the Public Bus Rule May 20, 2007: Kenny’s post about a readership existing solely in the academy made me think about a ridership. I usually resist decrees about what is and isn’t a poem, who is and isn’t a poet etc. But if I had a rule, it might be that every person who claims the title poet must have at least one poem that they could sit down and read to a stranger on a [...] by Jeffrey McDaniel

from the New York Times this week May 20, 2007: This is the most whimsical thing I've seen in a while, and seems to capture the Czech spirit. * I could be wrong, but I wonder if this sort of theater would be up Kenneth's alley. It's a site-speciifc, conceptual piece, where a German director hires an American actor to act like a farmer on an actual farm, as real farmers watch. * If anyone will [...] by Jeffrey McDaniel

writing a political poem May 14, 2007: When I was in my senior year of college, I was dating the granddaughter of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, and I found myself wanting to address their execution in a poem. I had passionate feelings about her, and the execution of her grandparents. The intensity of my feelings was actually a barrier to accessing something authentic. I quickly found how [...] by Jeffrey McDaniel

David Lerner May 10, 2007: Here's an introduction I wrote about David Lerner for a new anthology called The Spoken Word Revolution Redux (edited by Mark Eleveld). Lerner is a poet few people have heard of; his top dozen poems or so are outstanding. After the introduction, I've pasted one of his poems. * “It is said that a saint only becomes an icon after many years of [...] by Jeffrey McDaniel

notes from a poetry festival May 3, 2007: Victor Hernandez Cruz and Thomas Lux kick things off with a wonderful, spirited reading. It’s inspiring to see two poets in their late 50’s/early 60’s still writing with imagination and fire. Cruz is an old school Nuyorican (with Miguel Pinero and company in the late 60’s) who should be more in the loop somehow—for instance, getting [...] by Jeffrey McDaniel

anatomy of a poem: Joanna Fuhrman May 2, 2007: This is an interview I conducted several years ago with Joanna Fuhrman via e-mail about her poem “In the Basement of the Museum of Potential Urges", which appears in her book Ugh, Ugh Ocean (Hanging Loose Press). The poem appears below, followed by specific questions about the poem. In the Basement of the Museum of Potential Urges Those [...] by Jeffrey McDaniel

my first poem April 26, 2007: After reading Kwame's entry about his first poem, I decided to dive into that pool. My first poem came out of me when I was fourteen years old. It was a weekend night, and I had been partying with some friends, and I came back home, and my mind/heart was still going. (A definition of a poet = one whose mind/heart goes when there’s no purpose [...] by Jeffrey McDaniel

Honoring the poet inside? April 18, 2007: A few months ago I asked some of my students: what are you doing to honor the poet inside you? Now I will turn a version of the question towards myself. I wonder how often do I feel like a poet, or wear the hat of poet. My day job is teaching creative writing, so I wear the hat of poetry teacher. Yes, we read poetry. Yes, there is some inspiring [...] by Jeffrey McDaniel

the 1 poet all 5 bloggers have in common? April 9, 2007: It seems like now is the time when we disclose how we do or don’t know our fellow bloggers, so here goes: The first time I read with Patricia was September, 1993, a venue called the Women’s Building in the Mission District (San Francisco). It was the semi-finals of the National Poetry Slam. We actually read back-to-back as our teams were [...] by Jeffrey McDaniel

i check “rogue” April 5, 2007: It is good to see Kenny and Kwame agree to exchange ideas and try to understand one another better. I am looking forward to what comes out of that. They very well may be aesthetically on opposite sides of something, but there are more than two sides. The very idea of two sides makes it sound like a football field, with the mainstream poets kicking [...] by Jeffrey McDaniel