WORDS OF WISDOM

In a meadow full of flowers, you cannot walk through and breath those smells and see all those colors and remain angry. We have to support the beauty, the poetry, of life.

~Jonas Mekas, Director (1922-2019)

HONOR THEM WHILE THEY ARE WITH US

With recent passing of poet Mary Oliver and director Jonas Mekas, it highlights the point of enjoying our artist while they are living.

I read a couple of Oliver's books. I liked her poems about dogs. I became a big fan of hers. Wish that I could have heard her recite her work at some venue.

Jonas Mekas was one of the well independent filmmakers. I never saw any of his films but now I will make a concerted effort to do so.

ART

JOHN EMMETT CONNORS &
RICHARD VYSE: QUEER MOODS

Will display their works this Friday, Feb. 1st @ 
LESLIE LOHMAN MUSEUM
127-B PRINCE STREET

Opening: FEB. 1- 6-8 PM
Exhibition: FEB 2 & 3- 12-6PM

www.leslielohman.org

I looked at some of their and it's very good.

ODD NAMED CITIES

Ran into a site that lists odd named cities. Here is a list of a few of them.

Intercourse, Pa.
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
Joshua Trees, Calif.
Bird-In-Hand, Pa.
King of Prussia, Pa.

I will post a website when I find it. May write a brief history of a few.

FULFILLING GOAL

One goal I set for this year is to write at least three poems a day. So far its going good. Wrote a lot of poems the past few weeks.

WORDS OF WISDOM

A picture is a poem without words.


~Horace, Poet (65BC-BC)

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Freedom of speech is one of the hot button topic currently. Some express it open while others are denied of their freedom of speech because their views are different.

Everyone is entitled to speak their mind. I may not agree with a person's opinion but I will defend their right to say it. I am saddened when I hear that college campuses deny or impede the views of conservative speakers because their views don't jibe the the mostly liberal atmosphere.

When writers are censored it stifles the free flow of ideas. Many of my favorite authors defied the conventions of their time. I love listening to viewpoints different from my own. I gain an understanding of the ther peson's thoughts. Hopefully we understand where each is coming from.

Freedom of speech is a two way street. Two people may be polar opposites in views but each person should be respected and encouraged to express them. When two sides sides deny each other their freedom of speech, they both lose. So do those who want hear them express themselves.

A SECOND LOOK

Since I'm focusing on biographies there are two people who are on a list I refer to as 'Take A Second Look." The lives of Ronald Reagan and Daniel Patrick Moynahan seem interesting enough to read about, having had my own biased opinions about them.

WORDS OF WISDOM

It's very important to write things down instantly, or you can lose the way you were thinking out a line. I have a rule that if I wake up up at 3 in the morning and think of something, I write it down. I can't wait until morning-it'll be gone.

~ Mary Oliver, Poet (1935-2019)

MARY OLIVER PASSES

Renowned poet Mary Oliver has passed. She was 83 years old.

R.I.P., Mary.

FILM FORUM

If you are a fan of independent films then Film Forum is the place for you.

MOVIE

Am interested in seeing this film. It's playing at the Film Forum. 

BIOGRAPHIES

Reading more biographies is on of my goals for 2019. I will read about the first five presidents of the United States. I may read about the Revolutionary War in the process. 

WORDS OF WISDOM

Poetry is simply the most beautiful, impressive, and widely effective mode of saying things.

~Matthew Arnold

SAME CITY DIFFERENT STATE

GARDEN CITY- Kansas, New York, Utah

WORDS OF WISDOM

New Year's Day. A fresh start. A new chapter in life waiting to be written. New questions to be asked, embraced, and loved. Answers to to be discovered and then lived in this trans formative year of delight and self-discovery. Today carve out a quiet interlude for yourself in which to dream, pen in hand. Only dreams give birth to change.


~Sara Ban Breathnach, Author (b. 1947)   

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A Happy New Year to all! I got the new year off by attending the 45th annual Annual Marathon Poetry Reading at St. Mark's Church in the East Village. I attended the early sessions. It was great (as usual) with nearly 150 poets and a large audience. 

Met a couple of people I'm acquainted with. There was food from local eateries and books from many publishing houses. Resisted the urge to buy more books. I'm considering becoming a member of the Poetry Project.