Blogging and me

One note: You can see I've had this blog since 2006 and haven't posted since 2008. Conclusion: I'm not good at blogging. This will add to the challenge of a poem a day here. Noted.

A poem a day for a month

As poet in residence for Hugo House in April I'll be writing a poem a day. I don't often talk about my writing practice but I'll also try to share some of the process of drafting and editing that I go through.

Mandelstam

'Somebody read me! Somebody lead me! Somebody heal me!
Somebody say something on the jagged stairs!'

Recent Input (vi)

Sound: "Things Have Changed" Bob Dylan

Text: Selected Poems of Osip Mandelstam

Video: The Dark Knight

Poet introduction (4)

One of the joys of poetry for me is rhyme. I love Dickinson's slant rhyme. Bob Dylan the way he'll slide pronunciation for the rhyme. And hip hop -- it's amazing all the words rappers find to rhyme.

I like internal rhyme schemes just as much as end rhyme. Sometimes it's the act of discovering what the poet is up to with rhyme that's fun for me. Rhyme also provides a clue to form -- is it a sonnet, villanelle, or lullaby?

Our poet today is the best kind of rhymer. His rhyme is natural, not forced; surprising in pleasing ways; and fresh.

Eric McHenry ...