Friday, March 12, 2010
Snow In March
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Snow in March
Snow in March falls in sunshine that's leaked
through cracked clouds. Flakes fall at odd
angles as if they're unprepared or lost. We
look out windows, consider resigning from
high-level positions in the climate. Meanwhile,
we return to our desks, ineffectually angry.
Old storms of resentment saturate our moods.
Still, statistics say some people out there
are falling in love and therefore agreeing
to be charmed by snow late in Spring. We
begrudge them their innocence. Winter
has made us pettier, meaner. This snow
in March is untimely and inept.
Copyright 2010 Hans Ostrom
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Snow in March
Snow in March falls in sunshine that's leaked
through cracked clouds. Flakes fall at odd
angles as if they're unprepared or lost. We
look out windows, consider resigning from
high-level positions in the climate. Meanwhile,
we return to our desks, ineffectually angry.
Old storms of resentment saturate our moods.
Still, statistics say some people out there
are falling in love and therefore agreeing
to be charmed by snow late in Spring. We
begrudge them their innocence. Winter
has made us pettier, meaner. This snow
in March is untimely and inept.
Copyright 2010 Hans Ostrom
Thursday, March 11, 2010
U.S. Poet Laureate Timeline
Here's a link to a timeline of U.S Poets Laureate, who used to be called Consultants to the Library of Congress. The first one was Joseph Auslander, appointed in 1937. I hadn't expected to see that my former teacher, Karl Shapiro, had preceded Robert Frost in the post.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Leaves
This one's out of season.
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Leaves
1
The fallen leaf has been further
harmed, one point torn off.
2
A leaf went to a hair-salon
and changed its color. To blond.
3
Each leaf comes with
an antenna with which
to broadcast deciduous
messages to evergreens.
4
The curve of a leaf's
edge is an improvement
over art.
5
A leaf left on the linoleum
of a classroom is like
a love-note never received.
6
The Vs of a leaf's
skeleton diminish
in size. The last V
belongs to the breeze.
7
Leaves don't change.
Weather changes, leaving
leaves no choice.
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Leaves
1
The fallen leaf has been further
harmed, one point torn off.
2
A leaf went to a hair-salon
and changed its color. To blond.
3
Each leaf comes with
an antenna with which
to broadcast deciduous
messages to evergreens.
4
The curve of a leaf's
edge is an improvement
over art.
5
A leaf left on the linoleum
of a classroom is like
a love-note never received.
6
The Vs of a leaf's
skeleton diminish
in size. The last V
belongs to the breeze.
7
Leaves don't change.
Weather changes, leaving
leaves no choice.
Virginia's Poet Laureate
Claudia Emerson is Virginia's Poet Laureate. Her books of poetry include Pharaoh, Pharaoh, Figure Studies, and Late Wife. Here is a link to more information about Emerson and her work.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Poet Laureate of Kansas
Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg is the Poet Laureate of Kansas now, and here is a link to more information about her and projects on which she's working. I haven't been to Kansas in over 20 years. I think I need to get back there. The last time I was there, I caught some catfish.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Allergic Haiku
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Allergic Haiku
mold, pollen, weeds, dust--
sealed buildings full of bad air--
he wheezes; sneezes
Copyright 2010 Hans Ostrom
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Allergic Haiku
mold, pollen, weeds, dust--
sealed buildings full of bad air--
he wheezes; sneezes
Copyright 2010 Hans Ostrom
Sunday, March 7, 2010
First Academy Awards
The first motion-picture Academy Awards were handed out in 1929. Emil Jennings won the award for best actor; he was a German. Janet Gaynor won for best actress. A link to more information.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Self-Portrait With Assistance From Creatures
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Self-Portrait With Assistance From Creatures
as guileless as a worm
as alarmist as a rooster
as blank as an owl
as relentless as a wolverine
as listless as a toad
as worried as a squirrel
as distracted as a cat
as languorous as a bear
as focused as a fox
as garrulous as a hound
as ordinary as a beetle
as deluded as a moth
as determined as a badger
as morose as a sloth
as patient as an ox
as hurried as a hummingbird
as constant as a swallow
as feckless as a frog
as lost as a mole
as devious as a raccoon
as direct as a bee
as sad as a salamander
as overwhelmed as a trout
as philosophical as mule
as gluttonous as a snake
as wary as a coyote
as common as a fly
as confused as a human
Copyright 2010 Hans Ostrom
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Auden on American Work
An observation by poet W.H. Auden concerning Americans and work:
A tremendous number of people in America work very hard at something that bores them. Even a rich man thinks he has to go down to the office everyday. Not because he likes it but because he can't think of anything else to do.
A tremendous number of people in America work very hard at something that bores them. Even a rich man thinks he has to go down to the office everyday. Not because he likes it but because he can't think of anything else to do.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Best-Selling Books of Poetry, 2009
Here is a link to a list of the top 10 best-selling books of poetry in the U.S. in 2009. It's an interesting mix of books. I have no idea how many copies these books sold.
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