Blog December 4, 2014

One of my former college roommates, Bill Massy, just visited the blog and left a comment on "Halloween Owl".  

I'm busy writing poems for the Maine Poetry Society winter contests.  The poem for the subject contest must be about family.  The poem in the form contest must use ottava rima, any subject.  It will be my first ottava rima and I'm finding it difficult to rhyme 8 iambic pentameter lines ABABABCC.  Both Byron ("Don Juan" and Keats "Sailing to Byzantium") were experts at the form. 

Some new poems to follow soon.

Blog November 6, 2014

Over the weekend October 31-November 2 I attended a poetry retreat in Huntington, VT, sponsored by Sun Dog Poetry.  There were 10 students and 2 leaders.  We read and critiqued each others' work.  It was a rare opportunity to concentrate on nothing but poetry for 3 days, get feedback on your own work and read the interesting and exciting work others are doing.  

I shared "Saying Goodbye" and "Choice" with the group and posted the latter on the blog.  "Saying Goodbye" is still in revision.  I'll put it up later.

One outcome of the retreat is that some of the participants are forming a round robin poetry critique group where you send poems around the  group for assessment and feedback.

Validation of one's work through contests, retreats, meeting with other poets either in person on by round robin email, is important to keep track if one is making any kind of sense or progress.      

Choice

I lingered late to watch the Moon and now

the Sun has found the forest floor. He casts  

a playful shadow of the pasture gate

across the path to gently scold and block                  

my way.  This futile gesture prompts a smile

and makes me wonder what’s the fuss, or need,

to choose between dualities, limit        freedom

and divide us into ever more warring camps?

As I grow old and, can no longer don                          

the youthful disregard of death, the world is fresh

and filled with first time wonder.        I’ve learned to shed

the baggage of long ago as I acquired

further understanding.  I do not regret

the Moon.  The choice is neither yin or yang.         

Blog October 29, 2014

The blog is now officially open which means that all those who have been invited to participate should be able to open the site and read the entries.   Please take advantage of the opportunity to make a comment.  I understand some have had their "passwords" expire.  We can issue new ones if you let us know you are having a problem.