Calabash–Arrival May 25, 2007: We leave Montego Bay at about one o'clock. I warn novelist Joe Meno and his wife Koren who are in the car with me, my son and Cavell the driver, that this is going to be a long two and a half hour drive. We are going to drive south across the western end of the island, and then make our way from the North Coast down through two parishes and across [...] by Kwame Dawes

babies, parents, and poetry May 25, 2007: My wife and I had a baby girl six months ago, and, in terms of motherhood and parenting, all I can say is wow, and more wow. I never knew how hard child rearing is; can you say tired squared? I am so overwhelmed (and inspired!) with only one; I have no idea how people do it, (like Rachel with two and one more on the way). Even though we’re in an [...] by Jeffrey McDaniel

UbuWeb: Spring 2007 May 23, 2007: ---------------------------- UBUWEB :: Spring 2007 ---------------------------- --- RECENT FEATURES --- Stan Brakhage: The Test of Time (MP3) A series of 20 half-hour long radio broadcasts by Brakhage recorded at KAIR, Univeristy of Colorado in 1982. Includes long passages of Brakhage musing on subjects such as film, poetry, theater, and other [...] by Kenneth Goldsmith

You’re WHAT?! (Poet + Homebirth = FREAK) May 22, 2007: Some of you reading this blog must have had this experience: someone asks you what you do and you say “I’m a poet” and they laugh uncomfortably, or say, “what?!” or “I don’t like poetry,” or they step away from you, or say, “you’re kidding, right?” Of course there are times when a person says, “me too!” or, “I’m a [...] by Rachel Zucker

Calabash May 22, 2007: Every May, for the past seven years, I have made my way to the south coast of Jamaica with one of my three children (they are on a rotation schedule) to join my two dear friends, Justine Henzell and Colin Channer in running the largest literary festival in the Caribbean and what many are wisely realizing is one of the coolest literary festivals in [...] by Kwame Dawes

From Lebanon via Tom Sleigh May 22, 2007: Earlier in the year, we asked Tom Sleigh to write one of those Journals (yeah, the ones that C. Dale Young is missing so badly) from Lebanon where he was slated to travel as part of a cross-cultural scholarly exchange, this one sponsored by the Trans-Arab Institute and the Syrian Ministry of Culture. The trip was canceled because, as Sleigh wrote, [...] by Emily Warn

Outakes from Shanna Compton’s Podcast May 22, 2007: Hope you caught Shanna Compton's podcast on our site this week about the poetry blogosphere. Here are links to the poets and blogs she mentions in it (via her blog): Reb Livingston's blog Home-Schooled by a Cackling Jackal "Retention" by Reb Livingston in Kulture Vulture Her chapbook from Coconut Flarf: Mainstream Poetry Katie Degentesh's book [...] by Emily Warn

Back to The Academy May 22, 2007: Patti, you obviously have a readership and audience outside the academy. That's incredible. I don't. Simple as that. It's not my choice, but instead happens to be where the reception of my work takes place. I don't receive any awards or honors from the academy for my work; I've never been to the sort of "Pigpen" ceremonies you talk about. Rather, [...] by Kenneth Goldsmith

I am, I said… May 21, 2007: Kenneth said: ...innovative or experimental writing lives only in the academy. The slam is arguably the most innovative, controversial and exhilarating poetry movement in decades. It is not only established as a force to be reckoned with, but has given the genre a cocky edge that wooed those who had long ago relegated poetry to dusty bookshelves. [...] by Patricia Smith

May 21, 2007: Patricia sez: You see, Kenneth Goldsmith is going around telling people I don’t exist. Absolutely not. I would never presume to speak for you nor anyone else, Patricia. I've never told anyone what to think about you. Instead, what I said was that without the academy, as a poet I don't exist. I don't see you anywhere in that equation. Kenny by Kenneth Goldsmith