READING POETS ADRIENNE RICH and MARY OLIVER : DO YOU ONLY READ POETRY BECAUSE OF NATIONAL POETRY MONTH?

At the library I noticed a prominent display of poetry books for NATIONAL POETRY MONTH.  

You would think there were a gazillion months instead of just twelve on the calender since we seem to have so very many months dedicated to subject matter.

Even though I think there should be more holidays that require people to stay home from work and/or have three day weekends - which would decrease traffic, increase tourism, and prevent more burnout and heart attacks from crummy jobs, Monday morning being the big "I can't take another day of that ass at work so I'll have a heart attack day", I still feel kind of negative about the Hallmarkisation of the yearly calender.

To the point, do we need months dedicated to Poetry, or African American History, or whatever?  Is this all between Dollar Tree Stores (and the like) and school teachers who use their salaries to supplement student's art supplies and decorations for bulletin boards in the classroom?  You know, suddenly Saint Patricks Day, which is for the Irish, which I'm not, is the cause for buying green crap from China.

Are the same people who brought you Mother's Day and Secretary Day and Doggie Day behind everything for girls being PINK and everthing for boys being BLUE?  Good thing I don't have a child, because I would have to choose YELLOW  or GREEN.

DO YOU ONLY READ POETRY BECAUSE IT'S NATIONAL POETRY MONTH?

If so, then I feel sorry for you.

POETRY SHOULD BE READ when you are in a MOOD.  In particular it is very good for indulging the emotions.  If you don't get torn up or twisted around by an ah ha moment reading poetry, maybe you never will.

I've picked up copies of MARY OLIVER'S A THOUSAND MORNINGS and LATER POEMS (1971-2012) by ADRIENNE RICH since these are poets I read in college.  Hmm... a favorite poem?

C 2013 All Rights Reserved  Christine Trzyna / Christine Trzyna Writerly Life

WORDS BANNED IN 2013? HMM THERE ARE SOMETHINGS PEOPLE (STILL) SAY THAT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A TURN OFF!

UNIVERSITY BANISHES WORDS FOR 2013 by Thom Patterson  article link!

trending, spoiler alert, bucket list, superfood, guru, job creators, yolo  (see article for explanations).


Personally,  I never could stand and cannot stand it when someone ends a conversation rudely by saying "Thank You For Sharing."   I also hate it when someone says "hello!" or "hello?" and they aren't on the phone. Any phrase used by a television character, who is supposed to be smart ass funny, doesn't work on me.

MARK TWAIN Quote

"Substitute "damn" every time you're inclined to write "very" your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be." - Mark Twain

RAY BRADBURY Quote

"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you." - Ray Bradbury

EDWARD BULWER LYTTON Quote

"Talent does what it can but genius does what it must." - Edward Bulwer Lytton.

BEADWORK MAGAZINE'S CHALLENGE CREATIVE INSPIRATION

Having designed some jewelry in my time, recently I started reading BEADWORK magazine, and I love the feature they call "The Challenge." A few designers receive the same assortment of beads and stones and metal elements and then do what they will with the package.

They don't have to use all the beads provided and it seems to be OK if they use some of their own supply as well. Besides seeing how different artists manifest art in the form of the functional art of jewelry, I've seen some of the most gorgeous jewelry I have ever seen in this magazine.

To bead takes great patience and manual dexterity. I am truly impressed. And for those who want to follow along there are often patterns and instructions.

IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN CREATIVE GENIUS AND BIPOLAR (MANIC DEPRESSION?)

Click on the link above to be taken to the latest news of this theory and the evidence for it. (Of course your list of geniuses may not be their list of geniuses.)