Elegy for Trains is a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award

A good day today:  I received notification this morning that both The Mayo Review and Westview have accepted some of my new poems for publication. 

Then, this afternoon, I learned that my book, Elegy for Trains, has been named a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award for Poetry. 

And there’s the reading tonight at Benedict Street Marketplace.

Reading at Benedict St. Thursday.

Tomorrow, Thursday the 17^th of February, is OBU night at the Benedict Street Marketplace monthly poetry reading, which means I will be the featured reader.  I'll read poems from Elegy for Trains, along with some material from my new project.  I will also highlight three of my advanced poetry students reading work they produced in my class over January term. 

There will also be an open-mic portion of the evening, so bring something to read (your own work or just a poem you love).  Come by 6:30 to order a delicious dinner and help support one of the best local eateries in Shawnee.  The Benedict Street reading is always a lively gathering of friendly people.

Last Night's Reading/Some Books You Should Have

I had a great time reading with some of the “Wood Guthrie Poets” at the Fred Jones, Jr. Museum of Art at OU last night.  It was a small but exceptionally warm crowd:  “fit though few” to use Milton’s oft-quoted phrase.  Of course, I would have done it even if no audience showed up, just for the pleasure of reading “round-robin” style with four poets I admire and whose company is always delightful.

Nathan Brown read from his new book in honor of the late, great Jim Chastain, Letters to the One-Armed Poet.  Buy it on Amazon. 

Carol Hamilton read from a variety of her many books.  If you haven’t read her latest, Contrapuntal, yet, then get it on Amazon.

Ken Hada treated us to some new poems on the recent snow –very good stuff—and also read from Spare Parts.

Jim Spurr was amusing and thought-provoking, as always.  Don’t miss him reading every third Thursday of the month at Benedict St. Market in Shawnee.

Reading in Norman, Feb. 11th

I’ll be reading tomorrow night (Friday, Feb. 11^th) at the Fred Jones, Jr.  Museum of Art on the Oklahoma University campus, along with some of the other “Woody Guthrie Poets” as part of the “2^nd Friday Art Circuit.”  The reading starts at 6:00 P.M.  There will also be music and, obviously, art on the premises.  If you have cabin fever, poetry, music, and art can cure that!

Keegan reading is postponed

Due to weather conditions, Abigail Keegan's reading at OBU will be rescheduled for March 3rd, (6:00 PM in room 212 of the Geiger Center).  In the meantime, look for her new book, Depending on the Weather, on Amazon or order directly from Village Books Press (villlagebookspress@yahoo.com).

Poems for a Snowy Day

Stuck at home again, thanks to snow.  So here’s my top five snowy day poems:

5.  “The Snow Man” by Wallace Stevens.  http://writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/stevens-snowman.html

4.  “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost.  http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=171621

3.  “Shoveling Snow with Buddha” by Billy Collins.  http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/shoveling-snow-with-buddha/

2.  “The Bear” by Galway Kinnell.  http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/19851

1.  “[Zeus Rains Down Winter]” By Alceaus (early 6^th cent. B.C., Greek):

Zeus rains upon us, and from the sky comes down

enormous winter.  Rivers have turned to ice. . . .

Dash down the winter.  Throw a log on the fire

and mix the flattering wine (do not water it

    too much) and bind on round our foreheads

         soft ceremonial wreaths of fleece.

We must not let our spirits give way to grief.

By being sorry we get no further on,

   my Bukchis.  Best of all defenses

       is to mix plenty of wine, and drink it.

                                                                trans. Richard Lattimore

Abigail Keegan to Read at OBU

Abigail Keegan's new book bears the timely title "Depending on the Weather," and she will read from it, depending on the weather, this Thursday evening at 6:00 in room 212 of the Geiger Center on the OBU campus as this year's final guest for the English Dept. Reading Series.

I got to know Dr. Keegan through our mutual involvement in the "Woody Guthrie Poets," and I have been really enjoying her new poems. She is a poet of vivid images and straight-forward emotional impact. Her work is imaginative and playful but also lyrical and meditative. If you are around Thursday, don't miss this great evening of poetry at OBU.