Transcontinental šŗ
a quick blip about upcoming jaunts
Right right right now where were we?
So, after the wrap, the year began, as it had to, and with it, our growing boy, coming into the fullness of his faceā¦delightful cheeks, really..and also my new undergraduate course (first one at Whitworth) on āThe Noble Art of Metrical Verse,ā which is going swimmingly.
[oh and welcome to you new subscribers. Weāre all thrilled youāre here. Feel free to drop a line of introduction if you like; this is a kind of family affair]
Also, Iāve embarked on a fairly major translation project. I really love the Italian poets: Eugenio Montale, Giacomo Leopardi (a pair of his translations are in the Elegies), and Salvatore Quasimodo are among my favorites anywhere, so I was pleased to discover recently the work of Alessandro Parronchi, a Florentine poet who just died in 2007, but whose workānot a single poem, it seemsā has ever been translated into English.
So Iām doing it. I made one, and liked it, and then another, and now I have a handful to send around as a sample to magazines and presses: who knows, maybe weāll make a full volume! This was a fun season though, both reading them, writing them, and getting in touch with his Italian press and then his heirs to aquire permission for translation rights, which I now hold. Iāll keep you posted on this. Meanwhileā¦
MFA Updates
We are almost entirely full for our opening class,and have even overloaded a bit. Amazing! A huge number of applicants have put āWord of Mouthā under the āHow did you hear about usā field, so THANK YOU! Thereās room left for one poet, if you know anyone. After that, you can still tell others to come over; theyāll just have to wait till Winter term. Huzzah šš»
Program alumna Haley Hodgesās debut collection Eros Rex has just come out on Orison Books and itās š„.
Also, icymi, and you might have, with everything going on in the world, another program alumnus, Michael Dechane published his debut poetry collection The Long Invisible just 2 years ago now, but it isnāt too late! Poetry is ānews that stays news,ā so you can still catch up.
Invitation
Iāll be at AWP Baltimore next week repping the program and chatting with other writers, publishers, and admins. If youāre attending (which you should consider doing), Iāll be singing books at Booth 515 on Friday 12:30-1:30. NB: this book fair requires a ticket (but, stay tuned just a minute here..)
Weāre also hosting, with Rock & Sling, and open-to-the-public Reading and Reception on that Thursday night in a slick little wine bar in the Fells Point neighborhood. Weāre calling it One Poet, One Poem about which, more below šš¼
If youāre a long-time reader, or are MFA-curious, come say hello and hear from those mentioned above, in addition toā just added (!): Jen Grace Stewart, Jennifer Pons, Marci Johnson, and the-hits-keep-coming (if you RSVP, weāll buy enough wine)
I have more things to invite you to, but donāt want to confuse the issue, so letās just leave this and you can expect to hear from me again soon.
Reading
This essay by David Lindrum about learning to be a better reader
This essay by Paul J. Pastor about a revival in Christian poetry
Iām also super excited about the new Selected Poems of Larry Levis. Levis is sort of a poetās poet, in that, while Iāve never met a normal person who knew his work, Iāve also never met a poet I admire who didnāt adore him. Run, donāt walk.
Listening
When I was young enough to careāswayed by every wind of teachingāabout such things, Iād have described this as ācringe,ā probably, but now I just think its unapologetically great. Petra (my favorite band from the 80ās) has a new record our this year. The lead singer is 76 years old! I only hope Iām still going that strong when should I reach such a term. Anyway, itās big and blustery fun.
Honestly, more than anything else Iāve been listening to Claude Thornhillās 1941 record, Snowfall, while Im waiting for new Iron & Wine and Jose Gonzales records to come out.
Oddments
MFA poetry mentor Laura Reece Hogan is running a funded cohort of literary writers interested in participating in a dialogue about faith and writing and AI in sunny CA Iād love it if some of our people won. Apply/ learn more here
Did you see that Image will be hosting the Glen Workshop in San Diego this year? Do you have tickets yet?
Did you further see that Mockingbird is hosting its annual NYC gathering soon and that itās called, awesomely, I think, WOW to the Deadness? Iām not speaking this year, but that is no reason you should sit out in protest. Kind of you to suggest it though. š
Thatās it for now. Iāll see some of you in Bāmore (is this what ppl call it? idk; Iāve never been. Seems they should), and others just..around in these digital wilds.
Bon iver, and blessings until then,
MW





well the pressure to get that application in is definitely ON !!!!
Thanks for the Claude Thornhill recommendationā¦currently listening š