The Week That This Affected You

Here’s everything from this week’s poetry news that you really need to know, in handy, clip ‘n’ save, actionable listicle format.

1. Christopher Walken does a mean cover of The Raven.
Because Walken is the OG of internet meme generators, and his kiddie-scaring shtick makes almost anything seem badass. Also, “The Raven” is a cinch to memorize in advance of any forthcoming nightmares wherein you find yourself back in Ms. Jordan’s eighth-grade English class.

2. Vladimir Putin has a reading list.
Because Vlad Poot is precisely the Bond villain that might bring America together again. And winners read up on their foes.

3. Tess Gallagher, Raymond Carver’s widow, is suing Skyhorse Publishing over a copyright dispute.
Because, more than anything else that’s currently ailing the world, copyright issues are in with the cocktail crowd.

4. The Harry Potter kid is playing Allen Ginsberg.
Because we never got over the Beats (even the ones who have eschewed the movement and would rather spend their dotage watching the Niners), and this is somehow even weirder than the idea of Brando doing Kerouac.

5. Philip Larkin one-stop shopping is now open for business.
Because you’ll need to bone up on Larkin if you plan on ever dating a poet. Particularly a dude poet. (A broet?)

6. Bukowski had a fax machine.
Because in Downtown LA, you’re much better off without your smart phone.

7. A cool Seattle indie lit fest is on Kickstarter.
Because there’s a lot of stuff on Kickstarter that merits support. It’s just a chore to sift through it all.

8. Patricia Lockwood is into sexting.
Because you should be aware that, if your kids are into poetry, they’re probably into sexting.