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Reading Plan 2012: The First Ten

One of my goals for this year is to read 52 books. That’s not a book a week, but 52 books in 52 weeks. A fine distinction, I know, but this way, no false expectations.

No further adieu.

1. The Chronological Bible. For starters, I’m not sure I’ve ever read every verse [...]

Curriculum Vitae Loco

Updated 02/04/12

I have, in the past, generally emailed an ever varying cohort of friends and acquaintances whenever a poem or article of mine is published online. I’ll probably keep that practice up, but, in addition, thought it appropriate to provide a one stop page folks can check if they a)have any idea who I [...]

Hymns of the Cross: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

It is a minor shame that, despite having spent the prior 18 years of my life regularly attending a Baptist Church, it wasn’t until I went to college that I encountered the great hymn of the faith, “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded.” Again, thank you Dr. Ledgerwood.

I some time ago, I started this series [...]

Commence, Cruel Month!

Well it’s National Poetry Writing Month again, and I’m taking the plunge, again. Hopefully I can stick with it this year. 30 poems in 30 days is sheer madness.

I’ll be posting some of them here, but don’t judge too harshly. The goal is not immediate quality but establishing a writing habit, experimenting [...]

Dealing With Rejection, Tip #342

Today I got a rejection notice from a journal to which I had submitted some poems. I wasn’t too surprised. For starters, rejection is the norm in poetry, especially early on. If you can’t handle a lot of, “We’re sorry, but . . ” well, its time to start working with stray puppies or something.

Furthermore, this particular [...]

Goodbye Blogger, Hello WP!

Well, my time at Blogger was fun. They (along with a couple of Guru Brians I know) made it easy for a guy who knows nothing about websites to have one. And, for a while, everything was going swimmingly.

Then Blogger/Google decided to start hatin’ on the ftp users. Too bad– for Blogger anyway, but good for WordPress. [...]

Valentine’s Day Poem*

The lovely Angela found this in her card this year:

A Valentine’s Day Heartlooks nothing like the muscled pumpthumping behind skin and ribs;instead, its pointed symmetry resemblesmore an arrowhead which once, perhaps,graced one of Cupid’s mystic shafts–even that which left his grasp a nightfifteen years ago. (He turned his backbefore it struck; the arc it traced [...]

Biblical Poetry: Entry 1

For a few weeks now, I have been carrying the American Life In Poetry column, courtesy of the Library of Congress and the Poetry Foundation. In addition to this feature, I would also like to occassionally bring you snippets of poetry from the most important book in my life, The Bible.

At the outset, I would [...]

New Poetry Feature!

Many of you are aware of my renewed interest in reading and writing poetry. One of the writers that has helped to reawaken in me this love for words is former Poet Laureate of the United States (2004-2006), Ted Kooser. I would urge anyone interested in reading good modern poetry to start with his Pulitzer [...]

Preview of Coming Attractions . . .

You may or may not recall last winter when I went AWOL for about 5 months. For many of you it may have been so traumatic that you have repressed the memory; this is entirely understandable.

In order to make sure that you are not forced to undergo such anguish again, I am reserving certain trip [...]

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