Author Archives: Tyler

Reliving “Legacy”

Tyler October 30, 2014 Comments Off

On October 24, 2011, I posted about Michael R. Collings’ poem “Legacy.” Here’s an excerpt from that post and my reading of the poem:; The excerpt: Michael’s longish poem, “Legacy,” breaches the subject of family in a way that neither sentimentalizes the good nor that glosses over the difficult. This is apparent in the first lines in which the poet… Read more »

Announcing the 2nd Annual #MormonPoetrySlam

Tyler October 15, 2014 18 Comments

2nd Annual Mormon Poetry Slam Pass Along

Since last year’s #MormonPoetrySlam was, by my accounting, a success (peruse the event archive here and review the performances here), I’ve decided to make it an annual event. Here’s this year’s call for submissions: It’s time for the 2nd Annual #MormonPoetrySlam! This isn’t your run-of-the-Green-Mill slam, however—among other things, it’s not a live, face-to-face event; there will be no time… Read more »

The Present Sense and Semantics of Pain

Tyler October 9, 2014 Comments Off

I’m revisiting Elizabeth Garcia’s poem “The Semantics of Blessings”. Here’s an excerpt from my 23 October 2011 post on the poem and my recent reading of it. The excerpt: The first four lines are especially striking: “Do not steal my fire and ice, make null / my trial, void it with another name / than pain. The cut of a… Read more »

Another Quick Roll Down Mark Bennion’s Backyard Slope

Tyler September 30, 2014 Comments Off

I’m revisiting my reading of Mark L. Bennion’s poem “Still Life” (scroll down). Here’s an excerpt from my original 11 October 2011 post and my recent reading of Mark’s poem: The excerpt: In “Still Life” the poet captures that childhood longing (though I don’t think kids see it that way) to forge some union with the earth, with the people… Read more »

Marilyn and Mozart: Playing it Again

Tyler September 26, 2014 1 Comment

violin concert from ovidiu onea on Flickr

I’ve started revisiting old posts, adding audio files of me (or someone else) reading the poems I discuss in those posts. Last month, I revisited my commentary on Neil Aitken’s first poetry collection. Today, I’m returning to my thoughts on Marilyn Bushman-Carlton’s poem “Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major. To that end: here’s me performing her poem:

boxcarpoet: Neil Aitken takes SoundCloud

Tyler August 27, 2014 1 Comment

(Well, sort of.) In October 2011, I posted my capsule review of Neil Aitken’s prize-winning first book, Lost Country of Sight. In the time since I first published that review in Mormon Artist then re-posted it here, Neil’s become active on SoundCloud, sharing recordings of poems from projects old and new. In my effort to flesh out the multimedia profile… Read more »

Alex Caldiero’s Performative Poesis:
Making, the Makar, and Mormonism

Tyler April 28, 2014 1 Comment

Earlier this month, I presented some of my research on Alex Caldiero’s sonosophy at the AML Conference. After I posted my presentation proposal here, Scott also posted his, and Th. expressed his hope that we would record our papers “for the internet since that’s the only way nonattendees can be assured of hearing them later.” Th.’s request solidified my intention… Read more »

Notes on How to Read a Poem

Tyler April 3, 2014 Comments Off

I’m of two minds about National Poetry Month. In one sense, I appreciate the effort (initiated by the Academy of American Poets and institutionalized in April 1996 by President Clinton’s administration) “to highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poets; [to] introduce Americans to the pleasures and benefits of reading poetry; [to] bring poets and poetry to the… Read more »

The Makar, Making, and Mormonism: Tyler’s 2014 AML Conference Proposal

Tyler March 11, 2014 Comments Off

Each year, my wife and I look forward to making a pilgrimage to Orem, Utah to attend the annual Association for Mormon Letters Conference. I’ve also made it an annual practice to share my conference proposal once I’ve submitted it. In 2012, I proposed and presented “Situating Sonosophy: De/constructing Alex Caldiero’s ‘Poetarium’” and in 2013 I proposed “Performative Poesis and… Read more »

Come Celebrate Love & Nature, Nature & Love on Wilderness Interface Zone

Tyler February 13, 2014 Comments Off

In the mood for some love poems? Well, during February, Wilderness Interface Zone is hosting its traditional month-long celebration of love and the natural world: Love of Nature Nature of Love Month. To that end, they’ve issued an open call for nature-themed, love-laced writing and visual arts: original poetry, essays, blocks of fiction, art, music (mp3s), videos or other media… Read more »