April 20, 2010
Zhao Mengfu, a 14th century Chinese government official, was wondering how his wife, Guan Daosheng, might react to his thoughts about getting a concubine. A revered painter and poet, he wrote her this lyric poem: I’m a scholar-official and you are the official wife. Haven’t you ever heard that scholar-official Wang had Peach Leaf and […]
April 19, 2010
Mark thy calendar for Friday, April 23, for it’s Talk Like Shakespeare Day! Mayor Richard M. Daley didst proclaim that all shouldst honor the birthday of William Shakespeare. ‘Tis simple to speaketh like the Bard: Instead of you, say thou or thee(and instead of y’all, say ye). Rhymed couplets are all the rage. Men are Sirrah, ladies are Mistress, and […]
April 19, 2010
Everything in Its Place by Arthur Guiterman The skeleton is hiding in the closet as it should, The needle’s in the haystack and the trees are in the wood, The fly is in the ointment and the froth is on the beer, The bee is in the bonnet and the flea is in the ear.
April 18, 2010
Class Picture, 1954 by Billy Collins I am the third one from the left in the third row. The girl I have been in love with since the 5th grade is just behind me to the right, the one with the bangs. The boy who pushes me down in the playground is the last one […]
April 17, 2010
Excerpted from Snapshots of a Daughter-in-Law by Adrienne Rich Well, she’s long about her coming, who must be more merciless to herself than history. Her mind full to the wind, I see her plunge breasted and glancing through the currents, taking the light upon her at least as beautiful as any boy or helicopter, poised, […]
April 16, 2010
Quarantine by Eavan Boland In the worst hour of the worst season of the worst year of a whole people a man set out from the workhouse with his wife. He was walking north–they were both walking–north. She was sick with famine fever and could not keep up. He lifted her and put […]
April 16, 2010
Jeff Tweedy wrote one. Billy Corgan and Jewel did too. 2Pac and Jim Morrison have posthumous collections, and Bob Dylan’s began as an underground bootleg. What, you may ask, is the connection between this diverse group of musical artists? The answer may surprise you. Believe it or not, all of the aforementioned rockers and rappers have a published […]
April 15, 2010
I Knew A Woman by Theodore Roethke I knew a woman, lovely in her bones, When small birds sighed, she would sigh back at them; Ah, when she moved, she moved more ways than one: The shapes a bright container can contain! Of her choice virtues only gods should speak, Or English poets who grew […]
April 14, 2010
Reunion by Ethan Coen Say, you look great! Well, you look great We both look great! How long’s it been? How long’s it been?– A long, long time. A long, long time. Well, you look great!
April 13, 2010
Blue Rainbow by M.L. Wylie Blue, my love is blue Dazzled by glass Like frozen fire For blue flame burns hottest and most pure And so my love is azure Blue, my love is blue A thousand feet of sky And sunlight in my eye You lift me in the air And so my love is […]
