Because I felt that my last installment of the Millennial Poetics series was a bit incomplete I was prepared to expound on it a little more in this blog post. Instead, I’m going to reprint a poem from a poet I heard as a feature at a poetry reading tonight. If you’ll remember, the last…
Category Archives: Poetic Analysis
Poetry Blog Critique: Meander With Me
I suppose at 88 years of age you don’t have much to worry about. That’s the impression I get from reading the memoir-like blog of Mary A. Kaufman. Meander With Me, as it is called, is a nice blend of poetry, philosophy, and creative nonfiction. Mary’s blog is currently categorized with six categories for her…
Revised Poem: After Critique
Late last night I posted a pre-critique version of a poem and promised I would post the post-critique version today. The time has come. Before I post the revised poem, I’d like to make a few observations. A poem is never really complete. Just because it has been workshopped or critiqued and revised doesn’t mean…
Critique Group: A Poem In The Process Of Being Made
I’m a little late tonight, but I’ve got to get this in. Attended a crtique group I haven’t made in a while. All – well, most – of my favorites were there: Anna, the group leader, a seasoned poet I admire; Michael Hoover, who is the Hanover, Pa. poet laureate and one of the best…
Blog Critique: Poetry By Stacey
I received the following comment this morning from a reader and thought I’d oblige the request: I hope that you dont mind me asking,BUT, would you mind viewing my poetry blog and let me know your opinion on my poems (good or not so good). I have never set up a blog before so any…
Chapbook Review: Harpoon
I recently reviewed a chapbook of poems titled Harpoon, written by lawyer Michael Cavendish. You can read the full review at World Class Poetry. Right now I’d like to offer a critique of one of the poems in the chapbook, “The Poppies.” According to the Foreword, written by an anonymous endorser, “The Poppies” was written…
True Poetry: Criticizing The Critic
Forgive me if this seems academic, but I was intrigued by this review of a book of poetry essays. As far as I know, Bob Blaisdell is no poet. He is, his bio says, an editor of a couple of books on poetry. If poetry is on the fringe of the arts then poetry critics…
Poetic Parody: "Scowl"
I had the idea awhile back to write a parody of Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl.” I was going to title it “Scowl.” But someone beat me to it. I’m a bit impressed. While I would have written it differently, the second section of the poem really stands out. But the opening line doesn’t really do it…
Contemporary Poetics: What I Find Irksome
There are certain things that I find irksome about contemporary poetics. The main thing is that quite a bit of it is actually, well, not poetic. I mean, there are no obvious signs of poetry other than the unmistakable enjambment. But throwing a bunch of sentences on a page and breaking the lines up instead…
Aaaaah – Around The Literary Blogosphere (A Carnival)
While reading my favorite blogs and news stories the last couple of days, I’ve noticed there are quite a few noticeable notables. I’d just like to mention a few: First, the names of the Best New Poets of 2007 have finally been published. Publishers are beginning to take nominations for 2008. The Virginia Quarterly Review…
