It's That KIND of Day

NatPoMo Update

That cutting edge literary magazine Ninth Letter sent me a surprise today. It's for "Poem in Your Pocket Day," which is April 17th, 2008. It's part of NatPoMo. The poem for my poet is sealed in this portable tiny envelop and warns me "DO NOT OPEN UNTIL APRIL 17 PIYP DAY." What can be inside? I hope it's money. I like money. But I suspect it's a poem. What is the poem in my pocket? Find out on April 17th! Live! (Is a blog live?)

P.S. Please resist any jokes that day that begin: is that a poem in your pocket or....

Something Wicked

It has been a Musical week. Watched Sweeney Todd on DVD and tonight went to the opening of Wicked. I know what you're thinking: I seem so manly--what with my writing poetry and hating sports and eschewing condiments. But real men can enjoy musical theater, too. At least the kind with barbers slitting throats and Time Dragons hovering over stages. I can't believe how ubiquitous the Wizard of Oz has become. It is American mythology. Any rumors that I got choked up at "Defying Gravity" are myths as well.

Other People’s Writerly Advice Tip #3

Today's advice comes to us not from my former professor, but from that stoically spooky guy on The Twilight Zone, Rod Serling.



I would have to disagree with his contention that ideas are easy because I had to steal this one from Don Pizarro.

Your Etiquette Advice from Some Old Books I Found

Today's etiquette advice comes from American Etiquette and Rules of Politeness 1884 (Rand, McNally & Co.):

DO NOT CONTRADICT It is extremely impolite to directly contradict any one. If the matter is of no importance, let it pass; otherwise, say, "I beg your pardon, but I think you are mistaken or misinformed," or any other similar phrase, which will break the weight of direct contradiction.

This has been your etiquette advice from some old books I found.

In Praise of Anti-National Poetry Month

So it's NatPoMo! Heather hates it when I call it that. But she also hates it when I talk about PoBiz (that distinctly academic animal where poets swap influence for prizes and positions). Naturally her frustration only encourages me to sing my praises to NatPoMo louder.

Listening to Weekend America, though, keyed me into those who do not enjoy our god-given poetry month. These critics, chief among them Charles Bernstein, say that NatPoMo is a sham that does a disservice to the poetry it ignores because it says to the public most poetry is difficult though there is some good, "easy-listening" poetry out there that wont hurt your head too much, a kind of Flintstone's vitamin poetry. This approach hurts challenging poetry but also the poetry it promotes because it sells it as facile and safe. It also smacks of condescension to give poetry a month as if without it the art form would disappear from irrelevance (Note: there is no National Film Month). Consider for example that the other celebration months we honor like Black History Month or Women's History Month have their critics who say why relegate the achievements of African Americans and women to only one month a year? Why consign the celebration of poetry to one month?

Also with the recent dangers of poetry exposed, can we in good conscience continue to push this art on people? Personally, it's worth it just so I can say: have a happy NatPoMo, everyone!

(pictured: A cartoon called "Stone Cold Poetry Bitches" by Jim Behrle.)

April Is the Cruelest Month

So after thinking all day about and almost missing it, I've finally come up with my April Fool's joke.

Here it is.

Hilarious, right?