your hurricane annogram

Hurricane Sandy Devastates New York

I have to start this newsletter with an appeal to help New Yorkers devastated by Hurricane Sandy.  The sad truth is that the government has done little to nothing to help people without water, food, electricity or heat.  Elderly sit trapped in darkened hi-rise buildings and families with young children shiver in damaged homes.  We have a Katrina on our hands.  Here’s how you can help:

·   Architecture for Humanity – will be helping to rebuild whole neighborhoods

·   City Harvest and the FoodBank of New York – are doing their best to provide water and food

·   Doctors without Borders – is going door to door to provide medical assistance

The American Red Cross has been noticeably absent in some of the most affected areas.  Thank you for whatever you can donate.   If you live in the tristate area, I hope you and yours are safe!

Update on anthologies

Joel Allegretti, editor of the upcoming anthology of TV poems, reports the title—suggested by Billy Collins—will be Rabbit Ears.  I am thrilled to be in this Poets Wear Prada anthology alongside poets such as Collins, Tony Hoagland, Dorianne Laux, Ron Padgett, and Diane Wakoski.  In addition, Kent State University Press will publish The Widow’s Handbook, which will also include my work.

Malcolm MacDougall III at 287 Spring

What a pleasure to attend the opening of Malcolm D. MacDougall  III’s exhibit, Parallel Worlds, last week at the new 287 Spring Gallery!   This gem of an exhibit, curated by Beth Gersh-Nesic, is worth a trip to Soho.  The 22-year-old MacDougall, who already has a sculpture on display in Union Square, shares eight gravity-defying pieces that resonate with early Cubist energy.  Another surprise was meeting fellow Santa Fe Art Institute resident, painter Robert Dandarov, at the opening.   An artist/curator conversation will take place Saturday, November 17, at 2 p.m.

Max Jacob: Mysticism and Radical Poetry

Rosanna Warren will speak on the important and eccentric French modernist poet, painter and critic Max Jacob on November 14, at 6:30 p.m. in Room 9100 at the CUNY Center for the Humanities, 365 Fifth Avenue.  Warren, who has translated Max Jacob's poems and is currently at work on his biography, will discuss the connection between Jacob's mystical experiences and new poetic forms he invented.

John Amen and The New Arcana

Congratulations to poets John Amen and Daniel Y. Harris on the debut of their collaborative work, The New Arcana (NYQ Books, 2012).  The New Arcana is a multi-genre extravaganza featuring verse, fiction, mock journalism, academic writing, drama, and art.  Hear John perform a selection or read the book’s first review. 

Toadlily Embarks

Join Toadlily Press at Poets House for the launch of its seventh book, Embark.  A reading, book-signing and reception will take place Saturday, November 17, at 5 p.m.  Toadlily has expanded opportunities for poets by creating a yearly quartet of four chapbooks—bringing more poets’ voices to public awareness.  Congratulations to cofounders Myrna Goodman and Meredith Trede!

EstroGenius 2012

Just a reminder to catch Rachel Cohen and RacocoRx in "I Would"—A Story of Self, Determination, and Self-Determination As Told through Dance and Woodworking, at TBG Theatre, 312 West 36 Street, 3^rd Floor, Saturday, November 17, at 6:00 p.m.  Click here for tickets ($18).

Jazz + Poetry Choir Collective at The Stone

Hear poets E.J. Antonio (right), Golda Solomon, Phylisha Villanueva and musicians Sarah Bernstein, Rosie Hertlein, Larry Roland, Michael T.A. Thompson , and guest JD Parran at The Stone, West Corner of Avenue C and 2^nd Street, Saturday, November 17, at 10 p.m. ($10 at the door).

River Trio at North Castle Public Library

The River Trio has become one of this library’s most popular annual Sunday afternoon music sessions. Performing classical, baroque and modern chamber music will be violinist Linda Finegan Lott, cellist Jay Shulman and flutist Pamela Sklar. Hear them at the library, 19 Whippoorwill Road East in Armonk, Sunday, November 18, at 3:00 p.m.

Pamela Laskin at Cornelia Street Café

Poet Pamela Laskin will be reading at Cornelia Street Café on November 24 with Laurel Kallen and Salita Bryant.  Congratulations also to Pam, director of the CUNY Poetry Outreach Center, on the publication of Daring Daughters/Defiant Dreams (A Gathering of the Tribes, 2012), based loosely on Judy Chicago’s “The Dinner Party.” You may order the book from Pam at 414 5^th St., Brooklyn, New York 11215, for $17.00. 

'Round the Net

Thanks to the following for sending, or allowing me to discover, these great links:

·   Translator Steven Bradbury for this review by Lydia Davis of John Ashbery’s translation of Rimbaud’s Illuminations (Norton, 2012).

·   Translator Ellen Elias-Bursac for this early Egyptian image of a man translating.

·   Translator and poet Mark Weiss for recommending the novel My Two Worlds (Open Letter, 2012) by Sergio Chejfec, translated by Margaret Carson.

·   Deep South Magazine for a new recording of Flannery O’Connor.

·   Creative executive Ari Emmanuel for six lessons to live by.

·   The New York Times for this review of William Blake artwork at the Morgan Library.

·   Curator and art historian Beth Gersh-Nesic for this online exhibit of Ruth Abrams’s Microcosms.

·   The Katonah Poetry Series for this interview with Dennis Nurske.

·   Poet Sharon Olds on why she wrote about her divorce.

·   Poet Linda Simone for news of an app that enables poets to hear their poems read by William Shatner; news of poetry museums in the UK; Jane Hirshfield discussing the art of the metaphor; blog “The Poetweet as Form” and Atlantic article on the power of poetry.

·   Sarah Bracey White for this journalistic tribute to Brenda Connor-Bey.

 

Until next time,

Ann