Saturday night I put this tiny excerpt from Matthew Arnold’s famous “Dover Beach” in a Toronto elevator. I was going to post it to my Twitter feed on Sunday. But then Sunday happened, and I just couldn’t post anything that had the word “sweet” in it. Although I imagine the air in Orlando […]
MoreFace to Face by Tomas Tranströmer translated by Patty Crane In February existence stood still. The birds didn’t fly willingly and the soul chafed against the landscape as a boat chafes against the dock it lies moored to. The trees stood with their backs to us. Snow-depth was measured by dead […]
MoreThe Business Life by David Ignatow When someone hangs up, having said to you, “Don’t come around again,” and you have never heard the phone bang down with such violence nor the voice vibrate with such venom, pick up your receiver gently and dial again, get the same reply; and dial again, until he […]
MoreBarter by Sara Teasdale Life has loveliness to sell, All beautiful and splendid things, Blue waves whitened on a cliff, Soaring fire that sways and sings, And children’s faces looking up Holding wonder like a cup. Life has loveliness to sell, Music like a curve of gold, Scent of pine trees in […]
MoreThere comes a time in a woman’s life where she has to let go of long-held goals and finally to admit she’s never going get into grooming or have a wardrobe that’s pulled together. The same goes for an elf. For a long time I’ve wanted to make this blog more polished. Someday […]
MoreTime for the fifth annual Poem Elf Valentine’s Day Binge. Valentine’s Day has always been one of my favorite holidays, providing good reason to eat chocolate, tell people close to me that I love them, and hide lovely poems around town. On with the celebration! In a dark romantic bar with plenty of private […]
MorePrivacy by C.D. Wright The animals are leaving the safety of the trees Light sensors respond to the footfall of every guest To retard the growth of algae The fishes must be moved from the window Stiller than water she lies As in a glass dress As if […]
MoreMy old friend Trish (frequent commentator, a great reader of poems, an even better writer and artist) sent her annual Christmas fantasy card. I pass it along with her permission: And in case you’ve got loads of spare time for reading, I’ll also share a link for a piece from the New York Times […]
MoreAfter my last post, a depressing take on the holiday season, I feel like Bad Santa or Bad Party Guest, someone who hurries out the door after leaving the toilet clogged. Before December 25 rolls around, I want to clear the air, so to speak, with something more festive. (Also because I got a concerned […]
MoreAlcohol by Franz Wright You do look a little ill. But we can do something about that, now. Can’t we. The fact is you’re a shocking wreck. Do you hear me. You aren’t all alone. And you could use some help today, packing in the dark, boarding […]
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