Solace in a Book

News of contributors: Poniewaz, Somlo, Hilbert, Miller, Levine, Subprimal and Nelson Algren contest

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I was sorry to read at various sources that Jeff Poniewaz recently passed away. He was currently serving as Milwaukee’s Poet Laureate. Known as an eco-poet Jeff taught Literature of Ecological Vision via the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee since 1989. His book Dolphin Leaping in the Milky Way was awarded the Discovery Award from PEN in 1987. Submission letters and his bio always came with this note: “His last name is pronounced POE-nYEAH-vAHsh and is Polish for … [Read more...]

My first Black Friday

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Happy Black Friday. I’ve been mulling over this post; I don’t know why. Way back on the first of the month, Jim Daniel’s poem "Anthem" was featured on The Writer’s Almanac with Garrison Keillor. It’s a poem that makes me think of my father. Check it out here. Thanksgiving time makes me think of him too. My father died the day after Thanksgiving in 1966. So for my post today, I’m sharing the poem I made up about him, and how I miss him. It’s my way of commemorating … [Read more...]

Literary news: light and dark

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It’s another chilly one, but before I can complain about Chicago weather, I only have to look at pictures from Buffalo, NY, where more than five feet of snow blankets the city and more is predicted.  That shuts me up. Besides I don’t really want to post about the weather but literary news. First about Solace in So Many Words contributors. Brent Calderwood is featured in  OUT Magazine (as one of OUT 100)—congrats! Kathleen Kirk’s poem “Daughter of Midas” has been … [Read more...]