1 week ago
Friday, March 18, 2005
Friday, March 11, 2005
When students analyze your poem . . .
So I went to Union College to give a reading last night. First of all, props to Professor Channette Romero for bringing me down. Channette, if you're reading, your students are fantastic and I had a great time.
Now, as far as the heading for this entry . . . her students used my book as one of their required books for the course. In fact, some students wrote papers on my book.
The sensation was flat-out bizarre. So then, when I sat down and started conversing with the students the following conversations started taking place:
/Hyperbole mode on
Student 1: So, can you tell me about your obsession with religious symbolism and religious terminology?
Me: Uhhhhh . . .
Student 1: Because, it seems that your defrocked Catholic thematic concerns are pervasive throughout this text. Care to comment?
Me: Uhhhhh . . .
Student 2: Yes, I noticed this too. Tell me about the halo symbols throughout? Are they really halos?
Me: Yes. I don't know. . . yes?
Student 3: And in another passage, your character, Fidelito, miraculously ascends . . . heavenward? How can that be because there's no direct mention of god in any of the pages.
Me: There's not?
Students 1-4: No.
Student 4: You also have your character return two poems later, after his ascencion. Is he a Christ symbol?
Me: Yes?
Student 4: Hmmmm. . . That's what I thought. But that's weird, because most of the religious gestures that your character makes are very . . . tribal? Is that correct? Maybe superstitious without the idea of a church organization would be a better way of putting it.
Student 2: Yes, because your character worships things like the wind and the rain, you know?
Me: Ok.
/Hyperbole mode off
Ok, in all seriousness, it was flattering and alarming to have had my work read so closely. I tell you, I discovered a lot about my poetic obsessions sitting in that class.
Now, as far as the heading for this entry . . . her students used my book as one of their required books for the course. In fact, some students wrote papers on my book.
The sensation was flat-out bizarre. So then, when I sat down and started conversing with the students the following conversations started taking place:
/Hyperbole mode on
Student 1: So, can you tell me about your obsession with religious symbolism and religious terminology?
Me: Uhhhhh . . .
Student 1: Because, it seems that your defrocked Catholic thematic concerns are pervasive throughout this text. Care to comment?
Me: Uhhhhh . . .
Student 2: Yes, I noticed this too. Tell me about the halo symbols throughout? Are they really halos?
Me: Yes. I don't know. . . yes?
Student 3: And in another passage, your character, Fidelito, miraculously ascends . . . heavenward? How can that be because there's no direct mention of god in any of the pages.
Me: There's not?
Students 1-4: No.
Student 4: You also have your character return two poems later, after his ascencion. Is he a Christ symbol?
Me: Yes?
Student 4: Hmmmm. . . That's what I thought. But that's weird, because most of the religious gestures that your character makes are very . . . tribal? Is that correct? Maybe superstitious without the idea of a church organization would be a better way of putting it.
Student 2: Yes, because your character worships things like the wind and the rain, you know?
Me: Ok.
/Hyperbole mode off
Ok, in all seriousness, it was flattering and alarming to have had my work read so closely. I tell you, I discovered a lot about my poetic obsessions sitting in that class.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Evil ice
Saturday, Meredith and I opened up some windows to knock down several large icicles hanging precariously from our rain gutters. Before that, though, I attempted to knock them down from the street-level by hurling snow balls at them. That method only knocked down some of the smaller ones. Further, it severely damaged my ego. My pitching arm is definitely not as accurate or as strong as it used to be. The major culprit was an icicle that was roughly five-feet long and about as thick as a human torso. It was extremely dangerous. . . I had visions of walking under the thing and getting brained by it. I also imagined backing up my truck and having the thing pierce through my roof. What's more is that all the residue of the icicle was forming a mound of ice on the driveway, making it treacherous walking.
Anyway, I opened up the windows, grabbed a broom, and tried to whack the icicles off their ledges. It was more difficult than anticipated. I was literally winded after my efforts. Try balancing half your body outside a window while you're swinging away with a broom. It's not easy.
The forecast calls for more snow this week. *sigh*
In other news, I've got a reading at Union College this coming Thursday.
Anyway, I opened up the windows, grabbed a broom, and tried to whack the icicles off their ledges. It was more difficult than anticipated. I was literally winded after my efforts. Try balancing half your body outside a window while you're swinging away with a broom. It's not easy.
The forecast calls for more snow this week. *sigh*
In other news, I've got a reading at Union College this coming Thursday.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Thoughts of vacation
*sigh* After all the snow that hit us last night, I've been having thoughts of my summer vacation. Last summer, Meredith and I went to Spain and Morrocco. We had a HELLUVA time.
Anyway, I shoveled a ton of snow (we got about five inches of snowfall last night), and while doing this work, my thoughts returned to Sevilla.
Ah! Sevilla! We drank Sangria and had Tapas while watching the other tourists. Several bands wandered by while we were soaking in the sun. Every once in awhile, the bells from La Giralda would boom.
*double sigh* One more week until Spring Break, Oliver. . . One more week.
Anyway, I shoveled a ton of snow (we got about five inches of snowfall last night), and while doing this work, my thoughts returned to Sevilla.
Ah! Sevilla! We drank Sangria and had Tapas while watching the other tourists. Several bands wandered by while we were soaking in the sun. Every once in awhile, the bells from La Giralda would boom.
*double sigh* One more week until Spring Break, Oliver. . . One more week.
Monday, February 28, 2005
Bad Haiku . . .
This one's from a student. For those of you in Tennessee, I completely apologize. This haiku in no way reflects my attitudes towards your state:
Tennessee is lame
don't let your best friend go there
because he will die.
Tennessee is lame
don't let your best friend go there
because he will die.
Sunday, February 27, 2005
On this date . . .
. . . my mother says I was born at 10AM. My father claims that it was the hardest hours of his life. This is probably the reason why baldness in our family has passed on down to me.
Pisces have more fun.
Pisces have more fun.
Friday, February 25, 2005
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
It ain't a reading unless . . .
. . . someone walks out. And someone DID walk out of Patrick Rosal's reading. In fact, they walked out of the reading seven lines into the first poem.
I've been battling these "easily-offended" types who keep returning to the reading series I'm currently running. Why they return, I'll never know. Anyway, this is directed towards the man who gave me suggestions on how to run the reading series:
My co-coordinator and I have decided that despite your recommendations, we will continue to have readings by authors who are Black, Gay, Chicano, Asian, Jewish, Native American, Risk-Takers, Mayhem-Makers, and Outsiders. We will also happily invite people who write poems and stories where there is sadness, violence, grief, death, general discomfort. We regret that we cannot provide you a solid venue for your anesthetized version of entertainment, but we can recommend a decent pediatric office where you can read Highlights and spend hours on end circling the hidden items in the "Find the Hidden Objects!" page.
I have no interest in playing Muzak over the loud-speakers for an hour for the benefit of said "easily-offended" types.
Now. . . disclaimer aside, Patrick rocked. The students loved him and many of them walked away excited about poetry. You should've seen the line of folks anxious to speak with him after his reading. The audience did sing-alongs and hooted and hollered after almost every poem.
Good show, brother!
I've been battling these "easily-offended" types who keep returning to the reading series I'm currently running. Why they return, I'll never know. Anyway, this is directed towards the man who gave me suggestions on how to run the reading series:
My co-coordinator and I have decided that despite your recommendations, we will continue to have readings by authors who are Black, Gay, Chicano, Asian, Jewish, Native American, Risk-Takers, Mayhem-Makers, and Outsiders. We will also happily invite people who write poems and stories where there is sadness, violence, grief, death, general discomfort. We regret that we cannot provide you a solid venue for your anesthetized version of entertainment, but we can recommend a decent pediatric office where you can read Highlights and spend hours on end circling the hidden items in the "Find the Hidden Objects!" page.
I have no interest in playing Muzak over the loud-speakers for an hour for the benefit of said "easily-offended" types.
Now. . . disclaimer aside, Patrick rocked. The students loved him and many of them walked away excited about poetry. You should've seen the line of folks anxious to speak with him after his reading. The audience did sing-alongs and hooted and hollered after almost every poem.
Good show, brother!
Friday, February 18, 2005
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Jake vs. the AKC champ
There's no contest, really. Our dog is clearly the more flexible of the two . . . and flexibility is key for dogs, you know. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for a dog to be flexible.
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
The Reb Livingston watch and Kundiman stuff
The countdown for Reb begins. Wish her well!
Also, Eduardo's talking about my good buddy, Jon Pineda who's not only "hot" but he's a fantastic person, poet, and father. Anyway, Eduardo also mentioned the Kundiman retreat that's coming up in July.
I'll be there again with my digital camera and several chips-worth of pictures. I think Jon Pineda's going to be there . . . we're trying to talk Barbara Jane into coming. It was a blast last year. For your edifiication, here's a look back at last years retreat.
Kudos must go out to Sarah Gambito and Joseph Legaspi AGAIN, for having the courage to dream and build.
Also, Eduardo's talking about my good buddy, Jon Pineda who's not only "hot" but he's a fantastic person, poet, and father. Anyway, Eduardo also mentioned the Kundiman retreat that's coming up in July.
I'll be there again with my digital camera and several chips-worth of pictures. I think Jon Pineda's going to be there . . . we're trying to talk Barbara Jane into coming. It was a blast last year. For your edifiication, here's a look back at last years retreat.
Kudos must go out to Sarah Gambito and Joseph Legaspi AGAIN, for having the courage to dream and build.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Winter weather yo-yos
The mercury's been going up and down this past week. Yesterday morning as I was walking to class, frigid gusts of air kept pushing the powdery snow all over the place. Stupidly, the school was snow-blowing while this was taking place, so more of the stuff was blowing around in front of doors, walkways, etc..
Today, however, it's a balmy 40 degrees and slightly rainy. It's a lousy day to run Jake, but I'll have to, otherwise he'll drive Meredith and I bonkers tonight with his incessant whining.
I predict we'll get more of the yo-yo weather through the weekend and all I want is a stable high of 40. Lord, give me 40 degree weather from now until April . . . please.
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Friday, February 11, 2005
Loves . . . in the spirit of Saint Valentine's day.
1. Early morning coffee on a sunny day with the newspaper across my lap.
2. Finishing all my work before the weekend approaches.
3. Pressing "Print" after finishing a poem (thank you Aimee).
4. The clunk of the mailman's shoes on my front porch.
5. A bag of popcorn, no butter, at the movie theater.
6. Cooking a meal and having people go for second and third helpings.
7. Rain gutters with flowing water on the roadside.
8. The smell of new books and peeling off price tags from those new books.
9. Being able to run one more mile without being tired.
10. The last traces of snow in Upstate New York.
11. Video games.
12. Hotel towels and free chocolates.
13. Lying on a clean floor reading magazines for hours while listening to the radio.
14. Finishing the last of a batch of papers for grading.
2. Finishing all my work before the weekend approaches.
3. Pressing "Print" after finishing a poem (thank you Aimee).
4. The clunk of the mailman's shoes on my front porch.
5. A bag of popcorn, no butter, at the movie theater.
6. Cooking a meal and having people go for second and third helpings.
7. Rain gutters with flowing water on the roadside.
8. The smell of new books and peeling off price tags from those new books.
9. Being able to run one more mile without being tired.
10. The last traces of snow in Upstate New York.
11. Video games.
12. Hotel towels and free chocolates.
13. Lying on a clean floor reading magazines for hours while listening to the radio.
14. Finishing the last of a batch of papers for grading.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Monday, February 07, 2005
Post Super Bowl musings
1. I liked the "Saturday Night Fever" Pepsi commercial.
2. The .com commercials were tiring.
3. I loved the Ameriquest commercials. They made me giggle.
4. Donovan McNabb was erratic. He was throwing high balls the whole game.
5. If Deion Branch didn't get the MVP, my second pick would've been Rodney Harrison. Definitely not Tom Brady, though Brady was very effective.
6. The Eagles wasted way too much time in the final four minutes of the game.
7. The half time show was . . . uninspiring.
8. There are far too many pre-game shows and far too many talking heads.
9. Cheetohs are my favorite salty snack. Funions are a close second and Cool Ranch Doritos are a close third. Health food? What's that?
10. The running game for either team wasn't the deciding factor of the game as most sports writers had anticipated.
11. Terrell Owens looked fine. I was tired of the commentators talking about him and circling him every time he lined up.
12. Why is there a correlation between sporting events and unhealthy eating? See 9.
13. The Quiznos Baby will not inspire me to buy a Quiznos sandwich. If I see that talking child in a Quiznos restaurant, I will run very far and very fast.
2. The .com commercials were tiring.
3. I loved the Ameriquest commercials. They made me giggle.
4. Donovan McNabb was erratic. He was throwing high balls the whole game.
5. If Deion Branch didn't get the MVP, my second pick would've been Rodney Harrison. Definitely not Tom Brady, though Brady was very effective.
6. The Eagles wasted way too much time in the final four minutes of the game.
7. The half time show was . . . uninspiring.
8. There are far too many pre-game shows and far too many talking heads.
9. Cheetohs are my favorite salty snack. Funions are a close second and Cool Ranch Doritos are a close third. Health food? What's that?
10. The running game for either team wasn't the deciding factor of the game as most sports writers had anticipated.
11. Terrell Owens looked fine. I was tired of the commentators talking about him and circling him every time he lined up.
12. Why is there a correlation between sporting events and unhealthy eating? See 9.
13. The Quiznos Baby will not inspire me to buy a Quiznos sandwich. If I see that talking child in a Quiznos restaurant, I will run very far and very fast.
Friday, February 04, 2005
What kind of poet . . .
. . . watches the Super Bowl? I'll admit it. I love watching football, and I never miss the Super Bowl. Rest assured, I'll be watchhing this Sunday.
Does that make me a bad person? Is my appreciation of art and beauty called into question with every Flare, Slant, or Draw-Play?
I wonder if there are any contemporary poets out there who used to don the pads?
Last semester, Thom Ward came to my school to give a reading. He boldly talked about lacing up his cleats and kicking @$$ before a shocked auditorium. He still pumps iron, etc., but he mentioned how he suffers from gimpy knees because of his football days.
I also had the honor of hanging out at Austin Hummell's house while I was doing a visiting teaching gig up in Northern Michigan University. We were watching the NBA playoffs and snarfing macadamia nuts while looking over poems. I guess the two can happen simultaneously--art and physical grace.
Anyway, I'm a poet who so happens to be a sports nut. I'm going to be watching Super Bowl XXXIX for the sport, not for the commercials.
Does that make me a bad person? Is my appreciation of art and beauty called into question with every Flare, Slant, or Draw-Play?
I wonder if there are any contemporary poets out there who used to don the pads?
Last semester, Thom Ward came to my school to give a reading. He boldly talked about lacing up his cleats and kicking @$$ before a shocked auditorium. He still pumps iron, etc., but he mentioned how he suffers from gimpy knees because of his football days.
I also had the honor of hanging out at Austin Hummell's house while I was doing a visiting teaching gig up in Northern Michigan University. We were watching the NBA playoffs and snarfing macadamia nuts while looking over poems. I guess the two can happen simultaneously--art and physical grace.
Anyway, I'm a poet who so happens to be a sports nut. I'm going to be watching Super Bowl XXXIX for the sport, not for the commercials.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
The "Up-note" reading voice
Saw this and this and this.
Me four. I must say, though, someone who DOESN'T read in the "Up-note" style is coming to read at my college. Can't wait for blogland's very own Patrick Rosal to throw down!
Me four. I must say, though, someone who DOESN'T read in the "Up-note" style is coming to read at my college. Can't wait for blogland's very own Patrick Rosal to throw down!
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