I Hate Poetry May 31, 2009: I’m wondering why we hate poetry. I don’t mean people who don’t write it. I mean people who do.  I hate poetry magazines by and large. You get two copies in the mail. One to archive and the other to read for a week and then to give away. Poems, fiction and a sad bit of art or two. It seems like poetry dies in such magazines. All alone with [...] by Eileen Myles

Bright College Fears May 30, 2009: I'm posting this from a dorm room in Timothy Dwight College at Yale, where I am beng housed before giving a poetry reading tomorrow as part of the 30th reunion of the class (more...) by Annie Finch

Spelling bee! May 30, 2009: I watched the Scripps National Spelling Bee last night. (more...) by Camille Dungy

DRAG!!!! May 29, 2009: Last night I was at a benefit for PS 122, which is mainly a dance-based institution, and two of the emcees were moving people on and off the stage as Martha Graham and Isaac Mizrahi. The Martha was particularly good and the performer (Richard Move) had obviously studied the grand dame and had her every witticism down and he especially worked her [...] by Eileen Myles

And the poet said… May 28, 2009: I want to  share a half dozen of my favorite quotes about the process and charges of poetry. I’d love to hear what you think of these (some of them are, purposefully, provocative). I’d also like for you to share some of your own favorites. (more...) by Camille Dungy

Discovering Dunbar May 27, 2009: A life centered on poetry has allowed me many emotions that I never feel except in relation to poetry. There’s the thrill of gratitude when a poem is conceived, the anxiety of waiting for a word, the warm breakthrough of the right one at last, the dryness and frustration of the blind alley. There’s the glorious triumph of speaking the [...] by Annie Finch

Do Poets Dream of Lineated Sheep? May 26, 2009: Quick survey.  Do you think the way you dream relates to the way you write? (more...) by Camille Dungy

CALABASH DISPATCHES–SUNDAY May 26, 2009: As if on cue, Sunday morning of Calabash arrived with overcast skies.  The sofa in the wide living room of the suite I was staying in was getting old already. I was waking up quite early each day because of the firm surface of my bed.  On the verandah, the sea is a few yards away, and it makes sense to sit there, and watch the light creep into [...] by Kwame Dawes

S.O.S. for Salt May 26, 2009: News flash: an important trans-Atlantic poetry publisher put out an S.O.S. this week.  Here's yesterday's update on the  Salt Publishing situation from the U.K. bookseller Catherine Neilan: (more...) by Annie Finch

CALABSH DISPATCHES-DAY THREE May 25, 2009: Pico Iyer and Paul Holdegraber are brilliant writers whose capacity to articulate with insight and relevance matters of politics, spirit and the basics of life is enviable.  This interview between the non-fiction, novelist, travel writer and the Director of Public Programs at the New York Public Library will go down as perhaps the most engaging [...] by Kwame Dawes