Reading: Ode To The Walking Woman by Tishani Doshi
Tishani Doshi (b. 1975) is an Indian writer, dancer and journalist. I read a lyrical song inspired by a statue by Alberto Giacometti. Ode to the walking woman (After Alberto Giacometti ) Sit – you must be tired of walking, of losing yourself this way: a bronzed rib of exhaustion thinned out against the dark. …
Reading: In Memoriam Paul Celan by Edward Hirsch
Edward Hirsch (b. 1950) is an American poet who can emulate many different voices. He was a poetry columnist for the Washington Post. He lives and Brooklyn and he has lost a son, about which he wrote an acclaimed book of poetry, called ‘Gabriel’. I read an In Memoriam for Celan: In Memoriam Paul Celan …
Reading: When A Woman Loves A Man by David Lehman
David Lehman (b. 1948) is a US poet, editor, critic. He teaches at The New School in New York City. Here you can find some biography. I read some stuff about relationships: When A Woman Loves A Man When she says Margarita she means Daiquiri. When she says quixotic she means mercurial. And when she …
Instagram poetry
Giving in to the social media requirement of visuality and brevity, I also publish poetry on – Instagram. There are a lot of so called “instapoets” but in my humble opinion they are not exactly innovative and their language sounds pretty dull to me. As it happens – and this doesn’t contradict my modesty – my …
Reading: Buddhist Barbie by Denise Duhamel
Denise Duhamel (b. 1961) is a poet from Rhode Island who experiments with form and subject, and engages in pop culture. Influences are Dylan Thomas and Kathleen Spivack. Today, I read a short and funny observation: Buddhist Barbie In the 5th century B.C. an Indian philosopher Gautama teaches ‘All is emptiness’ and ‘There is no …
Reading: The Woods At Night by May Swenson
Anna Thilda May, “May” Swenson (1913-1989) was an American poet and playright, and a very important one with a prolific career. A critic notes that in her poetry, “the sheer thingness of things is joyfully celebrated.” She is particularly celebrated for her nature poetry. I read a haunting verse about birds: The Woods At Night The …
Reading: Words by Dana Gioia
Dana Gioia (b. 1950) is an American poet and writer. I found her theoretical poem about Words for a friend with whom I have an ongoing conversation about language and the other of language. Words The world does not need words. It articulates itself in sunlight, leaves, and shadows. The stones on the path are no less …
Reading: Personal Letter No. 3 by Sonia Sanchez
Sonia Sanchez (b. 1934) is a prolific African American author of twelve poetry books and lots of other stuff. Associated with the Black Arts Movement. I read a short meditation on life and love because I feel like that today: Personal Letter No. 3 nothing will keep us young you know not young men or …
Reading: Flower by Paul Celan
Paul Celan (1920-1970) is of course the best German poet who has ever lived. I don’t read the canonical ‘Todesfuge’ here, you can find excellent analysis on the Internet. I have read a poem about an axe that flowered, but here I stick with a modest poem called “Flower” in translation, that still has all …
Reading: Homage To My Hips by Lucille Clifton
Lucile Clifton (1936-2010) was poet laureate of Maryland from 1979-1985. She was a prolific and widely respected author. Her writing style is sober and she was mainly concerned with the African American experience. Two of her works were simultaneously nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. I read a poem that I, if you allow me, find hip: Homage …
Reading: Vulture by Robinson Jeffers
Robinson Jeffers (1887-1962) wrote narrative poetry about the Californian coast. He was an icon of the environmental movement who loved nature more than man, influenced by Whitman and Wordsworth. He even called his ideas ‘inhumanism’ because he desired to change the focus from man to not man. Poets like Robert Hass , William Everson or …
Reading: In The Summer by Nizar Qabbani
Nizar Qabbani (1923-1998) was a Syrian diplomat, poet and publisher. His poetic style combines simplicity and elegance in exploring themes of love, eroticism, feminism, religion, and Arab nationalism (Wikipedia). I read a simple love poem, translated by B. Frangieh And C. Brown, that sounds unmistakenly Arabic: In the summer In the summer I stretch out on the …
Reading: Tarantella by Hillaire Belloc
Hillaire Belloc (1870-1953) was a prolific Anglo-French poet and historian who was considered one of the four great British writers of the Edwardian age, along with Chesterton, Shaw and H.G. Wells. “Among his best-remembered poems are Jim, who ran away from his nurse, and was eaten by a lion and Matilda, who told lies and was …
