Yesterday I was running errands and had to pass through Brockport to get to my destination, but never made it. A woman holding a baby and steering a two-year-old and five-year-old across route 19, which is very busy and congested in the village proper. She was jay walking, not fifty feet from the crosswalk. I stopped to let her get across, and Bam! A man not paying attention smashes into my car. My bumper is scuffed, but his front end is a mess. The woman, with her children, scuttled across the street. But this could have been far worse, because the woman wasn't really paying attention to the two "walking" children. Who knows what she was thinking. She had that far away look. I yelled at her. I said what are you doing walking across the street like that with three babies. And she burst into tears. Of course. and her husband is called, and get this, he's an ambulance driver. Perfect.
A long time ago, I knew a woman who lost her child crossing the street. She was racing across the street, with her child in tow, and the child was hit. What's the point of hurry? Needless to say, I was a jumpy mess all afternoon, and my lower back hurts. I took advil when I arrived home. Lost my ambition for the rest of the day.
_________
Last Thursday, October 21, Father Cavanaugh Reading Series at Fisher, Allie Larkin, Fisher alumna, 2002, read from her novel Stay (Dutton, 2010) to large, appreciative audience. My students really enjoyed reading her book. They fell in love with her characters. It was a perfect evening. Thanks, Allie!
Upcoming, on November 4, at 7:30 p.m. in Golisano Gateway Mid-level on St. John Fisher Campus, Poet Todd Davis will be reading from his newest collection The Least of These (University of Michigan Press, 2010). This reading is presented by The Arts Minor Program and funded in part by Poets & Writers and NYSCA. The reading is free and open to the public.
Today, Sunday October 24, I will be reading with Poet Marie Starr at Books ETC in Macedon NY at 4 p.m. If you're out and about, we hope you' ll stop by for our reading. I will be reading from my newest collection Within Reach (Cherry Grove Collections, 2010) and some new work (poetry and prose).
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Publishing News
Publishing News:
The Apple Valley Review has accepted three of my poems for the current issue. I share the spotlight with Alana Ruprecht, Laura Merleau, William Grigg, Bernard Henrie, Chris Anderson, Kimberly Long Cockroft, Laura Drell, Sarah Frost, Karen Shubert, Margaret Rozga, and cover art by Mary Erikson. Thanks to Leah Browning. editor, for this thoughtful showcase.
Every issue of The Apple Valley Review is worth the read, and reread.
Other recent poems accepted by The Chariton Review, Tar River Poetry, 5923 Quarterly(online), Grey Sparrow Journal (online and print issue), Avocet, Nova Scotia Review, and Victorian Violet Press (online).
Big thank you to all of the editors and staff members whose untiring hard work keeps our art, our words in the world, I am so grateful.
____________
Upcoming readings to promote Within Reach (Cherry Grove Collections, 2010).
Will be reading with Kitty Jospe in November's Genesee Reading Series,curated by Wanda Schubmehl, Writers & Books, 740 University Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607. Date: November 9, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. $3/members; $6/ Public. Books will be available for purchase, and signing, of course.
Looking forward to this event.
Hope to see you there!
The Apple Valley Review has accepted three of my poems for the current issue. I share the spotlight with Alana Ruprecht, Laura Merleau, William Grigg, Bernard Henrie, Chris Anderson, Kimberly Long Cockroft, Laura Drell, Sarah Frost, Karen Shubert, Margaret Rozga, and cover art by Mary Erikson. Thanks to Leah Browning. editor, for this thoughtful showcase.
Every issue of The Apple Valley Review is worth the read, and reread.
Other recent poems accepted by The Chariton Review, Tar River Poetry, 5923 Quarterly(online), Grey Sparrow Journal (online and print issue), Avocet, Nova Scotia Review, and Victorian Violet Press (online).
Big thank you to all of the editors and staff members whose untiring hard work keeps our art, our words in the world, I am so grateful.
____________
Upcoming readings to promote Within Reach (Cherry Grove Collections, 2010).
Will be reading with Kitty Jospe in November's Genesee Reading Series,curated by Wanda Schubmehl, Writers & Books, 740 University Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607. Date: November 9, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. $3/members; $6/ Public. Books will be available for purchase, and signing, of course.
Looking forward to this event.
Hope to see you there!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Poem for Today
The Last Poem in the World
Would I write it if I could?
Bet your glitzy ass I would.
-- Hayden Carruth
Scrambled Eggs & Whiskey, Poems 1991-1995, Copper Canyon Press
If you haven't read this collection, you need to get your hands on it, and enjoy it
as if you were eating a slice of apple pie . . . Carruth's poetry, intimate and urgent, a treasure
for you and you and you . . . and me too.
Would I write it if I could?
Bet your glitzy ass I would.
-- Hayden Carruth
Scrambled Eggs & Whiskey, Poems 1991-1995, Copper Canyon Press
If you haven't read this collection, you need to get your hands on it, and enjoy it
as if you were eating a slice of apple pie . . . Carruth's poetry, intimate and urgent, a treasure
for you and you and you . . . and me too.
Rain,rain, rain.
Rain, rain, rain. Now the weather changes quickly. Now everything swells to its final burst of color-- the mums and marigolds, vibrant golds and burgundy; pumpkins, gourds and squash. The days hunch forward, stretching shadows to an earlier darkness. Still frog song near midnight, coming home Monday night, lugging my bag full of work. I've corrected hundreds of papers in the past week, only to collect more. The semester is in full swing.
Because of the rain, our pigs have been breaking out of their pen. I guess it was a six hour round-up, starring the pigs and my family, Peter, Meghan and Nick and my visiting brother-in-law, Jim. Have you ever tried to con a pig? Here piggy, piggy, piggy. It took all of them to lure them back. I guess they found their way into the duck pen, and the ducks were paralyzed by the sight of the pigs, hiding, still as shadows in the shed--didn't move or blink. Hopefully, the secured pen will hold. Once again, our family's animal whispering skills were put to a test. I think Peter speaks fluent pig, chicken, duck, cat, dog . . . But I think these pigs are defiant, like unruly teenagers, or so Peter says. I think it's going to be tough love. Stay in your pen!
_______
On Thursday, I'm taking my Encounters class to Bush Mango for a West African Dance class. Can't wait to see their reaction. I love this outing. It unlocks me-- loosens the cramped and stuffy parts of my body. I leave the class feeling so alive. I know I should be doing this type of movement daily. During the summer our farm work gives us that all out work out; but
now as the season turns and we're closing up the gardens, we know that our outlet is drying up.
So what to do, what to do ? Need to establish another routine.
I also know that the movement unlocks my creativity. I've been sputtering since the semester began. Need to reestablish the stolen hour.
Because of the rain, our pigs have been breaking out of their pen. I guess it was a six hour round-up, starring the pigs and my family, Peter, Meghan and Nick and my visiting brother-in-law, Jim. Have you ever tried to con a pig? Here piggy, piggy, piggy. It took all of them to lure them back. I guess they found their way into the duck pen, and the ducks were paralyzed by the sight of the pigs, hiding, still as shadows in the shed--didn't move or blink. Hopefully, the secured pen will hold. Once again, our family's animal whispering skills were put to a test. I think Peter speaks fluent pig, chicken, duck, cat, dog . . . But I think these pigs are defiant, like unruly teenagers, or so Peter says. I think it's going to be tough love. Stay in your pen!
_______
On Thursday, I'm taking my Encounters class to Bush Mango for a West African Dance class. Can't wait to see their reaction. I love this outing. It unlocks me-- loosens the cramped and stuffy parts of my body. I leave the class feeling so alive. I know I should be doing this type of movement daily. During the summer our farm work gives us that all out work out; but
now as the season turns and we're closing up the gardens, we know that our outlet is drying up.
So what to do, what to do ? Need to establish another routine.
I also know that the movement unlocks my creativity. I've been sputtering since the semester began. Need to reestablish the stolen hour.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Last Week of September
It's chilly this morning. I have been up for a while, trying to get caught up with correspondence.
Nearly there. Small coffee break to say good morning.
The weekend went by far too quickly. Spent the whole weekend steeped in rituals. Vows exchanged. Concert heard. More tomatoes picked and processed three different ways. Roasted tomatoes are just to die for. Picked a laundry basket full of dried beans. They're drying out-- gone to mud room rehab-- it's so warm in our mud room, a perfect spot. Hope to shuck and store the beans this week.
Once again, after a wild week at school, I landed on my farmhouse doorstep, like Peter Rabbit. Everyone had blackberries and cream, except me. Exhausted by the spin of the week, I went straight to bed.
But the recap of the week's highlights went like this:
Cambridge Footlights. O, they were fun. So glad they came to Fisher. Some very funny skits, especially the origin of "Bird."
Took my Encounters class to see Amadeus at Geva Theatre. A fine production delivered to a near sold out audience. I saw this play in NYC in 1980. It was amazing then, and now. This version was Peter Shaffer's most recent version(1998). Interesting to see work evolve. I guess, with each run of Amadeus, Shaffer has had the opportunity to revisit his work. How fabulous is that!?
This week, more of the same busyness. I don't think it's going to let up.
Started to write a new poem yesterday and 86ed it this morning. I cut it, just like chopping up vegetables. Decisive. Ah, will there ever be short cake on the menu?
Nearly there. Small coffee break to say good morning.
The weekend went by far too quickly. Spent the whole weekend steeped in rituals. Vows exchanged. Concert heard. More tomatoes picked and processed three different ways. Roasted tomatoes are just to die for. Picked a laundry basket full of dried beans. They're drying out-- gone to mud room rehab-- it's so warm in our mud room, a perfect spot. Hope to shuck and store the beans this week.
Once again, after a wild week at school, I landed on my farmhouse doorstep, like Peter Rabbit. Everyone had blackberries and cream, except me. Exhausted by the spin of the week, I went straight to bed.
But the recap of the week's highlights went like this:
Cambridge Footlights. O, they were fun. So glad they came to Fisher. Some very funny skits, especially the origin of "Bird."
Took my Encounters class to see Amadeus at Geva Theatre. A fine production delivered to a near sold out audience. I saw this play in NYC in 1980. It was amazing then, and now. This version was Peter Shaffer's most recent version(1998). Interesting to see work evolve. I guess, with each run of Amadeus, Shaffer has had the opportunity to revisit his work. How fabulous is that!?
This week, more of the same busyness. I don't think it's going to let up.
Started to write a new poem yesterday and 86ed it this morning. I cut it, just like chopping up vegetables. Decisive. Ah, will there ever be short cake on the menu?
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Birthday Week
My siblings have been visiting this week. They made me a fabulous birthday dinner at my sister Karen's lake house (her home) on Wednesday, September 15, my actual birthday. We ate and drank and talked for over three hours. It was so wonderful being with all of them. I'm so lucky to have such attention.
The teaching week just kicked my butt. So much to do. Anxious for the semester to settle into its beehive hum. I feel like I've been "woman at work" jack hammers and dirt flying-- under construction-- lots of clanging.
This week The Cambridge Footlight Players will be performing at St. John Fisher at 7:30 p.m. on Monday 9/20/2010 in Basil Auditorium, Rm 135. Free for Fisher staff, faculty and students.
$5.00 general admission. It's a comedy hour. This Troupe has been active for 127 years.
Famous for being the launch of Monty Python, Fringe and Borat. So if you like to laugh, this evening is for you. We normally host the Cambridge American Stage Tour, which is another group of players, performing a specific Shakespeare play. This year, they're doing a southern tour of the United States, and this group is touring the East coast. It will be their first time at St. John Fisher. I'm looking forward to this.
Going to spend most of the weekend with family.
The teaching week just kicked my butt. So much to do. Anxious for the semester to settle into its beehive hum. I feel like I've been "woman at work" jack hammers and dirt flying-- under construction-- lots of clanging.
This week The Cambridge Footlight Players will be performing at St. John Fisher at 7:30 p.m. on Monday 9/20/2010 in Basil Auditorium, Rm 135. Free for Fisher staff, faculty and students.
$5.00 general admission. It's a comedy hour. This Troupe has been active for 127 years.
Famous for being the launch of Monty Python, Fringe and Borat. So if you like to laugh, this evening is for you. We normally host the Cambridge American Stage Tour, which is another group of players, performing a specific Shakespeare play. This year, they're doing a southern tour of the United States, and this group is touring the East coast. It will be their first time at St. John Fisher. I'm looking forward to this.
Going to spend most of the weekend with family.
September's Glitterati
Traveling alone, she fell in the Sistine Chapel–
collapsed in a whirl, as if a gust of wind
struck her weak ankle and set her spinning–
her skirt inflated, but she did not rise
to bump her head beneath God’s fingertip,
nor did she push Adam aside.
Instead, she leaned into descent
like a scarf tossed in a dance,
and onto the marble floor
she puddled, still looking up . . .
A crowd gathered; then men
carrying a canvas litter
arrived with a knock
on floor:
Avanti, she whispered,
and they lifted her up to their shoulders–
a marvelous blur moved beneath her–
and before her: God’s plan.
M.J.Iuppa
first published in Bryant Literary Review, Spring 2010
collapsed in a whirl, as if a gust of wind
struck her weak ankle and set her spinning–
her skirt inflated, but she did not rise
to bump her head beneath God’s fingertip,
nor did she push Adam aside.
Instead, she leaned into descent
like a scarf tossed in a dance,
and onto the marble floor
she puddled, still looking up . . .
A crowd gathered; then men
carrying a canvas litter
arrived with a knock
on floor:
Avanti, she whispered,
and they lifted her up to their shoulders–
a marvelous blur moved beneath her–
and before her: God’s plan.
M.J.Iuppa
first published in Bryant Literary Review, Spring 2010
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