I’ve always been a closet poet. I consider myself a novelist, but poetry is at the heart of all writing. I’ve never shared my poetry like I have my prose. It was something secret and a way to get better at writing when I was too stubborn or frustrated with my novels. Then I found Everette Maddox’s poetry. Two things instantly attracted me to his … Continue reading 225 Zaragoza Street, a poem
I’m fascinated, obsessed may be a better term, with word count. I want to make sure I reach the magical number of 50,000 words when writing a novel. Native Moments is around 95,000 words. Perhaps a bit on the long side. As of now, Panhandlers is just above 58,000 words and I’m working on paring it down to get it as tight and precise as … Continue reading The Art of the Short Novel
On occasion, when a tragedy takes over our media and what seems like our collective consciousness, I am reminded of the William Butler Yeats poem “The Second Coming.” The first time I read this poem was on September 11th, 2001. I was in my junior year at the University of West Florida and the Twin Towers had just been attacked. School hadn’t been cancelled yet. … Continue reading The Center Cannot Hold
I’ve been on a Bill Hicks bender recently. Dude may have been a prophet. Dead at only 32 years old. Amazing insight at such a young age. But as he said, “It’s Just a Ride.” The world is like a ride at an amusement park, and when you choose to go on it, you think it’s real, because that’s how powerful our minds are. And … Continue reading It’s Just a Ride
Anthem By Leonard Cohen The birds they sang at the break of day Start again I heard them say Don’t dwell on what has passed away or what is yet to be. Ah the wars they will be fought again The holy dove She will be caught again bought and sold and bought again the dove is never free. Ring the bells that still can … Continue reading Leonard Cohen, 1934 – 2016
I’m not going to ruin this poem with any commentary. Just read and enjoy. I’m open to discussion in the comments, but I’m not starting it. Ntozake Shange already did. lady in brown de library waz right down from de trolly tracks cross from de laundry-mat thru de big shinin floors & granite pillars ol st. louis is famous for i found toussaint but not … Continue reading Ntozake Shange’s poem “toussaint”
When teaching a book that uses this word, what do most people prefer when reading it aloud? Skip it or read it? I addressed this issue with my class prior to studying Etheridge Knight’s poem “Dark Prophecy: I Sing of Shine.” The consensus was to skip it, yet when I did so, I felt that I was cheating Etheridge Knight, that I was changing his … Continue reading The N-Word
Nic Schuck 