One Poem, Five Reasons for Cheer

On Wednesday one of my poems was published in the local newspaper. That statement alone carries at least five reasons for cheer.
1)      First, it is a real treat to live in an area that has a local newspaper in this day and age, when so many small papers are being bought up or shut down.
2)      [...]

Go Inside

Tonight I was sitting in my back yard, staring into the flames that were leaping in the outdoor fire pit, wondering what I would teach my students tomorrow. First I thought about poems I might want to introduce them to. Then I asked myself, “What do I want them to learn about poetry tomorrow?” In [...]

Quote Unquote: What You Bring Forth

 

photo by Aja Riggs

 
“If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.”
 - From the Gospel of Thomas
At least once a week, it seems, a student asks me why they should [...]

Grandmother Poems – Hold the Clichés

There are some topics that invite cliché and should therefore be avoided as themes for poems. Those include: Babies, Love, and Grandmothers. Yes, I know, that’s what everyone wants to write about. But here’s the problem. Try writing about your baby without getting all gooey or using the word angel or angelic. A love poem [...]