Going Dutch: Now The Update Is Complete

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Going Dutch: Now The Update Is Complete
October 02, 2008

Hello Poets and Poetry Lovers

Last week I reported that I was just one page away from completing the update to World Class Poetry. I was wrong. I found a few other pages.

But this week, I wrapped it up for good. Now, World Class Poetry can move on to bigger and better things (and I'm sure you're glad to hear that).

Important note: I've changed my poetry book review policy. It's one of the few updated pages listed in the updated pages section of this newsletter.

My condolences to the families of both Hayden Carruth and Reginald Shepherd, who have both recently passed away. You'll find a review of a Reginald Shepherd chapbook in this issue of Hyperbole. Keep reading!

Poetry Video Of The Week - Hayden Carruth on Raymond Carver
Updated World Class Poetry Pages
American Life in Poetry by Ted Kooser
New World Class Poetry Blog Posts
LitMixx Pix
Poetry Book Of The Week
Duotrope's Daily Digest
Are You Subscribed?
World Class Poetry Networking

Poetry Video Of The Week -
Hayden Carruth reads "Ray"

I'm a big fan of both Raymond Carver and Hayden Carruth, who recently passed away. I thought it was fitting to include a video of Hayden Carruth reading his poem "Ray", about Raymond Carver. He also includes some stories about his long-time friend. The reading took place in May 2008.

If you can't view the video then click here to watch it at YouTube.

Updated World Class Poetry Pages

I hope you enjoyed "Cigar" from last week. Here are a few pages I've updated this week, which ends and completes the total World Class Poetry makeover:

Alexander Pope: The 18th Century Prodigy - Not exactly a part of the makeover, but a necessary change nonetheless.
An Essay on Criticism, an excerpt and notes - One of the pages I had missed and went back to pick up this week.
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner - The other page I missed last week.
Poetry Publisher's Application - Do you publish a print journal or know someone who does? Get your publication listed for free in front of thousands of poets.
Poetry Book Reviews - I updated my policy on book reviews. Very important! If you intend to send me a book to review then you should read my new policy.
Going Dutch - My chapbook. You've got to check it out.

American Life in Poetry: Column 183

BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE, 2004-2006

Perhaps you made paper leaves when you were in grade school. I did. But are our memories as richly detailed as these by Washington, D.C. poet, Judith Harris?

Gathering Leaves in Grade School

They were smooth ovals,
and some the shade of potatoes--
some had been moth-eaten
or spotted, the maples
were starched, and crackled
like campfire.
We put them under tracing paper
and rubbed our crayons
over them, X-raying
the spread of their bones
and black, veined catacombs.
We colored them green and brown
and orange, and
cut them out along the edges,
labeling them deciduous
or evergreen.
All day, in the stuffy air of the classroom,
with its cockeyed globe,
and nautical maps of ocean floors,
I watched those leaves
lost in their own worlds
flap on the pins of the bulletin boards:
without branches or roots,
or even a sky to hold on to.

American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation (www.poetryfoundation.org), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Poem copyright (c) 2007 by Judith Harris, whose most recent collection of poems is "The Bad Secret," Louisiana State University Press, 2006. Reprinted from "The Literary Review," Fall 2008, by permission of Judith Harris. Introduction copyright (c) 2008 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006. We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.

New World Class Poetry Blog Posts

This week's featured blog posts are:

LitMixx Pix

Literary stories of the week:

Poetry Book Of The Week

Anything by Reginald Shepherd. Seriously.

Read the review of Shepherd's chapbook, Itinerary. If that doesn't convince you to read at least one Reginald Shepherd book this year then I don't know what will.