David Anthony Sam's Blog, page 157
June 20, 2018
My poem “Down” is available in the Fall 2017 issue of The Write Place at the Write Time.
My poem “Down” is available in the Fall 2017 issue of The Write Place at the Write Time.
June 18, 2018
“It’s never too late to make a better world.” A rational optimist says we are not in decline.
It’s Better Than It Looks: Reasons for Optimism in an Age of Fear by Gregg Easterbrook
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
If you are contented by feeling that this is the worst of all possible times, that hordes of immigrants are destroying our nation, that crazy people of the left or the right are the enemy of all good, that we will run out of everything, that the world is ending soon, this is not the book for you.
By the same token, if you are looking for unicorns and flying silver puppies, this realistic analysis will not satisfy you.
But Gregg Easterbrook’s rational optimism is hopeful without being pollyannish. It is a useful antidote to almost everything else you will read on the best seller list, on social media sites, and in the headlines that all scream declinism. And he is critical of all political parties and tribal slatnts
We do have work to do, crises to face, problems to solve, hard decisions to make, the temptations of autocratic hero leaders to avoid.
But as the author writes, “it’s never too late to make a better world.”
June 17, 2018
Two landmarks in my publication career were set today.
Two landmarks in my publication career were set today:
The 300th poem accepted for publication since I began submitting in 1974 (note: I did not submit for 20 years between 1995 and 2014)
The 1000th rejection by a journal or publisher
Further, 19 publications have accepted 37 of my poems in 2018 so far.
The Flexible Persona Literary Magazine will publish my poem “Brittle Adoration” in an upcoming online issue.
The Flexible Persona Literary Magazine will publish my poem “Brittle Adoration” in an upcoming online issue.
This poem is one from a collection of “mistranslations” of Arthur Rimbaud–that is, poems that are inspired by the original poems in French, and not intended as translations.
June 16, 2018
My poem “Lineage” has been published by Red Queen Literary Magazine available online.
My poem “Lineage” has been published by Red Queen Literary Magazine available online.
This poem is based on my father’s father, a Syrian emigrant to the US who worked as a peddlar.
June 15, 2018
Carbon Culture Review just published three of my poems.
Carbon Culture Review just published three of my poems. This is the third time they have accepted my poetry.
“The Serpent in his Hands” comes from the experience of my December 2017 bowel surgery and the image (a photo I have, actually) of my intestines in the hands of the surgeon.
Likewise, “Metaphysical Changes” reflects on mortality with one central image being the surgical scar.
“Comedy of Ions” comes from my reading ot the Wallace Stevens critical biography, “The Whole Harmonium,” by Paul Mariani combined with the disappearance of the ice sheets in Greenland as our failures lead to the inexorable warming of the planet–leading to who knows what.
June 14, 2018
Magnolia Review has published my interview on the creative process online.
Magnolia Review has published my interview on the creative process online.
June 8, 2018
George Washington on Immigration
“The bosom of America is open to receive not only the opulent and respectable Stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all Nations and Religions.” George Washington
June 7, 2018
Taking Note: Poetry Reading Is Up—Federal Survey Results | NEA
• Young adults have increased their lead, among all age groups, as poetry readers. Among 18-24-year-olds, the poetry-reading rate more than doubled, to 17.5 percent in 2017, up from 8.2 percent in 2012. Among all age groups, 25-34-year-olds had the next highest rate of poetry-reading: 12.3 percent, up from 6.7 percent in 2012.
• Women also showed notable gains (14.5 percent in 2017, up from 8.0 percent in 2012). As in prior years, women accounted for more than 60 percent of all poetry-readers. Men’s poetry-reading rate grew from 5.2 percent in 2012 to 8.7 percent in 2017.
• Among racial/ethnic subgroups, African Americans (15.3 percent in 2017 up from 6.9 percent in 2012), Asian Americans (12.6 percent, up from 4.8 percent), and other non-white, non-Hispanic groups (13.5 percent, up from 4.7 percent) now read poetry at the highest rates. Furthermore, poetry-reading increased among Hispanics (9.7 percent, up from 4.9 percent) and non-Hispanic whites (11.4 percent, up from 7.2 percent).
• Adults with only some college education showed sharp increases in their poetry-reading rates. Of those who attended but did not graduate from college, 13.0 percent read poetry in 2017, up from 6.6 percent in 2012. College graduates (15.2 percent, up from 8.7 percent) and adults with graduate or professional degrees (19.7 percent, up from 12.5 percent) also saw sizeable increases.
• Urban and rural residents read poetry at a comparable rate (11.8 percent of urban/metro and 11.2 percent of rural/non-metro residents).
— Read on www.arts.gov/art-works/2018/taking-note-poetry-reading-—federal-survey-results
June 6, 2018
Early WC Williams–before the greatness
The Tempers by William Carlos Williams
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Early WC Williams–very derivative, full of traditional artifice, not in any way revealing the greatness to come.
