June 10: Hack

I'm feeling a little like a hack tonight.  I've been working on a new poem for the past four days, and I simply cannot get past the first line.  In fact, I've had about ten or eleven first lines so far.  Unlike some poets, I can't really write a poem until I have my first line.

So, if any of you guys have a first line you don't need, send them my way.  It has to be something surprising or beautiful or breathtaking.  Preferably, it should be all three.  If you have something that fits that description, put it in a comment to this post.

Think Sharon Olds or Julianna Baggott or Phil Levine.  That's what I'm looking for.

Saint Marty isn't picky.

I don't get it...

November 26: Dancing With the Blog

I'm sitting in my living room right now, watching the finals of Dancing With the Stars.  It's pretty obvious who's going to win tomorrow night.  It's been pretty obvious from the beginning of the season.  Shawn Johnson has pretty much stomped every other contestant.  However, I have seen some of my favorite people get kicked off shows like American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance.  Now, some of my disciples are probably thinking, "Who gives a shit?"  I understand.  Some nights, I feel the same way about these programs, but then I get sucked right back in.

I've had an idea for a reality show that would crush Idol and The Amazing Race.  It would be called Laureate, and it would feature people facing poetry challenges.  One week, a sonnet.  Another week, a sestina.  Free verse.  Ghazal.  Pantoum.  The judges would be award-winning poets like Sharon Olds and Phil Levine and Billy Collins.  At the end of the competition, the winner would be crowned the Poet Laureate and receive one million dollars and a book deal.

Tell me that's not a great idea.  I know I wouldn't miss a single episode.  Hell, who am I kidding?  I would be on the very first season.  I would win the first season.  Of course, if I'm the executive producer, that might be a little problem, but I would find some way around that little conflict of interest.  A million bucks and a book.

I know this idea isn't exactly for Fox or NBC.  Maybe PBS would be interested in it.  Laureate and Downton Abbey, the shows that saved Public Television.

Saint Marty is taking meetings if any TV execs are reading.

Yes, but can she write a haiku?

September 12: Unsure Poem, Beautiful Day, Busy Night

I've had a great day.  Teaching Good Books went really well.  The students were laughing and participating.  I dropped off the grant I wrote this morning.  Check that off my to-do list.  All I have left is posting to my blog and reading for Mythology tomorrow.  It's going to be a good night.

Of course, my day isn't over.  I'm going to be driving my daughter all over tonight.  First, we have to go to the first meeting of the year for Faith Formation at church.  Then we have to cut out of there early so she can make it to her hip hop dance class at 7 p.m.  My wife is going to a picnic for her women's group from church, so the majority of the childcare falls on my shoulders tonight.  However, we have a babysitter coming to take care of my son, and my daughter is pretty self-sufficient.  As long as she isn't too moody, I'm in the clear.

I do have a new poem written, but I'm not sure about posting it today.  It may offend some people, and I want to run it by a poet friend to see what she thinks.  After I get her feedback, I promise to post it tomorrow.  I think it's pretty funny.  Maybe a little irreverent, but not too bad.  I'll see what my friend says.  Therefore, you will have to be satisfied with the Phil Levine poem I blogged this morning.  It's better than anything I'll ever write, anyway.

Saint Marty hopes you've had as good a day as he's had.  We all deserve it.

Not a big fan of smiley faces!