I Am Unpacking My Digital Library. Yes, I am. July 16, 2007: In answer to my own call for a pro-consumerist poetry, I was reminded that writers have long been the ultimate consumers. This has been true in analog times -- the relationship between library and writer is a paragon of consumerism -- and is even more pronounced in our digital environment. In navigating the enormous field of available textual [...] by Kenneth Goldsmith

Sketches for a Krzysztof Kieslowski Film July 16, 2007: On May 10 of this year Gabe Gudding reprinted a poem by Henry Gould on his blog; the poem incorporates a bit of pink chalk graffito Henry found on the sidewalk in Providence RI when he walked home from work one day. Signed "Clio," as in the Muse of History, it seemed like a sign of some sort. Years later, he sent the poem to Gabe because Gabe's [...] by Ange Mlinko

Whew. It’s over. July 15, 2007: Finished with 3rd MFA residency. Incredibly tired. Just back from lobster bake thingie where no lobsters were visibly baked. Ten days in creative nirvana. Maine cooperated, kinda (rain). Shunned TV and most internet, have no idea at all what's going on in the world. Got some incredibly luscious news, but can't tell ya yet. My Spenserian stanzas [...] by Patricia Smith

Long Live a Hunger to Feed Each Other July 15, 2007: The best book-publishing story of the year is from Open City in New York. (more...) by Fred Sasaki

Song of Songs July 14, 2007: Apart from the Psalms, there is only one other biblical book that seems wholeheartedly and unequivocally devoted to the art of poetry. Of course, virtually all the minor prophets make their pronouncements in verse, and there are lengthy stretches of verse in far more areas of the Old Testament than there are not. The Book of Proverbs, The Book of [...] by Kwame Dawes

I Promise To Write Better Poetry July 13, 2007: Ara Shirinyan "Resolution: I Promise to Write Better Poetry" [PDF, 5.2 mb] by Kenneth Goldsmith

T=A=S=T=E July 12, 2007: Lord Whimsy's favorite shoes. So precious. Limited to indoor use. Ange, I'm going to not only agree with you, but trump you one and say that it's not only temperament which is a motivating force in the creation of art, but even more important is the notion of taste. Any avantist who made a point of killing art did it with impeccable taste, hence [...] by Kenneth Goldsmith

t=e=m=p=e=r=a=m=e=n=t July 12, 2007: My sons' pediatrician is keenly interested in temperament. Observing my chest-beating, bellowing, early-walker of a one-year-old this morning, he suggested a book that might help me negotiate the difference in temperament he perceived between mother and son. Little does he know the general consensus in the family is that this baby bull is a [...] by Ange Mlinko

The Price is Right July 12, 2007: How much would you pay for a first-edition, one-of-500, Prufrock and Other Observations by T.S. Eliot of your very own? (more...) by Fred Sasaki

“The Afterbirth, 1931″–the Poem July 11, 2007: Two blogs back, I wrote about Nikky Finney's poem, "The Afterbirth, 1931", but what I did not do is quote much from the poem and so I fear I deprived us of the chance to look at the poem. Some of you have gone to find the poem, but I thought I would share it with you. The entire Rive is a beautiful book and worth picking up, and this is just one [...] by Kwame Dawes