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Okay, a little diversion from the creative writing I usually place up. It’s national poetry month and I really dig the way, the following people are contributing to it:

Shel Silverstein is giving poems on his website. Also try your visual poetry with dumpr.net. It’s even inspiring me to get a flicker account and be on the web more hours than I should. Hey that’s the plight of being single, huh? Yep, pink snowboard guy thinks so. If you are into great writing, check out and hear the fabulous audio of Brooks and Hughes. Just because a poet can’t read their work, don’t write them off, check out “Bolshevescent,” a poem about everything to loose and gain at the same time. I am a big fan of Milton’s blog bringing me topics related to education and identity. I love the words of Frank Bidart, “What you love is your fate.” So in code, action, and thought, inspire people with the poetry that is you.

However, there’s gotta be some standard to poetry and the author has to be accountable for the words in more ways than the thing just sounded pretty on paper. There has to be honesty, a sincere want to communicate, systematic art form, a reason for diction and adequate variation. That’s it. Easy but not when you try it. The rest is instinct like when dogs recognize themselves by smell. So let me show you what I mean:

“Hey, you’re doing it, like I didn’t tell you to, my sinking laundry boat, point of departure, my white pomegranate, my swizzle stick.” –J. Ashbury (and that costs $23.95) It’s like the state of hip hop today. Get some common sense people! Seriously guys, I am not “playa hating” and will gladly endorse worthwhile writing like the people mentioned above. Granted some styles you may not be able to vibe with or because you haven’t had that experience it may not speak to you, but, PLEASE, tell me when my poetry is this stinky.