William Stafford once said that a poem was a serious joke, “a truth that has learned jujitsu.” And that when you’re stuck, you should lower your standards and keep going. And that he would trade all his poems for the next one. And that writing is a reckless encounter with whatever comes along. And that […]

In my world, jogging and blogging are similar. I don’t like the words. I don’t like the lingo. I don’t like watching people do it, or hear people talk about doing it. I also started doing both of them last year.

Both activities have always been things that I felt like I SHOULD do, things […]

I appreciate the blank canvas literally and figuratively. I put a canvas on an easel last month and spent a lot more time staring at it than I did putting paint on it. It does seem to stare, so bright, so full of potential, so easy to screw up. I have stared at many pieces […]