There and Back š
a quick update with essays, recs, radio, and few other goodies
So here I am back in AZ from a sweet sojourn in the Pacific Northwest where I was giving some lectures about S.T. Coleridge for writers. It was especially notable for getting to meet the poets Matthew Henry and Diane Glancy, and to see this fine cohort of students graduating with their MFA degrees. I also met Jessica Clements who was out as a representative of the Whitworth Writersā Workshop and who convinced me, and all of us, I think, that the program is in good hands, going forward.
The train I took was a treat for the first 24 hours, and then soured. I found this true in both directions. Lovely and novel and smooth for a day and then: alright, thatās enough of that. Still: what landscapes from the train window!
Other than that, weāre wrapping up the semester at ACU, which continues to be a joy. I saw the student production of Little Women that was surprisingly great, and spoke on a faculty panel about āThe Future of AI in Lib Arts Institutions.ā
Also, my new poem book, This Gift Card Has Already Been Redeemed, was a semi-finalist for the Vassar Miller Prize, but didnāt win. Quel dommage. Summer soon and weāre already breaking in the swimming pool! šāāļø
Publications
I have a new essay for the Buechner Review (which btw, has 2 million subscribers š³) about my own gams in striped leggings sticking out from beneath a flying craftsman house. It is also about Coleridge, who was on my mind for what I take to be obvious reasons. Read here. š
The Atlantic published a very political list of the 25 best poetry books of the century so far, and I have written a counter-list. Itās being published by Rabbit Room next week. Sign up to get it in your inbox, or watch this space: Iāll link to it next time.
The good folks at WORD-FM Pittsburgh had me on as a guest and I read them some poems about baseball and about Spring. Listen Here. š»
I finally received, and held in my hands, my contributorās copy of An Axe for the Frozen Sea. What riches! I enjoy reading print interviews more and more (a practice I first learned from The Paris Review and Image).
Book News
Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Reclaiming Life in a Digital Age Brett McCracken has his finger directly on the pulse, as usual.
Undaunted Joy: the Revolutionary Act of Cultivating Delight Shemaiah Gonzalez is a graduate of the SPU MFA program and a good citizen of the literary scene. The book is out today!
Free: My Search for Meaning Amanda Knox was a student of mine when I taught at UW. I loved her previous book Waiting to Be Heard in part because the writing is so quick and clean, and in part because it concerns (a former student, and) my two favorite places: Italy and Seattle.
The Big Relief: The Urgency of Grace for a Worn-Out World Dave Zahl (of Mockingbird fame) has a new one out at the end of this month. I find him both winning and astute as an observer of The Problem.
Listening
Fine China, I Felt Called
I've known about this band for ages, from one of my favorite samplers ever, āThe Future is Blue,ā but this is their first LP Iāve really got into.
Michigander, Michigander
I wanna say Black Keys meets a sing-ier Spoon with a bit of Pete Yorn. Fun.
Skye Peterson, All the Difference
I heard about this from some peopleās Best of 2024 lists, but it took a while for me to love. But now I do. And how!
Oddments
My favorite band of all-time, ever, Poor Old Lu, is playing two reunion shows in Seattle and Tennessee. Iāve never flown anywhere for a concert, but I think Iām about to.
Happy Easter fam.
YESSSSS Poor Old Lu!!! So good - I'll have to check out their TN concert and see if I can swing it. Thanks for the heads-up!
I am SO EXCITED for your list of the 25 best (and am currently reading Axe for the Frozen Sea, though I haven't gotten to your interview yet)