Today, a request and dedication: to the reader who asked for direct links to those poems of mine that appear on the web. I can at least point you toward “The Lovers,” which appears o’er at the Boxcar Poetry Review, and to “Sojourner’s Seance,” which is o’er at the Valparaiso Poetry Review. Set a spell and be sure to take a look around when you visit both sites–there’s some mighty fine reading to be had.
Today is dedicated to retrenching, even though it’s technically designated for “recreation” on my existential calendar. I don’t plan on actually accomplishing anything, but I would like to set the stage to get stuff done.
To that end, I thought I’d announce the cessation of all those posts that would normally fall under the categories of “navel-gazery” and “advanced navel-gazery.” I’ve determined that the best way to spruce up this blog is to focus on usefulness, and talking about the various things that rattle through my head certainly does not qualify. I’m not bashful or backward about such ruminations, but they tend to emerge on those days when I’m posting sans purpose, when I really don’t have much to say or motive to say it. I’ve done a surprisingly fine job of remaining on task over at my Myspace genre blog, but this blog has sprawled out of control. I enjoy the distinct advantage of knowing many of my readers personally here, so I’ve been using the space irresponsibly, as a kind of ersatz e-mail. Nowadays, however, the majority of readers arrive as the result of keyword searches and hoppity hotlinks, and I think I ought to offer those strangers better, more collegial hospitality.
I reckon the tone will remain about the same, since this is a folksy place where I don’t feel the need to fret overmuch about formalities. I also think my work and my writing life are fair game, so biography is bound to seep in. So long as I’m talking about the vagaries of verse and academic professions, however, I’d like to stay on task more often than not. Should I find myself stifled, bursting with the need to expatiate free over the contours of my beleaguered being, then I’ll just open up a private blog elsewhere. At this point the fear of spreading myself too thin seems fairly comedic.
In any case, off we go. Best wishes from the bald man for a prosperous New Year.
