Mark Stratton's Blog: AGGASPLETCH, page 20

Reverb11, Day Three – A Moment in Time

A Moment in Time - Tell us about one moment that you lived in 2011 that you will never forget.

There were a few.  Such is the nature of life.  I don't know about you, but my memories are more collections of snapshots and emotions than "film clips" so the 2011 memory collection is full to bursting.

One thing I know I'll treasure is being at my Grandmother's 100th birthday party this past January.  She's an amazing woman and seeing her surrounded by loved ones from 16 states and two provinces in ...

Reverb11, Day Two – Who Did You Meet?

14 years is a long time.  Doesn't matter what you're talking about, in the human experience 14 years is a long time.  Of course, your perspective changes as you waltz through the tulip garden of life, but still.  14 years.

That's how long my Daughter and I were estranged.  14 years.  I saw her a couple of times.  Both were fraught with their own stresses and neither was planned.  Life is like that sometimes.  Unplanned shit happens and then you get to deal with it, confront it or run for the h...

You Found Me How?

Dude at Geekinghard.com has this monthly thing he does called "You Found Me How?" where he shows us the varied and unique search terms people have used to find his blog.  This is what I got for you now…

there once was a man in nantucket
dawes a little bit of everything (person actually left a comment!)
unconscious girl
Illinois Horseshoe
she fell

Sadly, I know why every one of those drew people.  People are very strange.

Reverb? Again? Really? (Day 1)

One Word. Encapsulate the year 2011 in one word. Explain why you're choosing that word.

Now, imagine it's one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2012 for you?

 

Hard to believe it's been 11 months since the daily prompts came rolling in.   A lot has happened in the past year.  Like many of you, I've felt the pull of friendship from some groovy fab folks I cross internet paths with, and having you all a tweet away is a great comfort.  My daughter has pulled us...

Homework Poems – Elegy

I am totally unable to give a name to this poem, so I will call it 'Elegy' until a better title speaks to me.  But, the assignment is simple enough.  I had to use one of the 20 minute writing exercises in the back of our 'Craft' book for my poetry class.   THEN! to make things even more fun, we were to revise our poem and turn in both versions.  I offer up both, just for the heck of it.

I chose to write about a person I had lost, a loved one.  It's all true, except for the parts I made up, of ...

Silent Witness – Poem

Silent Witness

For those standing in the gap at Berkeley

Calculated outrage looks good in print

and the Breaking News segments.

Even days or hours after the incident.

Yet even so,

Defiance, in silent witness,

Determination held aloft

by helium and unity,

That silent witness

Sings louder than your press release.

=======

Former Poet Laurette Robert Hass was in attendance.  He had an Op-Ed piece in the New York Times last Sunday.  I suggest you read it.

21 Treble Clefs and a Minor Third

 

An 8-Tracks Mix I ginned up.  21 tracks, One hour twenty minutes of music.  It won't take you anywhere, but you'll be glad you went for the ride.

"Tender Mercies" Reviewed and other stuff

James Brush, writer and poet has shared a review of 'Tender Mercies' on his blog, 'Coyote Mercury.'  One of the things I find myself looking forward to annually is James releasing a handmade collection of his short-form poetry that he posts on 'A Gnarled Oak.'  Quite honestly, this way of presenting poems is what inspired the creation of 'Postmarks'  So, Thanks James.

Speaking of 'Postmarks,' I will be shipping all orders received thus far on Saturday.  I'm pleased with the response and hope t...

Chapbook – Postmarks

I have assembled a limited edition, handmade chapbook titled "Postmarks" that I am offering for sale.  It debuted at the Author! Author! Book Gala I was a part of this past Saturday at Village Books.  This was a fun event and I was thrilled to be there and to have met so many nice people who were open to all of our work.

There was another poet there, named Gerardo Mena. His poetry stems from his service in Iraq.  It is haunting, moving, harrowing and amazing.  The power in his work, for me...

Identity – Poem

Here's one of the poems I wrote for my class.  I hope you enjoy it.

Identity

Vertigo dances at the edge of perception,

Running like mascara in the setting sun.

Certainty abounds, shocking my theoretic mind

As wrists, scapulas and femurs join in unified

Rebellion. I taste the music as bedlam undulates

While I am halfway to being someone else.

—-

I am currently listening to Neil Finn.  You should as well.