CruelestMonth.com

String of Resignations at the Poetry Society of America

The NY Times reports that William Louis-Dreyfus has stepped down as the President of the Board at the PSA.  His resignation comes in response to four previous resignations by board members--three of which were seemingly in response to accusations made by Louis-Dreyfus.  So that's five total resignations.  The initial resignation by Walter Mosley was made in response to John Hollander receiving this year's Frost Medal award.  When Mr. Hollander was considered for the award, some members took issue with comments he made in interviews, reviews, and elsewhere--the most striking of which occurred on NPR's "All Things Considered," when a reporter paraphrased Mr. Hollander as saying "there isn't much quality work coming from nonwhite poets today."  Uh oh.  But, as Louis-Dreyfus contended (citing Ezra Pound), the extraneous opinions of poets should not influence the consideration of their work.  Should they?

Read the NY Times article here: "Poetry Prize Sets Off Resignations at Society."

You might also consider if my on-field heroics for HC United, HarperCollins' six-time-defending Media-Soccer-League Champions, will bode well for my editorial future.  Senior VP/Executive Editor David Hirshey alludes that they might: "Free Hope Solo!"

Noah Eli Gordon on Poetry Daily

For anyone who missed out on the free books, the first ten pages from Novel Pictorial Noise by Noah Eli Gordon is up at Poetry Daily

2007 MacArthur Foundation Grants

The 2007 MacArthur Fellows have been announced.  Out of the many luminaries selected for this honor, two come from the world of poetry: short fiction writer and poet Stuart Dybek, and poet Peter Cole.

Dybek's most recent book, I Sailed with Magellan, is a story collection out from FSG.  Cole is the author of two poetry collections, including Hymns and Qualms, and co-founder of Ibis Editions, a press specializing in literary works in translation from the MIddle East.

Je reviens - Two Giveaways, if you look

This post has been some time coming.  I've been lazy (maybe even disgruntled).  Once I have things organized from my trip, I'll try to share some of the better finds and moments.  Still, being back is not entirely devoid of goodness.  Novel Pictorial Noise is now on-sale!  The first five readers to write CruelestMonthPoetry@yahoo.com will receive a copy.  Be sure to have "NPN by NEG" as your subject heading and to include your mailing address in the body of the e-mail.  I'm being very explicit today.

Also, news to me upon returning, Alice Quinn will step down as poetry editor at The New Yorker with  Paul Muldoon rising in succession.  For the sake of variety and renewal, I think this is a positive move.  The NY Times reports.

And final copies of Time & Materials by Robert Hass are printed and cut.  They're like vibrant little cherries.  Hats off to the designer, Gretchen Achilles.  I have three to spare at the moment.  E-mail the address above with "TAM" as your subject and with your address in the body. 

You must choose between the books--no doubles.

*A squadron of readers have descended upon the available copies. Thanks for writing in!

Vacation

I'm off and away for a week, so posts are on hold.  I'll be missing the Brooklyn Book Festival and the NBCC's week-long Symposium, but what can a guy do?  Until then.

Friday misc.

Noah Eli Gordon interviewed at Rob Mclennan's Blog

Listen to Chris Belden's musical tribute to the photographer Marion Ettinger, the clicking finger behind an impressive number of author photos.  Belden's music sounds like Soul Asylum covering a Jimmy Buffett song, but he sings that Joyce Carol Oates looks like a vampire.  So you might enjoy it: Download marion_ettlinger.7.mp3

And for a bit of self-promotion: I review The Apocalypse Reader Edited by Justin Taylor over at SSN.  JCO gets a review there as well.

"Scenes...

...from Allen's Last Three Days on Earth as a Spirit: A video diary of Ginsberg in the days immediately before and after his death.  Jonas Mekas (1997)."  At UbuWeb.