Luna Park Literary Review

“Luna Park is a review of little and literary magazines begun in 2007 as a blog. We regularly feature excerpts from little magazines, reviews of little magazines, exciting Found works from the magazines, interviews, and essays about the history of little magazines. The name Luna Park is taken from the title of a fictional French literary magazine in a short story by the Chilean novelist and poet, Roberto Bolano. Luna Park is on the review media list at CLMP and is serialized in print form in The Burger.”

That’s straight from the horse’s mouth! I think this is a fantastic place to go if you are hoping to subscribe to a literary magazine. You can see if they have already featured it or you can contact them and ask if they know anything about it. They may even invite you to provide reviews for them if you have something to say about a literary magazine. Check them out at:
http://lunaparkreview.blogspot.com/

Stop by tomorrow to learn about a featured poet live and writing…

Poetry Tips: The Importance of Each Line

One of the most challenging things about completing your poem is reading it over to make sure each line is just as important as the next. For example, is every line interesting? Does the story line make sense overall? Are there any extra words or images that don’t blend with the rest of the poem? These are questions to ask throughout.

The most important thing you can do is to pay special attention to the first stanza. Often, the first stanza is like turning the key in your car’s ignition: It is the only way to get your engine started, but it does not get the car move. Sometimes you need to eliminate the first stanza because it was only needed to start the poem before running. Stanzas 2 through the last stanza may sound amazing, but the first stanza may need some work. Or it may need to be eliminated altogether.

The first line of the poem is the most important after the title. The first line has to grab the reader’s attention and it has to keep the reader wanting more. If it is lackluster then you might want to re-work it or get rid of it.

You also may have one line in the entire poem that sounds fantastic, it may be the only line that “carries” the poem. Here, you have a decision to make. Either take the line out so the rest of the poem blends well or use the fantastic line in another poem altogether. A poem can not survive on just one fantastic line. Each line has to be just as fantastic as the next one.

I don’t care what anyone says, you need a title. The title is the most important line in the poem. Some poems seem obscure or hard to understand without their title. Titles are more difficult than most people realize. It has to clue the reader in to what the poem entails, it has to grab attention, and if it is too long you’ll lose the reader’s interest. Sometimes it is easier to grab a key word in your poem for the title. Other times, your poem may skirt around a subject and the best title would be the subject itself. Always try to title your poems. You don’t have to title them right away. You can always come back later, especially if you go to bed thinking about a title and sleep on it. The brain always continues working while you’re sleeping, you’ll surely wake up in the morning with an idea or two.
I hope your muse guides you while you write, and I will see you tomorrow to discuss another great blog…

Pinch Pinch Press

This looks like a brand new press full of excitement and promise. I highly recommend you check them out and submit before they are overtaken by the other thousands upon thousands of eager poets hoping to be published. AND if you aren’t submitting, check them out and see if you might be interested in ordering a subscription. This press wants visual art poetry which I would LOVE to see and combines fiction and the possibility of being invited to submit a chapbook if you are able to publish in their journal and have perhaps created a following among the small presses. Don’t miss this opportunity to be one of the first in a new journal! There are several small presses whose sites are blogs just like this one, and don’t worry, I’ll feature them on Thursdays when they are ready for a fresh batch of submissions. Until then…
http://pinchpinchpress.blogspot.com/

Good luck to those of you submitting! I’ll see you tomorrow for more Poetry Tips…

First Edition: Punctured Poetry

Original poem by Kim Addonizio:

What Was

The streets fill with cabs and limos,
with the happy laughter of the very drunk;
the benches in Washington Square Park,
briefly occupied by lovers, have been reclaimed

by men who stretch out coughing under the Chronicle.
We’re sitting on the cold slab
of a cathedral step, and to keep myself
from kissing you I stare at the cartoony

blue neon face of a moose, set over the eponymous
restaurant, and decide on self-pity
as the best solution to this knot
of complicated feelings. So much, my love,

for love; our years together recede,
taillights in the fog that’s settled in. I breathe
your familiar smell—Tuscany Per Uomo,
Camel Lights, the sweet reek of alcohol—and keep

from looking at your face, knowing
I’m still a sucker for beauty. Nearby, a man decants
a few notes from his tenor sax, honking his way
through a tune meant to be melancholy. Soon

I’ll drive home alone, weeping and raging,
the radio twisted high as I can stand it—
or else I’ll lean toward you, and tell you
any lie I think will bring you back.

And if you’re reading this, it’s been years
since then, and everything’s too late
the way it always is in songs like this,
the way it always is.



Punctured Poem Version:

Is What?

The streets fill with cabs and winos,
With the happy laughter of the very drunk;
the benches in Times Square
briefly occupied by pigeons, have been reclaimed

by homeless men who stretch out snoring under the New York Times.
We’re sitting on a cold slab
of sidewalk, and to keep myself
from punching you I stare at the cartoony

nose of the Geico Duck, set on the big screen
T.V., and decide on self-loathing
as the best solution for listening to your
inane ramblings. So much, my love,

for Chinese. Our years together fade,
barge lights in the fog that’s settled in. I breathe
your pungent smell—Onion and Garlic,
Marlboro, the sweet reek of Bud Light—and keep

from looking at your pocked face,
knowing I’m still a sucker for odd symmetry. Nearby, a penniless man attempts
a few notes from his trumpet, honking his way
through a tune meant to be lively. Soon

I’ll drive home alone, shaking with rage,
my iPod blaring high as I can stand it—
or else I’ll call you on your cell, and tell you
any lie I can think of to get rid of you.

And if you’re reading this, it’s been years
since then, and you’re still not
getting the hint in poems like this,
the way it never was.


By the way, Kim Addonizio is a living poet if you didn’t already know. Please check her out in the book-stores or your library sometime.
Thank you for checking out this new feature. As always, Wednesdays are still open to submissions from readers. You can even try your hand at Punctured Poems, just e-mail me at poethoundblogspotATyahooDOTcom.

*Don’t forget! Join the Donors Choose Challenge and help raise money for education! Go to the little “x” box where a picture should be on the right hand side titled “Donors Choose Challenge.” If you’re wondering why I haven’t donated it is because I’ve recently had some financial setbacks and I’m living off macaroni and cheese and bologna sandwiches. I intend to donate by the end of the month, and of course the end of October is when the contest ends. Please donate, it’s for an incredible cause.

I’ll see you tomorrow for another Open Submissions…

Charles Bukowski, the world is not always roses

Charles Bukowski was born in 1920 and passed away in 1994 at the age of 73. He was a cult favorite in his time and his critics thought he was offensive and lewd in his references to sex, alcohol, and violent images. However, his words are truthful, very in-your-face and he wrote like he had nothing to lose. He did not go out of his way to write in fanciful language, his poems are plain-spoken and although you might find him offensive you can’t say he was a terrible poet. Don’t worry, the poem I have selected is not heavy in pornography, violence, or profanity. There is one swear word and one violent image but the poem itself is imaginative and relateable. I feature Bukowski because he is a great poet, I own one of the books put together after his passing, and feel that he deserves a nod. I appreciate poets who are plain-spoken and say what they mean.

http://poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=179730

Thanks for reading, I will see you tomorrow for Punctured Poetry:

Donors Choose Challenge

I was just notified that donorschoose.org has issued a blogger challenge to encourage people to check out their site. I have been involved with Donors Choose before and I gladly accept this challenge.
This site is for teachers and schools across the country looking for donations for classroom projects, special trips, and much needed school supplies for struggling families. It is absolutely the BEST idea I have ever heard of. Please check them out and if you would be so kind, donate. I have selected LitLiberation for the challenge. My goal is to have viewers of this blog to raise $2,500.00 for the challenge. Go to the site listed on the right hand side as “Reading is Fundamental” just click on the “x” since the image isn’t working. Thanks!

Once you’ve browsed and hopefully donated, come back tomorrow for a poet who was and still is viewed as controversial…

Pugnacious Pinoy's Blog

As a poet hound I do so love other hounds, and pugs are adorable. Plus, pugnacious is such a fun word that doesn’t get used nearly enough in our every day language. Thus, this poet blogger has spunk. As far as I can tell, he is also a teacher and has quite the busy work week. Check him out at:
http://www.pugnaciouspinoy.blogspot.com/

Thanks for checking in, tomorrow we’ll discuss another living poet who is better known for her non-fiction and short story collection…

Poetry Tips Friday

Today I’d like to invite you to do something a little more involved than sitting down to write a poem. I want you to find a poem that you love (whether it is one you’ve written or one you’ve read) and turn it into a work of art.

There are a number of ways to do this. You could paint an image you think of while reading it, take a picture of something that reminds you of the poem. You could make a collage based on the poem, or build something if you have a workshop that reminds you of the poem. You could make a collage of various words that grab your eye in the poem, and find those words in magazines, newspaper, etc. The only limit is your imagination.

Once you have finished your project, set it out where people can ask about it, and explain what poem it came from. Maybe you’ll spark some new interest and conversation, or maybe you’ll inspire them to read poems again. Either way, you’ll have done something unique and fun.
Thanks for stopping in, see you tomorrow when we talk about a spunky blogger…

Ellipsis: Open Submissions Thursday

Act now or miss out! The open submission is only open from Aug. 1st to November 1st 2007. You need a cover letter and a contributor’s note (where else you’ve published, if applicable). I would say you should submit only if you’ve published somewhere, anywhere, at least once before. Even on the internet.
Here is the mailing address, and I wish you the best of luck:

Ellipsis Editor
Westminster College
1840 South 1300 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84105

Poet Hound and a Proposition

Proposing? So soon? Well…yes! For years populations around the world make fun of their best writers, painters, innovators, and famous people. Why not do something similar with poets and their poems? We have Weird Al who makes his own wacky lyrics to popular songs, we have Jay Leno and countless other show hosts who poke fun at the public’s captive eye, and we have folks who make products poking fun at others such as an inflateable “Scream” doll from the famous painting “The Scream.” Most of the people who are the butt of these jokes have one of two reactions: One: They LOVE it and laugh along with it. Or Two: They HATE it and immediately seek revenge.
Well, I am thinking of making my own wacky versions of poems whether they are well known or not. I will feature the original, and then my wacky version of it. A Weird Al of Poetry, if you will. Only, I would be titling it Punctured Poetry. I got the idea from my Dad who will read a poem of mine, then e-mail me a wacky version of it in return. So I thought, why not post something like this on the web? If you have any opinions on this idea, please post them or e-mail me about them. Otherwise, starting next week, I might start trying my hand at it. You will have to see…


For now, we are back to our regularly scheduled program of a Poem By Poet Hound:


Gray

Indiana is always cloudy
covered in rain, fog, snow
sometimes more rain,
or less snow, more or less
fog, sun is so scarce
our neighbors blink
disbelieving and sneezing,
they curse backwards into their
homes. After all, no one’s
seen color quite like
this but once a year
on the Fourth of July.


Please also remember that I am perfectly happy to feature poems by other readers. Whether you are a published poet or not, please feel free to post or e-mail poems for submission. As always, must be less than 50 lines, no profanity, pornography, or overtly religious poems. Thank you! Don’t forget to let me know whether you would like to see Punctured Poetry.

Gwendolyn Brooks on the South Side

Gwendolyn Brooks was born June 7th, 1917 and grew up in Chicago. She became a poet before marrying another writer, Henry L. Blakely, in 1939. They lived in the South Side of Chicago and were part of a very creative group of people including other writers, painters, and musicians. As an African American woman, she portrayed life and times witnessed outside her own windows. She also discovered the power of the press when John Sengstacke was building the Chicago Defender “into the most noted black paper in the country, where one could regularly read cutting-edge political news, poetry, and the column by Langston Hughes which began in 1942.” I have taken this information from The Essential Gwendolyn Brooks edited by Elizabeth Alexander. Sadly, Mrs. Brooks passed away in 2003 of cancer. She was and still is an influential poet.

http://poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=17315

Thank you for reading, we will meet again tomorrow for an interesting new idea I need your opinion on...

Beard of Bees Small Press Web-Site

This web-site publishes chapbooks on-line. It’s a great site because you can download all of the chapbooks for free and print them out for yourself. You can submit a collection of poems of your own to this small press in hopes of publication, and they publish more often than most small presses. If you look at their list of chapbooks, you’ll see they publish a chapbook between every month/ every other month. There were 9 chapbooks published in all for the year 2006. There is a wide variety of poems published and you will never grow bored looking through them. Once you find a favorite chapbook, print it and share it. The best part is, you can refer your friends and family to the site if you enjoy a particular poet or if you have been published yourself because all of it is available for free. Use the web-site below to check them out, and I will also add them to the Recommended Sites list. See you tomorrow for a poet who grew up in South Side Chicago…
http://www.beardofbees.com/

Ted Kooser is Pure Delight

Ted Kooser is a Pulitzer prize winner of Poetry, and I have in my hand his book Delights and Shadows which is copyrighted for 2004. I found him in the library and have heard about him through the grapevine. He was also Poet Laureate of the United States in 2004.
According to the Library of Congress,
"The Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress serves as the nation's official lightning rod for the poetic impulse of Americans. During his or her term, the Poet Laureate seeks to raise the national consciousness to a greater appreciation of the reading and writing of poetry."

As you can see, he has a very big job in regards to bringing poetry to the public audience. I would say that is a daunting task to get paid for. How would you go about proving a wider audience? I wonder…

Anyway, Ted Kooser writes much like Billy Collins and Mary Oliver in that he does not have any heavy allusions, big complicated words, or any pretentious language. He is plain spoken in the most eloquent way possible. He is another poet you can understand right away. That makes him a great man in my book! After having picked up his book in the library I feel that the next time I’m in a book-store I’ll feel ready to take my commitment to the next level and buy a book of his poetry. I highly recommend utilizing your local library to see which poets/fiction-writers/non-fiction writers you like best before attempting to buy their work. In a perfect world, all writers would make a decent living from their ways with words. Until then, we have bloggers like me who support them by spreading the word.

http://poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=171342

*By the way, he talks about much more than just china dishes. I just happened to really like these two, and I bet it has something to do with drinking tea while reading this book. I highly recommend you look up Mr. Kooser next time you’re in a library or book-store. I think you’ll be delighted.Thank you, and see you tomorrow for another manic Monday…

Reginald Shepherd's Blog Tells it Like it Is

Reginald Shepherd is a published poet who also posts his opinion in his own blog at:
http://reginaldshepherd.blogspot.com/
He is very eloquent, much like Ron Silliman. His perspective is unique from Silliman’s just as it should be. Otherwise there’d be no need to feature him. Mr. Shepherd discusses poets, what is going on in Poetry today, how others perceive it, etc. He does not necessarily post every single day but you should check in on him regularly. I hope you find him as interesting as I do, thanks for stopping by. Tomorrow we will be discussing a living legend…

Poetry Tips: Worth Describing

When I first started writing poems I made the same mistakes most beginning poets do. For one, I was much too wordy. Another was that I was not descriptive enough. My poems sometimes read like a play-by-play instead of using descriptive words to conjure up the imagery and feelings behind what I was saying.
So your task today is to revise a couple of poems to see which ones merely tell the reader what is happening rather than describing it. For example:

My grandmother made tea,
As she always does on Sundays,
Lifting the porcelain cups from
The cupboard and clinking
Them together onto the silver
Tray. Today we were to
Discuss the latest bit
Of juicy gossip involving
My cousin and her good-
For-nothing-boyfriend.
As always, the tea steamed
Away all guilt from gossip.

Let’s try using more imagery, and less play-by-play, shall we?

My grandmother’s delicate, long
fingers grasped the pale blue
porcelain tea cups by their stems
and, clinking, set them upon her
favored, tarnished, silver tea tray.
As was custom on Sundays, we
were to sit together steaming
about our relative (my cousin)
and her good-for-nothing
boyfriend, much like this rich
Irish Breakfast Black tea was
steaming up at us warming our
cheeks as though they weren’t
already red with anger.


Notice the differences? By expanding on the description of the small scene taking place you can interest and involve the reader much more closely. If you have some poems lying around, you may want to see if you can tweak it a little to include more descriptive imagery. Or you can create a brand new poem keeping this tactic in mind.
Thanks for stopping in. Tomorrow I will be introducing you to another poet that blogs…