Spirit in the Sky 🪘
Chers amies et amis,
We have come through the worst of winter, which was, as ever in the Pacific Northwest, relatively tame. We've had our second to last fire of the year. The light is returning, the cherries considering an explosion, and the first brave daffodil bunch around here lifted its yellow head just now.
More locally, I bought a crib yesterday, and we have re-acquired blankets, onesies, a diaper pail, and the other accoutrements attendant to our upcoming feats.
Publications
Since we last spoke, three new poems dropped.
This one about outdoor lighting and this one about Steve Miller Band were published in Reformed Journal, with (this is a lovely feature, I think) a little audio explanation from me about what the poem is meant to be doing.
Apart from these I have big things coming! My first feature for the every-way excellent Image Journal will be published in April 😀 and then right after, a long-ish essay about church will be out in Fare Forward. I'll make sure to keep you posted about those.
Reading
I've been reading Laurus by Eugene Vodalazkin which is utterly wonderful. I've meant to read it since the English translation came out to rave reviews and haven't gotten to it until now. What a treasure horde! Also, I'm reading a strange and compelling walk through biblical commentary called The Book of All Books by Robert Callasso. I'm finding new revelations every other page, so it's slow going, but massively rewarding.
I also enjoyed this essay on the most affective movie I saw as a kid. The Last Unicorn was a devastating vision of beauty for me at 6 years old, probably setting me on the path to poetry. And this one from Bono, settling once and for all many late night dorm room discussions at Wheaton, a clarity it would’ve been nice to have had 20+ years ago. Oh goodness, and I just loved this article/vision of the good viz. cell phones. Finally, I commend this one, on the function of colleges, even for people who don't go to them.
Events
AWP is this weekend! This is the biggest gathering of the year for writer-types and in Seattle, we are lucky to host and to do so in our new Convention Center. Any area locals: this place will be lousy with writers all week long; chances are, if there's a writer or a publisher you admire, they're in town this week. You don't even have to register to benefit; there's dozens of free readings around town in galleries, coffee shops, and churches. Check out the list of "off-site" programs here. Note particularly the Denise Levertov Celebration and the One Poet reading at St. Paul's.
For my part, there's precious little publicly offered: I'm appearing on my favorite radio show later today, and am giving a graduate seminar and a faculty reading up at Whidbey Island but those are for the benefit of our delightful MFA students. I'll make it up to you by offering some readings after the baby comes. 🐣
Listening
I've always been an album guy, listening all the way through, but nothing is hitting for me recently. Maybe that era is over. In any case, I'm spinning singles recently: of new CCM pop and standards from the 1930's. Hit me if you've got something I need to hear.
Oddments
Speaking of those delightful MFA students, here's a poem one of them recently published and here is a book review in LARB (I love this venue) written by another.
I wrote this post about visiting Whidbey for the writers, but if you ever go, maybe it will help you too.
I'm off to the island soon, and off also to a new adventure in fatherhood. I covet your prayers if you make them.