Landis Everson

Landis Everson is a poet with five new poems and fourteen mostly old photographs in Jacket 26 (October 2004). He has two new poems in the American Poetry Review 35:1 (January/February 2006), a sexy one in Shampoo 26 (January 2006), and many others recently published and forthcoming. He won the 2005 Emily Dickinson Award. This … More Landis Everson

Marvelous

In Santiago de Chile we saw several hand-lettered placards saying: TAROT READINGS: 5,000 PESOS. AURA CLEANSINGS: 7,000 PESOS. REPAIR OF REMOTE CONTROL DEVICES: 10,000 PESOS. Call Amalio at 777-1001. This, meanwhile, explains a great deal: What is your age according to your lifestyle habits? Age 21. “You have the lifestyle of a young adult.” And … More Marvelous

Valparaíso, el viento

I am in Valparaíso and it is wonderful. Everywhere else I have been in Chile has been interesting, and Valdivia has the best fish market I have ever seen, but Valparaíso ROCKS, and it is beautiful. Evidence of its ultra-hip culture can be observed here. Later, I will translate this poem by Gonzalo Rojas, on Valparaíso. PUERTO … More Valparaíso, el viento

Technicalities

I 1. This page looks terrible in LINUX, or at least in the version I have and the browsers I have. 2. The exam I gave today was very hard to fail, if you studied, but very hard to pass, if you did not. All students who had failing averages before the exam, have now … More Technicalities

El mar y las campanas

There is much I do not like about Pablo Neruda, but these lines fit this morning’s windswept sunniness. Gracias, violines, por este día de cuatro cuerdas. Puro es el sonido del cielo, la voz azul del aire. On this graceful, four-stringed day, skies sound pure as violins: the air’s blue voice. Axé.

In Honor of HAH!

Moksha is on a blogging hiatus, but my stats suggest she may still be reading. If she is, she will discover that this post is for her, since I know she will appreciate it. How do I know that? Well, she liked a term I coined, “Bible-drippers.” With her in mind I will dare to … More In Honor of HAH!

Daily Mail

I Got trolls? Worse yet, anonymous trolls, or trolls with names, but fake URLs and go-nowhere e-mail addresses? One of mine today suggests that I volunteer for service in Iraq. Another believes this site dispenses unauthorized academic advice. Perhaps these discreet souls would like to read a note – signed, with an authentic return address … More Daily Mail

Viet Nam

Consider this, and this. I was going to tell an amusing tale about my student Byron and his father, but in light of some recent news I am reminded of the only Viet Nam veteran I ever met who would discuss war experiences with any personal detail at all. We met him on the beach, … More Viet Nam

Shadow of Death

We shall walk through the valley We shall walk through the valley of the shadow of death, We shall walk through the valley in peace. This was Leadbelly singing his take on a slave spiritual. Here, east of the Rockies, there are fewer bright days than I am used to, and people cover their windows. … More Shadow of Death