The Result of Reading Poetry in a Canoe

....join me in July for How to Submit and Why.

Dear Poets,

This year I learned the term “May Gray” and why it applies. Indeed, we’ve had a steady set of overcast days as we edge into June Gloom (at least they rhyme?). I am telling myself to relish the lack of 90+ degree heat while I can. “Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language” is one of Henry James more famous quotes. We’ll get there. ☀️

I had to laugh at this image a friend posted on Facebook. A happy scene below a menacing title (“The Fatal Card”). What happened? Perhaps you’ll have to read poetry in a canoe to figure it out.

If you’re not teetering precariously on a body of water, please join me in July for a one-day workshop (plus a bonus)! I get so many requests about how to submit work to literary journals, I’ve decided to finally offer this class. Meanwhile, happy Bloomsday (Guinness on tap and staged readings at the Hammer) and Blumesday tomorrow to all who celebrate!

How to Submit and Why

Do you find the process of sending out to literary journals mystifying? Does it seem like everyone else knows some secret code you can’t quite crack? There is no one way to do it, but there are strategies, resources, and practical steps to take. We will start by identifying the why behind submitting and how this inspiration can carry you through the administrative work involved, wait for a reply, and (admittedly) often low acceptance rates. Finding your why can recharge your commitment to writing, reinforce creative purpose, and build community. After tapping into motivation, we will work our way through the steps involved. As a bonus, I’m offering an additional, free ‘submitting session’ during which we’ll gather to do the actual work of sending out and consult on good journal matches. Just click ‘reply’ to reserve your spot — I’d love to see you there! Saturday, July 22. 10:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. $50.00 Bonus submitting session, Wednesday, July 26. 7:00-9:00 p.m. Feel free to Venmo, Paypal, Zelle.

---

Sharing with you:

Eons ago, I went to college with Kate Bernheimer and keep an eye on Fairy Tale Review which she edits. I just signed up for this (free) cool-sounding event: Orion Magazine Presents: Fairy Tales for the Climate Crisis on June 29th. I’m also excited to read this book just out from Sabrina Orah Mark: “Happily: A Personal History — With Fairy Tales.

It’s exciting to see our own Carla Sameth read at this upcoming downtown Pride event.

I continue to be impressed by the programming The Flow Chart Foundation offers. This event “THE ASHBERY BRIDGE: POETRY AND PUBLIC SPACE” takes place on Zoom on July 28th: “On the occasion of what would have been John Ashbery's 96th birthday, The Flow Chart Foundation presents a very special illustrated talk on the ‘Ashbery Bridge,’ located across from the Walker Art Center.” If you act fast, you can still attend “CLOSE READINGS IN A VIRTUAL SPACE: with Brian Teare” on Zoom, June 15th at noon.

Sponsored by Milkweed Press, this free workshop led by poet Kathy Fagan (Kingsley Tufts finalist) on June 17th looks good to me: “Making Art from Truth": A Craft Class.

Yetzirah (A Hearth for Jewish Poetry) is holding their inaugural summer conference at UNC-Asheville from June 21-23, and I was thrilled to learn some events will be streamed. You can see the schedule here and register to attend online free of charge.

Regretfully, I missed posting in time about stellar L.A. Poet Laureate Lynne Thompson’s poetry workshop at the downtown public library in connection with June Jubilee, but here is another workshop coming up at the Baldwin Hills Branch Library on June 27th at noon: “Here: Claiming Community Through Poetry and Photography.”

Here is another local event coming up with stellar Pasadenas poets Lois P. Jones and Thelma Reyna, publisher of Golden Foothills Press.

I’m sure you’ve heard about Amanda Gorman’s inaugural poem being banned. Censorship—don’t get me started!

And that Poet Laureate Ada Limon had one of her poems sent into space? “Limón’s poem will be engraved on the Europa Clipper spacecraft, which will travel 1.8 billion miles to explore Europa, an icy moon of Jupiter.”

This might be paywalled, but a moving story about how essential poetry can be, especially during times of grief.

Poet Tess Taylor recently wrote about ‘climate grief’ for the LA Times. Her bio mentions the forthcoming anthology she edited: Leaning Toward Light: Poems for Gardens & the Hands That Tend Them.

I had no idea that there was a film rendering of T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets (starring Ralph Fiennes!). “Fiennes turns Eliot’s ecstatic descriptions and sharp pronouncements, allusive strolls and anxious philosophizing, into living and breathing discourse….”

Two things in tribute to the end of the school year. One is this laugh-while-you-cry McSweeney’s piece: “ARE YOU SURE THERE ISN’T SOMETHING ELSE I CAN DO BEFORE THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR?” I daresay, soon to be replaced with forms for camp. The other is below.

For those who have made it this far, kvell with me. My little guy gave a speech at his elementary school graduation and after he finished I heard an audible ‘Wow!’ from the row behind me. It reminded me of the involuntary sigh that lets out when a poem strikes a deep chord. Yes, it was that good.

As ever, I hope to hear from you! ✍️ Best wishes for a good writing summer ahead. ☀️