In 2014, I was named Long Island Poet of the Year. It was a wonderful honor, and the awards ceremony became a treasured memory.
So it was a distinct pleasure to give the introduction for this year’s honoree, Dr. Graham Everett. Graham Everett is the founder of Street Press, one of the most well respected independent poetry publishers on Long Island. Continue reading “Introducing Graham Everett”
Gave a reading from my new book at The Seminary of the Immaculate Conception today. The crowd favorite was “Miriam,” and so I include that poem in today’s blog post. Miriam was the sister of Moses, the one who looked over him as he floated down the Nile, away from his family of origin and towards a great and heroic destiny. Continue reading “Meet Miriam”
I had the honor of speaking to the Emmaus group at St. Patrick’s church in Huntington this evening. They are a wonderful group of people, led by excellent teacher Anthony Marinelli, committed to the study of scripture and vibrant discussions of faith. My reading there was part of a Spring book tour I am giving to celebrate the launch of my new book, A Ship to Hold the World and The Marionette’s Ascent, published by Wiseblood Books.
Wiseblood, which is “wide-eyed for new epiphanies of beauty” is a press rooted in the Catholic literary tradition of Flannery O’Connor, Continue reading “Book Tour: A Ship to Hold the World and The Marionette’s Ascent”
In honor of Divine Mercy Sunday, here’s some music, poetry and art on that subject to fulfill your soul’s sense of the beautiful. Here’s to mercy! May we receive it, and may we grant it.
This evening, I attended the second annual Poetry Affair in the Hamptons. This is a lovely annual event in honor of poetry month hosted by Rosalind Brenner, featuring prominent Long Island poets in a taped and later televised performance. It was a memorable night. I read several of my favorite poems, including “Still Life,” a poem honoring a person who has died but whose legacy remains.
Coincidentally, when I came home, An Affair to Remember was on television. The scene in which the characters played by Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr visit “Janou,” the grandmother of Cary Grant’s character, is one of the most touching and tender in the history of film. Just watch this clip for beautifully subtle acting by Grant, as his character falls in love with Kerr while she sings. However extraordinary Kerr and Grant are in this scene, it may be said that they were outshined by Cathleen Nesbitt as “Janou.” Continue reading “An Affair to Remember”