be a centennial celebration paying homage to Octavio Paz (1914-1998) on Tuesday, October 7, at Poets House in lower Manhattan.

 For details and information go to:

 www.poetshouse.org

Film Of A Tennessee Williams Play

If you are a fan of Tennessee Williams and live in New York City, you are in luck. From September 26 to October 5th, films based on his stories will be shown at the Film Forum. Tomorrow night, September 30th, the feature film will be The Night Of The Iguana. 

For information go to www.filmforum.com

Today's Word

VIRIDIAN

A chrome green pigment that is a hydrated oxide of chromium.

Today's Word

INTEGUMENT

Something that covers or encloses.
An enveloping layer of an orgasm such as skin or membrane.

Words Of Wisdom

Over every mountain there is a path, although it may not be seen from the valley.


~Theodore Roethke, Poet (1908-1963)

Frances W. Harper

Today's Word

SESTINA

A fixed verse form consisting of six stanzas of six lines each followed by a three-line envoi.

RECOMMENDATIONS

If you are a fan of Sylvia Plath, I recommend two of her poetry books, Ariel and The Colossus.

Todsy's Word

BOUDOIR

A ladies private bedroom, sitting room or dressing room.

Current Book

My current book is The Education Of The Negro by Carter G. Woodson. Read in conjunction with The Mis-Education Of the Negro, one will come to a greater understand of how the education system as present constructed affects black Americans.

Writers And Critics

Yesterday I read the bio of Grace Metalious, the author of the controversial best seller Peyton Place. I read that twenty five after her death the town where she came from still hadn't forgiven Metalious. Why? Because she revealed that behind the sometime idyllic image of small towns, there was stuff happening that were never mentioned out in public (wife beating, cheating, etc.). Ms. Metalious was simply telling the truth.

I have read how many writers were villified by critics because they did not write in the style that was conventional during the time. Jack Kerouac was constantly panned by critics yet his books are still influential today. His best seller, On The Road, Why? Perhaps he actually lived and experienced life rather than intellectualize about it. Kerouac also touched on subjects that were taboo such as drugs and sexuality. Herman Melville's Moby Dick did not sell with the public or with critics though it was a well written book. Like Kerouac, he experienced and lived life.

I admit I am loathe to criticize other writers. I can think of books that I didn't enjoy reading but others did. The same thing is true with music, actors, plays, politicians, cities, etc. I guess what bothers me is when people's biases taint both the author and the reader. Fortunately, Herman Melville had a second career as a poet. His novels such as Typee and Bartleby are underrated.   I tend to gravitate to writers who are brilliant in their craft and yet never got the recognition they so richly deserved.

Article

I read this article the other day. I thought at it may have some interest to the audience.

www.guardian.com/2013/jul/28/

Today's Word

ESTAMINET, n.

A small café in France that sells alcoholic drinks.

Today's Word

SCHOLIAST, n.

A commentator on ancient or classical literature.

Words Of Wisdom

Poetry is the opening and closing of a door, leaving those who look through to guess about what is seen during the moment.

~Carl Sandburg, Poet (1878-1967)

Writing Requires Patience

Writing requires much discipline and patience. Just whe you think a piece of writng is salable, you see something that is amiss. Misspelling, a useless sentence, writing what you meant in a different way. I have been working on a poem and a novella for quite a while bur they still don' t feel right.

In regards to the poem I know what I want to say but haven't found the right words in which to express it. Have you had times like this? It can be frustrating at times but I would rather write something I 'm comfortable with.  The late auth V.C. Andrews said that if the story she was writing was boring she didn't publish it because more than like the readers would be bored. Good piece of advice, I think.

Words Of Wisdom

Nothing ever becomes real till it is experienced.


~John Keats, Poet (1795-1821)

Anne Sexton

Anne Sexton (1928-1974) was one of a number of confessional poets which included Robert Lowell, Sylvia Plath, W.D. Snodgrass and John Berryman. Sexton was plagued by mental illness throughout much of her life. She suffered mental breakdowns after the birth of her two children. Sexton attempted suicide a number of times. 

I read a few of her poems and found them filled with sadness and anguish. Confessional poets touched on subjects that were considered taboo during 1950s and 1960s. Anne Sexton touched on subjects such as menstruation, abortion, drug addiction, and sexuality. She was a talented and skilled writer who ended her life by suicide. 

When I look at Anne Sexton's photos and pictures, I see sadness and emptiness in her eyes. What I admire about her is that she wrote about her own personal struggles and shared it with the public. To me that shows authenticity and courage on her part. It's sad that Anne Sexton could not overcome her struggles but she opened up a way where others like her could share their true feelings without being pretentious or bound by the conventions of her time. She and other confessional writers opened that door wide open.

Plath, W. D. Snodgrass, and othe

Writing Ideas Never Take A Break

Writing can cover virtually any topic. Like the blue horizon, writing encompasses every human emotion. When I recently experienced a down time, I war something new about my life and from a different perspective. Other people's stories can mirror ours and vice-versa. 

I have been writing every day no matter how much or how little. Looking at my slices of life that I live in, there's so much happening. I try not to limit myself as far as ideas go. Just size up the situation ad see what I can come up with. The main idea is to write and create my own vision.