WCW's "Poem"

This week, Pilgrim and Solomon students learned more about stanza breaks and lineation by reading William Carlos Williams' sublime "Poem." Afterward, they wrote their own movement poems, closely modeled on Williams. Check 'em out!

Philip Larkin's "Coming"

Last week, during my residency at Pilgrim school, 4th and 5th graders read and discussed Philip Larkin's poem, "Coming," and wrote seasonal poems in response. Check them out here.

Kate Daniels review

Check out my review of Kate Daniels' latest book, A Walk in Victoria's Secret in this month's New Pages!

Sylvia Plath's "Mirror"

My most recent residencies focused on Sylvia Plath's amazing poem, "Mirror," where we continued our previous conversation regarding personification and apostrophe. Please read some of the terrific work from students at Pilgrim and Solomon schools. Hope you enjoy!

De-coding Lee

Last week in my residencies we read Li-Young Lee's "Falling: The Code," a poem that can be approached a number of ways. Since we hadn't yet focused on onomatopoeia, I asked my students to write poems using sound-words.

Here is work by 4th and 5th graders at Pilgrim, and 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at Solomon. Enjoy!

Lee's work is being celebrated this year by all the Hands on Stanzas poets-in-residence, so check out other lessons developed around his poetry. Scroll down for all things Lee, as well as the amazing work being done around other poets by my teaching artist peers in this program.

About the Author out now!

One of two new releases from me this spring is now available from Mindmade Books, About the Author. Order your copy today!

Wendell Berry's "How to Be a Poet"

Last week in my residencies, we read Wendell Berry's "how to" poem and students responded with their own efforts. Check out work by 4th and 5th graders at Pilgrim (a brand new classroom for me), as well as 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders at Solomon. Hope you enjoy!

Poem in Dinosaur Bees

Check out my poem, "The Sound Effects Bible" in the latest issue of Dinosaur Bees!

Injured Parties residency continues

The Injured Parties are back at The Horseshoe for our residency March 5th. Here's the poster:

Hope to see you there!

"Lutherans" reading at AWP

Video of my reading of "Lutherans" during AWP.

About the Author available soon

Mindmade Books has announced the roster for its fifteenth year of publishing, leading off with About the Author in March. Order now, with my thanks in advance for doing so!

If anyone is interested in reviewing it, please contact Mindmade Books directly.

AWP Reading

I'm pleased as punch to be reading during AWP -- all threats of paralytic blizzarding aside -- this Friday, February 4th, at 8 PM, celebrating Salmon Poetry's 30th Anniversary and the publication of Dogs Singing.

Hope to see you at this gala event! Wear galoshes.

New Poem in dispatch litareview

I have a new poem -- actually an excerpt from a longer poem, "Heart's Desire" -- in the latest issue of dispatch litareview (3.1), which is available as a free download.

Check it out, and hope you enjoy!

"Inside Out"

Last week my elementary students read Diane Wakoski's "Inside Out" and wrote their own 'inside' poems.

Peruse work from Pilgrim and Solomon students at each school's blog.

Hope you enjoy!

About the Author

2011 is shaping up to be a banner year for LOD book releases. In March, Mindmade Books will publish my chapbook, About the Author; and at a date TBD, Beard of Bees will publish my e-chap, abbrev. I am also hoping to have my full-length collection, Brief Nudity out this year as well.

I will let everyone know when these titles are officially available.

I am also working on setting up a series of readings supporting all these publications. Later this month, I'll be returning to Woodland Pattern Book Center in Milwaukee to read at their 17th Annual Poetry Marathon & Benefit, and in April I will be featuring at the long-running series at The Cafe. As more dates are confirmed, I will pass on that information.

This is a very busy yet exciting time for me. I hope you can make it out to some of these events, and of course I hope you pick up all these forthcoming titles as they are published.

Thanks for your support!

"Linda Fiorentino"

The second of two recent Zenith Beast single releases is now available on iTunes: an early version of my ode to kick-ass actress, "Linda Fiorentino." Credits for this take match those for the "If You're Gonna Break My Heart" single, below.

Hope you enjoy!

And This Just In...

Last week my public school students read a poem by journalist David Tucker and were asked to write about silence. Please peruse these terrific responses by Pilgrim and Solomon elementary-schoolers, and hope you enjoy!

"If You're Gonna Break My Heart"

Before The Injured Parties became a full-time concern, I recorded an early interpretation of this song, which appeared in a slightly different version on the IPs' debut, Fun with a Purpose.

The original take is now available on iTunes. It features backing vocals by the late, and extremely talented Stephanie Morris, Fussbudgets and Malcontent bassist Ned Doherty, and Me Decade and sometime Folk You! cohort, Derek Walvoord on viola.

Check it out -- hope you enjoy!

Vulgar Boatmen Show and Documentary

My band, The Injured Parties is excited to be opening for The Vulgar Boatmen this weekend at Schubas. (Here's a nice preview from the Reader, and our poster, left.)

This special show includes a screening of Drive Somewhere: The Ballad of The Vulgar Boatmen, a movie about the band's successes and travails, which shouldn't be missed.

It's recommended that tickets be purchased in advance, which you can do here.

Hope to see you there!

Folk You! Facebook Page

I have finally created a Facebook page for my long-running (10 years come December!) songwriter showcase. Please like it, if indeed you do.