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Being Someone Else
From the Peppercanister chapbook Love, Joy, Peace by one of Ireland’s most amazing poets, Thomas Kinsella: Grace as routine.The lone artificer loosening the charged factsfrom an imagination arguing with itselfuntil the ache is eased—by the will, in tedium;and the ache-object eased in its correctnessout of the containing inexactness. This is ever been the greatest weakness of my practice: no routine. I write when moved to write, avoid prompts and exercises, generally fail to respond to occasions that cry out for such responses (not always, though, as with the BP spill in the Gulf).Read More
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A Blogger’s Notebook 6
In an earlier post I wondered, “Can poetry address a historical moment in the moment?” Hermagoras, in the comment stream, cited Thomas Kinsella’s “in the moment” poem entitled “Butcher’s Dozen: A Lesson for the Octave of Widgery,” about the Bloody Sunday slaughter perpetrated by British troops in Derry, Ireland. Hermagoras pointed out that the poem was “written, printed, and distributed eight days after the publication of the Widgery Report exonerating the British forces for the … massacre.” Kinsella himself called the poem “doggerel,” but Hermagoras notes that “it holds up … remarkably well.” And I agree.Read More
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No Bull Prizes
On his very entertaining blog, the wonderful poet Bill Knott posted his top 10 poet choices for the Nobel Prize. It’s a fun exercise! Here are my ten, in descending order of age (on the theory that we should honor them before they’re dead): Nicanor ParraAndrea ZanzottoCarolyn KizerW. S.Read More
Joseph Hutchison, Colorado Poet Laureate 2014-2019, has published 20 collections of poems and edited or co-edited three poetry anthologies. He currently directs two master’s-level programs for University College at the University of Denver: Professional Creative Writing and Arts & Culture Management. Joe lives with his wife, Melody Madonna, in the mountains southwest of Denver, Colorado, the city where he was born. 
