February Updates
Busy, busy, busy. Where do I begin? A month or two ago I found a wonderful online poetry magazine with the motto, “Good poetry is meant to be understood, not decoded” and since I agree with that wholeheartedly I decided to submit a few poems. Two of them were accepted and will be forthcoming on www.strongverse.org. One of the poems, a villanelle, “Resolutions” is currently on the website and the other, “First Encounter with Fatherhood” will appear soon. I am very excited to be published there because it’s a website that I’m reading daily and I admire their work.
Besides that I’ve been working on poems for the NC Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Series. I’m working with a great professor, John Hoppenthaler. He’s given me thorough feedback, recommended a few good poets, and suggested insightful essays. I’m very lucky to work with him.
I’ve also been busy trying to write new poems. I went to the first Cave Canem South for a weekend of workshops and readings. It was amazing. If you don’t know what Cave Canem is, then you’re not reading what I’m beginning to believe is some of, if not the best poetry in the United States. The weekend I went was a joint venture between Cave Canem and the South Carolina Poetry Initiative and the weekend tutors were Kwame Dawes, Nikkey Finney, Patricia Smith, and Frank X Walker. All were great and I learned a lot in the three days I was in Columbia. There were also some great voices participating in the workshop and I will admit to being a little intimidated. I can’t wait to see what bright future is ahead for all the poets involved.
Valentine’s Day was a fun night as well. I’ll soon upload videos I’m editing from Wilmington’s Bad Love Poetry Night at the Browncoat Pub & Theatre. I’m taking part in a bunch of readings in April; I’ll post a list soon. Etched Press is also publishing a new chapbooks soon, so I’ll be busy preparing that. This has been, and will continue to be, a great year for poetry.
“Photo Exhibit Showcases Black Poets” Please read it at http://wp.me/pC3Xj-cW