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ACCEPTING NOTHING

By Michael Gill, The Cleveland Free Times, Volume 15, Issue 80, Published November 19th, 2008

Beyond War And Peace with Poet Bruce Weigl

Bruce Weigl   |   Courtesy Photo

Cleveland, Ohio (USA) — In his memoir The Circle of Hanh, poet Bruce Weigl wrote that the Vietnam war ruined his life and gave him his voice. But when he reads at the Bertram Woods Branch of the Shaker Heights Public Library, as part of the Poetry Not in the Woods Series, he doesn’t plan to read war poems.

Instead, he’ll read from a new collection, which is based on his Buddhist practice. This is no small transition for the poet, whose life and work have been shaped by the war he went off to fight when he was 18 years old.

“I didn’t have much going for me” at that time, he says. “I had no money in the family to get to school, so I joined the Army. But my timing was bad. It was 1967, and they were just about to push troop strength up to 500,000. I was 18 years old, and I could run fast. I was perfect fodder.”

   Bruce Weigl in Vietnam at age18 

Weigl spent a year in Vietnam, which he says is “absolutely” why he started writing. He had seen things that made him question everything. “I saw that a priest couldn’t necessarily be trusted. I saw a priest blessing a cache of weapons.” And poetry was a way to ask those questions. For him, like a generation of poets, the war gave him a voice and something to say.

Even two decades later, Vietnam continued to be a force in Weigl’s life. In 1986 a friend invited him to visit the country again. He agreed, thinking the trip would never happen. “I had no desire to go. I had 20 years of nightmares. Vietnam was a war, as far as I was concerned. With that trip it became a country. Instead of mortars and grenades, it was children playing and beer. It was a huge turn in my life.”

By then Weigl had earned a PhD and had become a professor of English at Penn State. Still, the war remained a dominant force in his work. A translation project, for example, came about accidentally when he discovered in a Boston library a collection of microfilm documenting papers on captured Vietnamese soldiers. Much of it consisted of soldiers’ diaries, which contained poetry. With help from a librarian, Weigl started with literal translation, pouring himself into learning the language and refining the work over the next year to make the book, Poems from Captured Documents.

These days, Weigl is Distinguished Visiting Writer at Lorain County Community College. He’s written 12 books. He’s currently working on translating a post-war-generation Vietnamese poet whose work he says has “no interest in the war at all.”

Weigl’s manuscript in progress, The Abundance of Nothing, was influenced not by the war, but by a near-death experience that he didn’t recognize as such at the time. He developed a spinal infection, the seriousness of which he didn’t know until he was already beating it. The experience made him think about the world without him in it.

“I avoided writing about my Buddhist practice for a long time,” he says. “I don’t like the sort of pseudo-Buddhist poems I’ve seen. I’m allowing that sensibility to come out.”

© 2008 by Michael Gill and the Cleveland Free Times

    Three Poems by Bruce Weigl

Doren Robbins, author of My Piece of the Puzzle (Eastern Washington University Press)

Since the year 2000, I have had the good fortune to be part of a University press that publishes my books in well-designed, expertly produced affordable editions. For my current book, My Piece of the Puzzle, they were generous enough in procuring (at my request) a transparency of the great Jewish painter Chaim Soutine’s painting “The Little Pastry Chef” from the Portland Museum of Art to place on my book cover. With the current problems in our economy, along with the ongoing complication of online purchasing, the press experiences problems placing their books in book stores (of all places). As you know, the problem with book stores is crucial, since for the most part they only stock and advertise “best sellers.” But these facts alone are not enough to support the argument about why book sales, other than “best sellers” are falling in sales. In a recent article, journalist Chris Hedges noted:

“There are over 42 million American adults, 20 percent of whom hold high school diplomas, who cannot read, as well as the 50 million who read at a fourth- or fifth-grade level. Nearly a third of the nation’s population is illiterate or barely literate. And their numbers are growing by an estimated 2 million a year. But even those who are supposedly literate retreat in huge numbers into this image-based existence. A third of high school graduates, along with 42 percent of college graduates, never read a book after they finish school. Eighty percent of the families in the United States last year did not buy a book.”

To keep afloat, Eastern Washington University Press has managed to do a fairly decent job of distribution, landing my books and others printed by the press in nearly 100 university and college libraries. But it is obviously not enough; Future titles, mine (if accepted) among them, are in jeopardy of not being published so I’m asking for your contribution to keep me and others connected with Eastern Washington University Press thriving. Please consider buying a copy of My Piece of the Puzzle and, if you like it, consider buying another as a gift (or check out the poetry and fiction book list at EWUP: http://ewupress.ewu.edu/poetry/Mypieceofpuzzle.htm) . I know this “plea” comes at a bad time (when in the first place is there a good time to make a plea?). Anyway, I hope you will contribute.

– Doren Robbins

MY PIECE OF THE PUZZLE
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ISBN-13: 978-1597660389

SHORT BOOK REVIEW

Midwest Book Review, July 9, 2008 (Oregon, WI USA)

Filled with simple yet delicate observations of the world around us

Highly experienced and prolific poet Doren Robbins presents his sixth full length volume of poetry in “My Piece of the Puzzle”. Filled with simple yet delicate observations of the world around us, and touching on the various eccentricities of human nature be they mean, idiotic, or magnificent, Robbins’ poetry is sure to move readers in one way or another. “My Piece of the Puzzle” is a top pick for poetry lovers and community library collections catering to them. “The Rains”: At a hotel off the Deschutes River, recorded in Bend, Oregon, the same/night going down for ice when I found a large moth inside from the rain.//Even dead it looked vibrant, resting on the inside corner/of a louvered windowsill.//Heavy layered fur neck, buffalo thick head. I saw all the way into the pearl/ of running surf inside the moth’s unshuttered eye, and the bloom in there/became clear a little piece of peel at a time.//Saw the loomed pieces stacked layers new petals lapped over a face within/the increased undergrowth, steadily withheld, unknown till then.

   Poems by Doren Robbins

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POETRY SOCIETY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

National Contests

Lynne Birdsall

PO Box 1615

Concord, NH 03302-1615

Please note limit is forty lines. Name and address must appear in the upper right hand corner of the copy on which they appear. NO identification is to appear anywhere on the second copy.

The Poetry Society of New Hampshire sponsors four National Contests open to all poets, members or not. Judges for the contests are not members of the Poetry Society of New Hampshire. Prizes are awarded to four places, 1st place, $100, 2nd place, $50, 3rd and 4th places $25 each. Winning poems will be published in our quarterly magazine, The Poets Touchstone, and winning poets will receive one copy of the issue in which their poems appear. Rights revert to the author after publication.

Guidelines

Entries that do not meet the guidelines will not be considered or returned.

Poems must be postmarked by the deadline date.

Subject and form are open.

Length limited to 40 lines.

One poem per page.

Poems must be typed.

Two copies of each poem, one with NO identification (no name, no address), the other with the name and address in the upper right corner.

#10 SASE for winners list only. Poems will not be returned.

Entry fee is $3 for the first poem, and $2 each for others. Entries limited to 5 poems per poet per contest.

Poems must not be previously published, have won a prize, nor be currently entered in another contest.

Poems must be postmarked by the deadline date. Deadlines are: August 15th, November 15th and February 15th, May 15th.

Mail poems and check payable to the Poetry Society of New Hampshire to me at the address above.

The Poetry Society of New Hampshire is a non-profit, membership organization dedicated to the promotion of poetry. While we are headquartered in the granite state, we offer all poets, wherever they live, opportunities for publication in the quarterly journal The Poets Touchstone, anthologies (most recently The 2008 Poets Guide to NH and The Other Side of Sorrow, Poets Speak Out About Conflict, War, and Peace), and the occasional chapbook. We sponsor contests, including a quarterly national contest which offers publication and monetary prizes totaling $1000 per year. I will paste below the guidelines for that. We also host readings, open mics, workshops and collaborative events, most recently a celebration of the Kalevala.

We have nearly 250 members, many from New Hampshire, some from as far away as Greece, a few Canadians, and a few prisoners serving life sentences. Our membership also includes Pulitzer Prize winners and National and State Poets Laureate. We are hoping to grow our organization by opening the door to as many poets as possible, so we are inviting you to consider an annual membership for $20. Checks made payable to the PSNH can be sent to the Treasurer at PO Box 637 Farmington, NH 03835. Sample copies of The Poets’ Touchstone are available for $6. The society can be reached at

poetrysocietyofnh@gmail.com

Yours in Poetry!

Patricia Frisella

President

$16   |   Order from Oyster River Press

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Marci Klimek

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 update on life

 Monday, October 13, 2008

This last week wasn’t too exciting. We had an off week from meets and so we got a full weekend. I had 2 midterms and I feel like they went pretty well. I had both of them on Thursday though which made for a long day. I had one 90 minute test starting at 9:15, then a second 90 minute test 15 mins after I got done with the first, then 3 hours of work 30 minutes after i got out of that class, and then a hard workout 15 minutes after work…. I was ready for bed. The two tests were in Managerial Accounting and Business law and then I have another midterm next Monday in my History of World Civ class so I will be spending this weekend trying to get ready for that!

Today in my Literature class we had a guest come to speak and discuss with us, his name is Al Young and he is the California Poet Laureate. The role of the California Poet Laureate is to spread the art of poetry from classrooms to boardrooms across the state, to inspire an emerging generation of literary artists and to educate all Californians about the many poets and authors who have influenced our great state through creative literary expression. He read some of his works and spoke to us in general about American cultural and the power of language. One really interesting insight he made was about the medias and the governments use of complex and cliche termonalogy which has no meaning to the general public or the average person. This kinda of “prepackaged” language is unclear and confusing to most of us and if you think about it this is realy true. Terms like “pre-emptive strike” or “power grab” are virtually meaningless, there is no guide-book or reference to look to, we can only assume meanings. Additionally there are secondary meanings to so many frequently used words, for example, conservative is defined as someone who is resisting change or perfers a traditional role, recently we see a societal view of conservatives as aggressive and seeking power and expansion rather than maintenance of personal issues. There is terrible loss of simple and useful language that all people can related to the use of senses; a lemon is sour, we all know sour, it is what it is, it is clear and straight forward, it is not created to bring out an image or an emotion or pull you one way or another… let us speak with clarity and honesty and be provided with simple information not stories and headlines and opinions. Allow us our due right to facts and let us form our own thoughts on things. What channel can I turn to for that? Anyhow, the website is alyoung.org if you would like to read some of his work. My favorite that he read to us and his favorite also is titled, “a note on the future of love.” I can’t find it on Google, but it is really good and about American Culture. He also spoke about how America is the largest market place in the world for drugs, largely due to the high stress, go, go, go, american lifestyle. I think we can all relate to the rush of life and the demand in America to keep up in order to pursuit happiness and success. I am glad that we all have our families, dreams, and sanity to overcome this trials… I am sure glad I have my running as well.

The weather has been good here, this weekend was warm and the colors were amazing. Some friends and I played a few games of horse shoes in the backyard and tossed the baseball around. It was really relaxing once we warmed up and got in a hot breakfast after the 7:00 practice on Saturday morning. It was deffinately still dark out and looking a little frosty white like christmas at a nippy 28 degrees.

For Halloween we will be in Walla Walla getting ready for our Conference meet the next day. We all decided to dress up for dinner that night and suprise the coaches so I am trying to think of a really good costume idea… if any one has any suggestions please let me know. I can’t wait to see all the pictures of the little cousins in their outfits for Halloween. They are always adorable. It will be tough to top Hunters little Einstein outfit from last year though!! SO CUTE!!! I am including a pic so you can start to get excited for all the little trick-or-treaters coming to your door soon!

We have our final meet before conference this weekend at McIver Park near Portland and my dad is coming up again to watch! I am really excited to see him again! It is a shame that Thanksgiving is so far away and is our only break all semester… dang it! Atleast we have the full week off and only 2 weeks of class after that!

Well, I best get back to the homework. This week won’t be too bad, just keeping caught up with everything and getting ready for that History test!

Hope all are healthy and happy and enjoying the crunchy leafs, the crisp air, and the wonderful colors… If anyone has the time take a walk thru Lithia Park for me… I sure to miss getting to see that park this time of year… nothing like it!

Love you and Miss you all!

 Posted by Marci Klimek at 4:30 PM

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About Me

Marci Klimek

I attend Linfield College and earning a marketing major and a biology minor. I run NCAA DIII cross country and track and work as an anatomy lab teacher’s aid.

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 © 2008 by Marci Klimek

Imagination and the Shape-Shifting Beast

Morton Marcus    |    Photo: Jana Marcus

Morton Marcus Interviewed

by Robert Sward

ROBERT SWARD: Mort, what do you mean by plain style?

MORTON MARCUS:  To me, plain style is clear style: clarity of expression that is always conversational in essence and tone. It is never ornate or pursues verbal pyrotechnics. Although I’ve used many approaches in my poems over the years, for the most part I’ve presented them with an austere clarity, almost a simplicity of grammar and vocabulary. And again, I’m more concerned with giving the impression of a voice speaking than singing. That’s pretty much William Carlos Williams’ legacy for the poets who started writing in the 1950s and after. Find the American voice box, he said. We don’t speak English; we speak American. And we speak, we don’t sing.  So with me, voice rhythms are all. As is clarity. The pursuit of clarity has always been a conscious decision on my part and has to do with my focus on imagery and metaphor as the core of my work.

RS: How do you hear your poems? That is, what do you “hear” first in your mind and–tricky question–how then do your poems find their way from head space, so to speak, to the physical page?

MM: One of the ways, a predominant way I think, that I develop a poem is through imagining a voice speaking, a particular voice that is talking to me or which I’m overhearing, a voice whose rhythm and tone I let guide the method and structure of what I’m writing in so far as tone, line length, stanzaic arrangement and form are concerned-some of the latter, of course, are only relevant when I’m writing verse poems.

RS:  You’re saying the voice mode is primary.

MM: No, that’s just one way I develop a poem; a major way, it’s true. But for me, the voice is secondary to the imagery and/or metaphors that reveal themselves in the course of the writing.

RS: Explain.

MM:  Maybe if I described one of the methods I use to write a poem, this will become clearer. But let me warn you that my description may sound fanciful …To begin with, images and metaphors in almost all cases appear like golden medallions in the vaulted darkness of my psyche.

RS:  If I may say so, the preceding sentence strikes me as out of keeping with what you said earlier about “plain style.”

MM: No, no. You’re confusing two things here. My imagery may be baroque, even decadent, but my language is plain. And I warned you that this might  sound fanciful. But let me go on. I was saying that images and metaphors in almost all cases appear like golden medallions in the vaulted darkness of my psyche. Let me add that their appearances are unplanned and unexpected. A long time ago I decided that these appearances were in many cases the beginning of the creative act for me, and that it was my task to pursue their meanings by following their development, which many times consisted of grappling with their changes in shape and direction. Is that clear so far?

RS: Go on.

(more…)

In clear, blue space
a funnel cloud spins into its vortex
Flesh, form, custom and oaths
Country and possessions jettisoned
in one breath
And it is we, women, who suffer all
like nuns cloistered in shadows
under eaves and mangroves
our desires small and undecipherable
as dust motes

Genny Lim
Jan. 23, 2008
© 2008 by Genny Lim

EXILIO

En un espacio claro y azul
un nube de embudo gira
en su vórtice
La carne, la forma, la costumbre y los juramentos
El país y las posesiones echados por la borda
de un tirón
Y somos nosotras las mujeres quienes sufrimos todo
como monjas encerradas en las sombras
bajo los aleros y los mangles
nuestros deseos tan pequeños e indescifrables
como el polvo

Traducción de Toshiya Kamei
© 2008

for marianne broekmeijer

it’s the last day of spring
and the young girls smile
like the first day
high on the mountain
pockets of snow remain
in the shaded areas
at the edge of sun
above the highway where
summer is inviting
spring lovers with its call
for new romances
and unrelenting love
it’s the last day of spring
and the young girls smile
like the first day
the sun slowly sinks
away fondly into
an amber sunset
that will come down
from the blue mountain
with thousands of golden poppies
and smiling young girls
following its path
there is nothing quite like mountain love

Conyus
Copyright © 2004 and 2008 by Conyus

“Keeping track of the Iraqi death toll isn’t the job of the United States,” a student said, “and besides, how would we count the dead?”

Take their limbs strewn about the streets—
multiply by a thousand and one.

Ask everyone in Baghdad who has lost
a brother. Cousin. Sister. Child — to speak
their name in a recorder.

Go to every school, stand
at the front of the class, take roll;
for every empty desk, at least two dead.

Find every shop that sells cigarettes—
ask how many more cartons they’ve sold this year.

Go to the bus station and buy ten tickets –
offer them free to anyone who wants to leave.

Go see the coffin-maker. Ask how much
cedar and pine he’s ordered this month.

The dead don’t require much. They don’t speak
in numbers or tongues, they lie silent

waiting — to be counted

Persis Karim
Copyright © 2008 by Persis Karim

Frank Russell at home in his Tampa studio, 2004
Photo: Al Young

for Frank Russell
(a.k.a. Dr. Rocksteady,
1951-2008)
and Betty Moss

In the Imax picture of your lives, directed
by Hal Hartley, you survive everything,
even doubt, your own especially, on the way
out of all this to be or not to be, a distinction
Buddhists never cop to – ahhh, exhale bigtime
in this whopping world of motherless mutts.

Inhale. It’s happy hour at the oxygen bar
you favor, a dive that packs more punch
and flavor to every breath and step
you take than all the whipped foam of talk.
“Walk right in,“ you say to all the stunning,
unnumbered dimensions. Time and mind
conspire. Combined yet again, all ends
and beginnings equal all the journeys you take.

Dear Frank: Like a medieval monk, you copy
and lobby knowledge, know-how, info, data,
dada and consciousness – these keys to our species’
doorways duplicate and multiply. But, you, Betty,
hardly Heloise to some Abelard, you nurture
culture and acculturate. What mates you make!

Wherever time and mind go gung-ho, you go,
Should it surprise you or you or you or you
that consciousness rising can’t always recognize
the you you think is you as you-for-real?
In this sung deal, heart is all and everything.

The picture triumphs; love trumps despair.
Box office, be gone! From here we plow the field.

As for parallel universes, Dr. Rocksteady
and Betty — the surest seem the ones you share.

Al Young
Copyright © 2008 by Al Young

Betty Moss, Tampa 2004 | Al Young

Skippy | Al Young