Poetry
By the time March comes around, we're mostly weary of
winter, wouldn't you agree? The cold, crispness of the air has lost its
appeal, and snow is more a nuisance than a delight. We long for spring
this time of year, and what better way to while away our time waiting for greens
and flowers than to indulge in a little poetry? Check out the selections
below for poetry -- both light-hearted and serious ... and sometimes even set to
music!
Mugging
for the Camera by RJ Clarken
Taking its inspiration from such brilliantly clever poets as
Ogden Nash, Dorothy Parker, Wendy Cope and others like them, Mugging for the
Camera is a fun and funny collection of odd, off-beat and really quirky
poetry which can be enjoyed by anyone who has a good sense of humor, a whimsical
imagination and a fair appreciation of the witty bon mot. Penned in mostly light
verse, this album of original 'snapshots' makes use of (and frequently abuses)
classic metrics like the ever-popular iambic pentameter; and in the process,
often wreaks general havoc upon traditional poetry forms such as sonnets, haiku,
couplets, etc. in order to capture those special moments in time having to do
with creative and unusual word play, peculiar events in the weird news and
everyday life in the suburbs, among other things.
RJ Clarken is a writer, photographer, and graphic artist.
Her work has been published in Mobius, Asinine Poetry, USA Today Online, Sol
Magazine, Trellis Magazine and others. She is the editor of Goldfinch, and
she is currently at work on a YA fantasy novel and even more humorous, quirky
poetry.
Reviews:
"...Apparently, Ms. Clarken never met a word she couldn't write
a poem about - and readers should be prepared to have their vocabulary expanded
- or at least poked and prodded." ~ POD Book Reviews and More
"... it’s an expose’ of self-deprecating wit and charm with more
than the occasional cliché tossed in for good measure." ~ Armchair Interviews
"Words from Worthless Word for the Day (personally one of my
favorite things) were used in a very creative manner just to make the brain grow
bigger. With a great sense of humor this fun and funny collection will put a
smile on your face, so read "Mugging for the Camera" by R.J. Clarken.....just
for the hell of it!" ~ Reader Views
Read samples of this poet's work or learn more about this book
at the author's website.
A Viking's Prayer by Aidan Lucid
Aidan Lucid’s A Viking’s Prayer is a well chosen selection of a
captivating young poet’s work. Lucid is a masterful weaver of words as he
explores the very soul of life, from the pain and despair that he clearly knows
from his own experience to the holding out of hope and the promise of
resurrection. The poetry in a “A Viking’s Prayer” is at times intense and, at
others, softly reflective. Lucid is not afraid to go from the deeply
contemplative or powerful to the outlandishly humorous—and then turn around and
take the reader on a roller coaster ride of terror.
Aidan Lucid is a
young poet and author from Kerry County, Ireland, where he reviews movies for
the local newspaper The Kerryman. The release of A Viking's Prayer was a
fulfillment of a dream for the poet, who is now at work on his first novel.
Reviews:
"Even his briefest poems, such as "History," are rich in their
message and themes--empathetic, loving and strongly questioning of life and
societal values. With "Christmas Is," he courageously questions the smugness
with which mankind buys holiday cheer and simultaneously continues to spill
blood around the world. As you finish this excellent collection of poetry, you
can be assured, to paraphrase Aidan Lucid's own final words, that you will
'continue to hear his echoes in the wind.'" ~ Andrew O'Hara
Visit the
author's website to read samples of his poetry and learn more about his
work.
Gems of Yesterday by Bee Lewis, edited
by Erwin A Thompson
Gems of Yesterday: The poetry and Philosophy of Bee Lewis
has been a labor of love for editor and long-time friend, Erwin A. Thompson.
Each of the 274 poems in this book was carefully selected and typed by Mr.
Thompson as a tribute to a man he thought of as a kindred spirit and mentor. The
poems span a period of close to four decades and cover a rare glimpse of a
bygone era. The subject matter ranges from the personal to the philosophical,
from dialect to description.
Although Bee Lewis has been gone these many years, this
book is a tribute to the man who was editor Erwin A. Thompson's strongest mentor
in shaping him as a young man...a person who gave him the confidence throughout
his life that his passion for music and poetry could exist alongside his life as
a blue collar laborer, family man, and solid citizen.
Review:
"The Bee Lewis book is a complete work of love... Bee Lewis was
a beacon who showed how to live an ordinary life in an extraordinary way. The
nights of music and poetry at Bee and Amelia Lewis' home were soul-opening times
..." ~ Janet Grace Riehl
All proceeds from the sale of this book are donated to the
Godfrey Illinois Congregational Church in remembrance of Bee and Amelia Lewis.
The book is available through
Amazon.
Organic Hotels by Matthew Abuelo
The vision of Organic Hotels is to rediscover what the
older artists already knew. That is, the aim should be outside the writer,
governed by that that which is greater than themselves. This new movement, one
which goes back to the core of classical writing, attempts to accomplish on the
page what Degas set out to do on the canvas. The aim is to create something that
lives on long after the poet is gone. All artists are vessels whose purpose is
to create art then fade away. That is the vision for Organic Hotels, to reach
that peak.
Matthew Abuelo is a writer, poet, and activist. He is a member
of Poetry House and has won the Editor's Choice Award for the National Library
of Poetry in 1999, 2002, and 2004. This is his second published collection
of poetry. Matthew Abuelo lives in New York City.
Reviews:
"Abuelo’s
cadence-rich free verse handles themes such as war, urban decay and the suburban
abyss. He writes of apathy, crippling boredom, and unrealized potential against
the backdrop of national greed, corruption and world-wide disorder." ~ Nora
Gruenberg
Learn more about this poet and his work at
Matthew
Abuelo's Authors Den page.
Sightlines by Janet Grace Riehl
A beautiful collection filled with 90 poems, 190 pages, and 25 photos,
Sightlines offers a frank portrait of a family not only coming to
terms with its grief, but also celebrating its past and difficult
present. Although deeply personal, these poems strike poignant and
universal chords. They offer a vision of life filled with little
treasures that carry us back to what is truly important in our lives.
Following a family tragedy, Janet Grace Riehl returned to her
childhood home in the Midwest. There, through her craft, she discovered
a new sense of connection reuniting her, and the reader, with life.
Janet Grace Riehl is an award-winning author, artist, performer, and
creativity coach. Her poems, stories, and essays have been widely
published in national literary magazines and the newly-released
anthology Stories to Live By: Wisdom to Help You Make the Most of
Every Day. Her life moves between two great bodies of water—the
Mississippi River in Southwestern Illinois and Clear Lake in Northern
California.
Reviews:
"Village wisdom for the 21st century. Between these covers lives
an enlightening friend.” ~
Clive Matson, author of Let the
Crazy Child Write!
“Janet Riehl’s poems tread that thin line between insightful
nostalgia and objectivity Midwesterners are so good at.” ~
Hal Zina Bennett, author of Write from the Heart
“Rich and vibrant, complete with vivid language that bursts,
or sneaks, into your mind.” ~ James BlueWolf, author of
Sitting by His Bones and Grandpa Says
Awards:
Honorable Mention at the 2007 DIY Book Festival
Sightlines has recently been produced as an audiobook entitled
Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry and Music. The audio book
includes all 90 poems from the original with musical interludes recorded
in the author's father's parlor. There are 4 CDs in a DVD size package
with full size brochure insert. The back cover copy says:
"Come snuggle into the comfort of this quilt of poetry and music
rooted in the Midwest heartland. The story-poems stitch together the
lives of six generations. The fiddles, mandolin, guitar, and songs weave
memories of a bygone time with the crisp realities of modern life. It's
a poetic-musical duet capturing the humor, joy, and sorrow that create
the weft of any family."
Learn more about this book and other writing by Janet Grace Riehl at
the author's website.
Night Moves by Edgar Henry
Before his untimely passing in 2004, American poet Edgar Henry was a fixture of
Tokyo’s expatriate literary scene. Through his poetry and performances, which
managed to be simultaneously reflective and rabble-rousing, and his longtime
stewardship of Printed Matter Press, Henry was a vital presence during his 15
years in Tokyo. Night Moves was published shortly before his death.
Edgar Henry was beloved by many and his line is the line of G. M. Hopkins
on LSD. Long-time Tokyo Writer Workshop member and editor of Printed Matter the
journal, Edgar took many young writers under his wing. Also a producer of
successful art events, he tragically died in 2004.
Read Arlington Nuetzel's tribute to Edgar Henry on his
MySpace page.
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