Fire in the Pasture News: #MormonPoetrySlam Edition

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It’s been a while since I sent out any news via email (I’ve interacted with many of you via Facebook and Twitter in the meantime), but I thought I would break the silence by passing along some info about an event I founded last year and that I intend to host each fall on fireinthepasture.org: the #MormonPoetrySlam. Below, you’ll find… Read more »

Four Poems for Halloween: A #MormonPoetrySlam Playlist

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It’s Halloween and you’ve got just over two weeks to submit performances for the #MormonPoetrySlam. I’m, of course, celebrating both occasions with poetry. Here’s a SoundCloud playlist of me reading four Halloween-ish poems by Mormon poets Colin B. Douglas, Deja Earley, Theric Jepson, and Dayna Patterson. Let the readings inspire you to join in on the #MormonPoetrySlam fun. Shout it… Read more »

Reliving “Legacy”

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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(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

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Making, the Makar, and Mormonism

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

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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 »