Books, like all art, breed in us desire. In times of crisis and fear and misrepresentation we need desire, or else we shut down and hide out in our houses, succumbing to infotainment and the ease of an available latte, turning off our brains and emotions. Books breed desire.
The lovely Lidia Yuknavitch, in a piece she wrote for The Rumpus titled “The Urgent Matter of Books.” Her memoir is one of our favorite books of the year, so far. (via powells)
In September 2010 an idea was born to hold a poetry reading under a full moon at the Roof Garden of the historic Battery Park Hotel. Three weeks after that September afternoon, sixty people attended an invite-only poetry reading, book-signing and jazz show on Friday, October 22, 2010. The event was publicized almost exclusively through Twitter, Facebook and word-of-mouth and featured Asheville, North Carolina poets Barbara Gravelle, myself (Matthew Mulder) and Brian Sneeden with special musical performance by Vendetta Creme and Aaron Price. And thus, Rooftop Poets was born in Asheville under a full moon.
Since the Roof Garden reading, the Rooftop Poets have been invited to read at various venues and interviewed for newspaper and television. Brian’s poem “The Temple” (included in Rooftop Poets poetry book) went on to be the Mountain Xpress’s first place winner in their 2011 poetry contest.
If you missed the memorable evening last October, there are still a few copies of the limited-edition, 64-page book. You may purchase copies at Malaprop’s.
Rooftop Poets is a limited-edition, 64-page book of poems featuring the work of three Asheville, North Carolina poets.
Barbara Gravelle, author of several poetry books including, Keepsake, Dancing the Naked Dance of Love, and her latest collection of poems, Poet on the Roof of the World.
Matthew Mulder, one of the original members of the Traveling Bonfires, his poetry and prose have appeared or are forthcoming in Crab Creek Review, Small Press Review, The Indie, H_NGM_N, and other publications.
Brian Sneeden has produced, designed or written for more than a hundred theatrical performances. He is the current director and MC of Asheville Vaudeville.
Telecommuting via laptop and wireless Internet is a relatively new phenomenon. There is, however, a long history of people – especially writers – working from a favorite coffee shop or cafe rather than an office. Today we tend to associate the phenomenon with the Paris of Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, or the coffeehouses of Vienna at the turn of the 20th Century. The poet Peter Altenberg was even known to have mail delivered to his favorite hangout.In many ways, however, the golden age of the coffeehouse workday is now, as any barista can attest.
(via utnereader)1 (via The Atlantic)2
NOTES:
1) Utne Reader, accessed May 16, 2011, https://utnereader.tumblr.com/post/4781366430 (page no longer available, Tumblr account deactivated)
2) Conor Friedersdorf, “Working Best at Coffee Shops,” April 15, 2011, The Atlantic, accessed May 16, 2011, https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/04/working-best-at-coffee-shops/237372/
Amazing photo of Space Shuttle Endeavour’s final launch…
The Space Shuttle Endeavour’s Final Launch seen from a commercial plane window, captured by Stefanie Gordon.
Stunning.
This is just insanely perfect.
One for the history books.
Jean-Michel Renaitour wrote that poetry is “an instinct that one divines, it is a scenery one discovers, it is a cry which reveals heart.” These thoughts inspired me to title this poetry writing workshop “Imagination & Heart.”
Open to students of all writing levels, this is a generative workshop with the goal of publishing students’ work in a poetry book. Additionally, this workshop features writing exercises to assist in developing poetic instinct, discovery and heart.
Classes meet Wednesday afternoons (May 25, June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29) 3 – 5 p.m. at Montford Books & More, 31 Montford Ave., Asheville, NC 28801.
Matthew Mulder has published poetry and prose in national and international journals and magazines including Crab Creek Review, H_NGM_N, The Indie, ISM Quarterly, Southern Cross Review and others. He teaches poetry writing classes at Asheville bookstores and fine arts centers and is presently translating selected works of German poet Rolf Dieter Brinkmann. He is the author of LATE NIGHT WRITING (2004) and editor of TOMORROW WE SWEAT POETRY (2009) and A BODY TURNING (2010). His new poems are anthologized in ROOFTOP POETS (2010).
… as well as boring and a waste of time.
I was asked recently to write ‘5 Quick Songwriting Tips’ for an American Airlines promotion that is using my music. The tips didn’t end up getting used, but I had fun writing them, so I thought I’d post (a slightly extended version of) them here! I hope you enjoy. 1. Immerse yourself in the…
There are two motives for reading a book; one, that you enjoy it; the other, that you can boast about it [on Goodreads].
Bertrand Russell (via pulcherrima-est-vitae)
bookoasis: A book and a cup of coffee are two of life’s greatest pleasures. (Photo by meadbh metrustry)
When it becomes unseasonably warm, I remind myself of days like these…
npr: It’s rare in the “modern” world that we can feel forces greater than ourselves. When we think of grand powers unbound, we call to mind images of nuclear weapons — mushroom clouds rising high on nuclear energies released at our bidding. In this age of petroleum-fueled miracles we seem, most of the time, to have vaulted past natural limitations. Most of the time, our airplanes can lift off even as thunderheads fill the skies. Most of the time, our ships can punch through waves even when they form canyons of storm-driven ocean. Most of the time, the intricate systems we depend upon for commerce, for travel, for food and for energy manage to function. And they do so in spite of churnings of the planet’s own internal systems of atmosphere, hydrosphere and exosphere.
And then, out of the blue, the planet’s hidden powers are revealed. We see the scale of its forces and its energies. There is a particular lesson in that vision for our particular moment in history.
-Posted by wrightbryan3, from Adam Frank’s “A Metropolis Stilled: Lessons From A Storm.”
It is the recognition that well-read is not a destination; there is nowhere to get to, and if you assume there is somewhere to get to, you’d have to live a thousand years to even think about getting there, and by the time you got there, there would be a thousand years to catch up on.
Linda Holmes writing for NPR’s Monkey See blog. Her excellent piece is titled “The Sad, Beautiful Fact That We’re All Going to Miss Almost Everything.” Read more. (via powells)
From my grandfather’s poetry book, After Every Summer Rain, published 10 years ago. He passed away this past weekend.
I don’t write because there’s an audience. I write because there is literature.
Susan Sontag (via theparisreview)
It seemed, some days, that life was nothing more than a tally of the people who’d left us behind.
The Fates Will Find Their Way (via pageandoven)
Yesterday I enjoyed listening to great poets read their work at Grateful Steps Publishing House and Bookshop and Altamont Theater. There are some many wonderful poetry related events it’s a challenge to decide which events to attend. That being said, here’s today’s list of Asheville Wordfest events:
Saturday, May 7
10:00 a.m.
Children’s events at Spellbound Children’s Bookshop10:00 a.m.
Youth Writing Scavenger Hunt at Thomas Wolfe House with Janet Hurley of True Ink9:30-11:00 a.m.
Resilience Panel with Brian Turner, Paul Guest and Katja Esson Explore with poets and film-maker and each other how resilience “works,” what it is and how we develop it.11:00 a.m.
WORDslam highlights at YMI Cultural Center12:00 p.m.
Our Voice: Together We Are Strong reading This event is sponsored by Our Voice and celebrates the voice and writings of survivors of sexual assault, at YMI Cultural Center.1:00 pm
THE DAY CARL SANDBURG DIED at Fine Arts Theatre1-3 p.m.
IMAGINATURE w/ Hobey Ford, Melinda Tennison, Lisa Alcorn, Cindy Bowen, Hal Mahan, Janet Hurley, Heartworks, SisterJ Spiritvoice. A family event where families can move, make art, learn and discover. Convene at Splashville.3:00 p.m.
Poetry Under the Magnolia Tree: Listen to the poems our children write!
The Magnolia Tree is between Pack Tavern and the City Building in the park.4:00 p.m.
William Matthews Poetry Prize Winners YMI Cultural Center7:00 p.m.
Justin Bigos, Rose McLarney, Kwame Dawes, Allison Adelle Hedge Coke, Linda Hogan YMI Cultural Center10:00 p.m.
Mountain Xpress Poetry Bash w/ beer and music YMI Cultural Center
If you are using Twitter, please use the hashtags #avlpoetry and/or #wordfest so others may follow social media updates. Hope to see you at one of these fine poetry events!
I just returned from a spiritually energizing retreat of sorts. So, I haven’t been connected to the internet.
This is a big week for poetry in Asheville. Here’s today’s Asheville Wordfest events:
Friday May 6
4:00 p.m.
Britt Kaufman, Mendy Knott and Luke Hankins Grateful Steps Publishing House and Bookshop 159 Lexington Station.7:00 p.m.
Landon Godfrey, Paul Guest, Holly Iglesias, Brian Turner, YMI Cultural Center9:00 p.m .
An Evening of Translation Altamont Theater at 18 Church St. featuring Thomas Rain Crowe, Emoke B’Racz, Nan Watkins, Luke Hankins, Caleb Beissert
Having been away on a spiritual retreat, I need to get back to the grind of work. But hopefully I’ll be able to attend these Friday events. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Update: If you’re using Twitter, please use the hashtag #avlpoetry and/or #wordfest to follow social media updates.
Communicate slowly. Live / a three-dimensioned life
Wendell Berry, How To Be a Poet
The words are making me wonder about the difference reading poetry aloud makes, three-dimensioned, communicated slowly.
Found here communicate slowly – 37days
(via tellingpoems)
I thought of myself as a writer for years before I got around to writing anything.
E. L. Doctorow (via theparisreview)
It is a question I am often asked after a poetry reading. I usually offer a tongue-in-cheek reply, ‘Metallica, Blind Guardian, and Johnny Cash.’ The deer-in-headlights look I receive is ‘gold standard’ (as one writer puts it). I guess they expect something like ‘Whitman, Ginsberg, and Bukowski’ or some other literary trinity.
Specific books inspire me more than specific poets. During April, 32 Poems blog published poets who offer their list of five poetry books you need to read. I enjoyed reading what other poets offer as recommended poetry reading. But I often wondered if the five books chosen by the featured poets were more a literary bumper sticker proclaiming themselves serious poets or, like indie rock musicians, a list of obscure books that no one knows but should know how important they are.
So, I am not going to offer a list of five poetry books that inspire me. I’ll stick with my initial reply, ‘Metallica, Blind Guardian, and Johnny Cash.’
Coffeehouse Junkie 