The Writing Life: Now It's Time to Get Writing

Now that school is out, it's time to get writing again. Each year I am surprised by how hard a transition this is for me. How to start writing poems again? I need to trick myself into it. Begin by reading. Today it was The Poetry of Rilke,  translated by Edward Snow -- with a gorgeous introduction by Adam Zagajewski. I know I will be reading and re-reading it forever.

Tonight I heard Rae Armantrout read from her Pulitzer prize-winning collection, Versed. An utterly charming woman, and a pleasu...