Loving poetry. I thank the Lord that I didn’t write for a living. It only was diagnosed and started when I retired 26 years ago. I based the titles of three of my recent books on Joyce kilmer’s “Vain is the Chimming of Forgotten Bells.”
1 - “The Chimming of Forgotten Bells.” 2 - “Light Songs We Sing.” And 3 - “Swaying in the Wind.”
Despair is unAmerican but also very much undemocratic. Despair is the opening that invites authoritarians from both the right and left to plant the seeds of hatred and division.
Thank you for the introduction to Guiterman! What a joy!
I learned for the first time from this piece that Joyce Kilmer was male. I will always remember his Trees poem because we all had to recite it in Miss Weeks’s 4th grade class and each of us had to say the word “breast” out loud.
In the spirit of the thornbush, despair that leads to inaction is bad, despair that leads to positive action is good. I choose that latter version of this thornbush.
I found Guiterman’s poetry delightful! And I appreciate his thoughts on making a living as a writer. My self-published book on my escape from fundamentalist Evangelicalism has earned me enough to buy several cups of coffee (and, fortunately, was invaluable as the therapy I needed). But in my job as a software engineer, I get paid very well for the writing of not only the code (which is itself a form of creative writing) but also the considerable amount of “paperwork” that goes with the job. I manage to satisfy much of my need to be creative even in technical writing. One has to go where the demand is.
I can raise my hand about Mrs. H Ward because at one point I entertained a project of reading a now unknown bestseller from every year after 1900. The project fizzled, and I never read many if any (too many books, too little time). But her name did come up and I briefly contemplated reading her.
Project is now a dead duck because I can now only read books on Kindle. Thank you eyes and hands.
I definitely remember “On the Vanity of Earthly Greatness” but I think I thought it was Dorothy Parker. But I've frequently felt like quoting it.
As to aiming poems at the market. Depends on whether you care about making money from it. Most poets, me included, have always thought that THAT idea belong on the Bonfire of the Vanities.
I love, loved, loved, as it were, every comma, every single one of them, in the opening paragraph. You might think I am joking, but I am not, for I am also of the serial comma persuasion, and use them often, to the consternation of all, well maybe only some, who must edit me, I fear. x
Indeed, placing election deniers. those who view insurrection as a friendly gathering along with Russian and fascist supporters make excellent voices for our corporate controlled media influence on we the serfs!
I loved the poem (s) and the reference to Mad Magazine which kept me entertained in my teen years. I really REALLY loved the graphics in the video before your get-together with Stephanie! Are you responsible for that?
Hey Greg. Great piece!
Loving poetry. I thank the Lord that I didn’t write for a living. It only was diagnosed and started when I retired 26 years ago. I based the titles of three of my recent books on Joyce kilmer’s “Vain is the Chimming of Forgotten Bells.”
1 - “The Chimming of Forgotten Bells.” 2 - “Light Songs We Sing.” And 3 - “Swaying in the Wind.”
So I really appreciate your work.
Billserle.com
Hear hear Greg Olear — clever, informative, humorously instructive not to mention both marked & marketable! Thank you sir😎
It’s up to us that America never fails.
Ironic that the religious freaks who fled persecution in Europe by coming to America are now the ones wreaking havoc with our country and the world.
The stronger the faith, the closer the devil 😇 #TaxTheChurches
Despair is unAmerican but also very much undemocratic. Despair is the opening that invites authoritarians from both the right and left to plant the seeds of hatred and division.
It's up to us now, "the work is but begun".
Well needed humor for a Sunday morning
"The marked ability / market ability line is..." our very own Greg Olear. He even brings non-poetry enthusiasts along on his ride.
Thank you for the introduction to Guiterman! What a joy!
I learned for the first time from this piece that Joyce Kilmer was male. I will always remember his Trees poem because we all had to recite it in Miss Weeks’s 4th grade class and each of us had to say the word “breast” out loud.
In the spirit of the thornbush, despair that leads to inaction is bad, despair that leads to positive action is good. I choose that latter version of this thornbush.
I found Guiterman’s poetry delightful! And I appreciate his thoughts on making a living as a writer. My self-published book on my escape from fundamentalist Evangelicalism has earned me enough to buy several cups of coffee (and, fortunately, was invaluable as the therapy I needed). But in my job as a software engineer, I get paid very well for the writing of not only the code (which is itself a form of creative writing) but also the considerable amount of “paperwork” that goes with the job. I manage to satisfy much of my need to be creative even in technical writing. One has to go where the demand is.
I can raise my hand about Mrs. H Ward because at one point I entertained a project of reading a now unknown bestseller from every year after 1900. The project fizzled, and I never read many if any (too many books, too little time). But her name did come up and I briefly contemplated reading her.
Project is now a dead duck because I can now only read books on Kindle. Thank you eyes and hands.
I definitely remember “On the Vanity of Earthly Greatness” but I think I thought it was Dorothy Parker. But I've frequently felt like quoting it.
As to aiming poems at the market. Depends on whether you care about making money from it. Most poets, me included, have always thought that THAT idea belong on the Bonfire of the Vanities.
Excellent!!!!!
Is Marked Ability a life lesson?
Thank you, Greg ❤️
I love, loved, loved, as it were, every comma, every single one of them, in the opening paragraph. You might think I am joking, but I am not, for I am also of the serial comma persuasion, and use them often, to the consternation of all, well maybe only some, who must edit me, I fear. x
Indeed, placing election deniers. those who view insurrection as a friendly gathering along with Russian and fascist supporters make excellent voices for our corporate controlled media influence on we the serfs!
I loved the poem (s) and the reference to Mad Magazine which kept me entertained in my teen years. I really REALLY loved the graphics in the video before your get-together with Stephanie! Are you responsible for that?