Almost two years ago, George Colin was the reason for my visit to Salisbury, Illinois. I was collecting info to write an Illinois Times article about a new book featuring Vachel Lindsay’s poem “The Little Turtle.” Colin was the book’s illustrator. This was going to be an adventure. Artists are the water of the world. […]
Etc.
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That’s a wrap
TWO (2) — “The journey not the arrival matters,” wrote poet T.S. Eliot. “All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware,” stated philosopher Martin Buber. Anytime I go anywhere, it is unexpected beauty or inspiration that I eagerly anticipate. The fair is large enough there’s sure to be adventure. Unfortunately the day […]
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A look at 311
Springfield’s Thao Le ventured out to Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe this weekend to the 311 concert. Formed in the ’90s, the five-member alternative rock band is wrapping up their summer tour. Le reports that “the show was amazing. From the stunning light production to the lively instrumental solos, 311 knows how to entertain. New and […]
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Eternal contemporary question
This is Kevin Stein. Who is Kevin Stein? He is the Illinois Poet Laureate, and has been since 2003. Stein teaches English at Bradley University. So why I am telling you about Kevin Stein? Because The New York Times today has an article (“Is Poetry Dead? Not if 45 Official Laureates Are Any Indication,” Jennifer Schuessle, July […]
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Full Moon: Corn Moon
Hugh Moore FULL MOON: CORN MOON It hears a root make movement in the soil, words that leaves make when the wind comes strong and sudden. Reads that map the shadows trace to show where day has gone. It speaks in tongues we have forgotten. In the sparrow’s flight can see a signal, or sense […]
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Nixon died last night
Nixon died this week, 20 years ago on April 22, 1994. Photographer Ginny Lee wrote this poem on April 28, 1994 about the man for a class. Nixon died last night Well, I guess you were a pretty good piano player. But you hated me and didn’t even know my name. Out in the […]
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Never know who might drop in
from YouTube You never know who might drop in on Springfield, Ill. Thanks to Obama and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, Springfield has slowly become a name on the tip of America’s tongue, and a small-city or large-town destination for the curious. Springfield Poets and Writers board member Liz Huck was listening to WUIS radio […]
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Have kids, will renga
Introduce your school age child to the poetry form called renga at this free workshop open to the public.
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Them there trees
My father likes to recite the poem Trees by Joyce Kilmer. “I think that I shall never see / a poem lovely as a tree.” We’re quite the tree and bird family. My mother’s email even has bird in the address. Thanksgiving weekend, trees and birds were on my mind. I had a lovely visit […]
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This will grow you more brain cells
You grow new brain cells with each new experience. Never tasted chai tea? Drink it and grow more brain cells. Never listened to Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. Listen: New brain. Never wrote a poem. Do it, new cells. Cross off your list another “never done this before” — attend Springfield Poets and […]
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Weekend photos from the capital city
A look into the crowd from the podium at a full house Friday night at Prairie Art Alliance Gallery II during Poets, Painters and Performers. Poets Mark Russillo and Thea Chesley have a couple warm, happy smiles for the camera. Directly behind them in pink and black, Poet Shawna Mayer. All are members of Springfield […]
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Laborless weekend starts with End Times Trio and friends
If you read my last blog post, we are on a laborless journey through the weekend to Labor Day. We opened the weekend with free jazz at The Pharmacy, Thursday night. It was energizing. There were fireworks going off in my brain. The first person I met was an Illinois Times reader who saw the […]
