Yesterday, I heard Elizabeth Alexander on NPR. She is the Inaugural Poet and a Professor of African-American Studies at Yale.
I loved this poem of hers that she'd read aloud on air - especially the part about "what you find in the dirt in the corner, overhear on the bus, God in the details...".
So inspiring. My eyes are wide open for inspiration as I venture into my new studio in 2009.
Here's her poem:
Ars Poetica #100: I BelievePoetry, I tell my students,
is idiosyncratic. Poetryis where we are ourselves,
(though Sterling Brown said“Every ‘I’ is a dramatic ‘I’”)
digging in the clam flatsfor the shell that snaps,
emptying the proverbial pocketbook.Poetry is what you find
in the dirt in the corner,overhear on the bus, God
in the details, the only wayto get from here to there.
Poetry (and now my voice is rising)is not all love, love, love,
and I’m sorry the dog died.Poetry (here I hear myself loudest)
is the human voice,and are we not of interest to each other?
No, she is NOT mine. But she is my dear friend, Devon's -- and she is an angel.
My friend, Mandy Carroll-Leiva will be having a Trunk Show THIS FRIDAY 12/12 from 3-7pm. She'll have lots of fun and sparkly jewels on hand...
Tonight is the annual HOLIDAY STROLL in Chester. Its bound to be cozy fun.
A great article about local restaurant River Tavern and friend, Jonathan Rapp.
