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  Why I Write Poetry - Essays on...

  Ian Humphreys

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  What motivates poets in the 21st century? How do they find their voice? What themes and subject matters inspire them? How do they cope with set-backs and deal with success? What keeps them writing? Why I Write Poetry, edited by Ian Humphreys, combines lively and thought-provoking essays, along with individual writing prompts to help you create your own new poetry.
  In this book, twenty-five contemporary poets reflect with insight, wit and wisdom on the writing life. Each offers their distinctive take on what inspires and spurs them on to write poetry. The essays shine a light on everything from performance, dialect, the body and paying attention, to bearing witness, finding your wings and joining the journey of poetry, and encompass the practical, personal, and political. Within these pages, you'll discover how a poet's background and values can fundamentally shape and inform their work. New voices sit alongside poets with many collections under their belts and you'll find encouragement, creative provocations, advice and, above all, reasons to write. Read on, learn and enjoy.
  With essays by: Romalyn Ante, Khairani Barokka, Hafsah Aneela Bashir, Leo Boix, Vahni Capildeo, Mary Jean Chan, Jo Clement, Sarah Corbett, Jane Commane, Rishi Dastidar, Jonathan Edwards, Rosie Garland, W. N. Herbert, Ian Humphreys, Keith Jarrett, Zaffar Kunial, Rachel Mann, Andrew McMillan, Kim Moore, Pascale Petit, Jacqueline Saphra, Clare Shaw, Daniel Sluman, Jean Sprackland, and Jennifer Wong.

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  Priest and His Disciples (Shaw...

  Hyakuzo Kurata

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  At the age of twenty-six (at the height of the Great War in Europe), the religious pilgrim and maverick Kurata Hyakuzo wrote a profoundly philosophical play called "The Priest & His Disciples" ("Shukke to sono deshi").  This stage play is based on the life and teachings of the 13th century Buddhist priest Shinran (1173-1263) and quickly became immensely popular.  Shinran, the historical founder of the True Pure Land School of Buddhism (Jodo Shinshu), encounters the poor family of Hino Saemon and his wife Okane, and converses with them about how to live in circumstances of change and turmoil and hardship.  Most of the ideas represented as Shinran's are really Kurata's own philosophies, an amalgam of Eastern and Western ideas adapted by his own iconoclastic spirit to the tumultuous times of early twentieth-century Japan. - Summary by Expatriate

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  October (Coates version)

  Florence Earle Coates

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  LibriVox volunteers bring you 13 recordings of October  by Florence Earle Coates. This was the Weekly Poetry project for October 9, 2011.Mrs. Coates gained notoriety both at home and abroad for her works of poetry—nearly three-hundred of which were published in literary magazines such as the Atlantic Monthly, Scribner's Magazine, The Literary Digest, Lippincott's, The Century Magazine, and Harper's. Many of her poems were set to music by composers such as Mrs. H. H. A. Beach (Amy Cheney Beach), Clayton Johns, and Charles Gilbert Spross.  In 1915, Florence was unanimously elected poet laureate of Pennsylvania by the state's Federation of Women's Clubs. (Summary from Wikipedia)

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  The Poetry of Robert Herrick -...

  Robert Herrick

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  The Clergyman and poet, Robert Herrick was born in Cheapside, in London in 1591. An exact date is not known though he was baptized on August 24th, the seventh child of Nicholas Herrick, a wealthy goldsmith.  
  Some controversy surrounds several chapters in his early years.  The first are allusions that his father, in November 1592, two days after making a will, killed himself by jumping from the fourth-floor window of his house. However, the Queen's Almoner did not confiscate the Herrick estate for the crown as was the usual procedure with suicides, so an alternate narrative emerged that he fell accidentally which seems to have more credence. 
  There is no record of Herrick attending school. Some claim a poem alludes to Westminster School, others merely that he meant Westminster, the area. Another school of thought claims he was educated at Merchant Taylor’s School.  What is known is that in 1607 he was apprenticed to his uncle Sir William Herrick as a goldsmith.   
  Herrick certainly seems to have been a keen and avid poet. The earliest work known to be written by him dates from 1610; 'A Country Life', and deals with the move from London to farm life in Leicestershire.  
  After six years as an apprentice, when Herrick was 22 he matriculated at St John’s College, Cambridge before moving to Trinity College and graduating with his Bachelor of Arts in 1617, Master of Arts in 1620, and in 1623 he was ordained priest.  
  By 1625 he was well known as a poet, mixing in literary circles in London such as that around Ben Jonson. An avowed admirer of Jonson he was also one of a group whom became known as ‘The Sons of Ben’ writing both in his style and about him. 
  In 1629 he was presented by Charles I to the parishioners of Dean Prior, a remote parish of Devonshire. The best of his work was written in the peace and seclusion of country life; 'To Blossoms' and 'To Daffodils' are classical depictions of a devoted appreciation of nature.  
  However, after he refused to subscribe to The Solemn League and Covenant, he was ejected from Devonshire in 1647 and moved to London where he published his religious poems Noble Numbers (1647), and Hesperides (1648). 
  Herrick was distinguished as a lyric poet, and some of his love songs, for example, 'To Anthea' and 'Gather Ye Rose-buds' are considered exceptional.  
  By 1660 he was reinstated at Dean Prior where he lived for the remainder of his life. He wrote no more poems after 1648 but over his life it is thought he wrote in the region of 2,500 poems in total, only a small portion of which were ever published. 
  He died in October 1674, at the age of 83 in circumstances unknown.  He was buried on October 15th, 1674 in an unmarked grave in the churchyard at Dean Prior. 
   This volume comes to you from Portable Poetry, a specialized imprint from Deadtree Publishing.  Our range is large and growing and covers single poets, themes, and many compilations.

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  Paying Guest The (dramatic reading)

  George Gissing

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  Clarence and Emmeline Mumford are in for a real treat when they take in the young, outspoken Miss Louise Derrick as their guest. Shedding a light on class struggles in the Victorian era, The Paying Guest offers a look at just what "proper society" expects. (Summary by Amanda Friday)Cast:Narrator: Elizabeth KlettClarence Mumford: AllenJohnsEmmeline Mumford: Arielle LipshawLouise Derrick: Amanda FridayMrs. Higgins: KristingjMr. Bilton/Man: Noel BadrianMr. Cobb: Robert HoffmanServant: April GonzalesDr. Billings: Ernst PattynamaMrs. Grove: Tiffany Halla ColonnaAudio edited by: Amanda Friday

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  'Tis Pity She's a Whore

  John Ford

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  One of the most shocking plays produced in England during the reign of Charles I, 'Tis Pity She's A Whore chronicles the disastrous results of an incestuous affair between fatalistic Italian siblings, Giovanni and Annabella. As suitors vie for Annabella's hand, various webs of deception and revenge intertwine, culminating in a bloody finale. (Summary by Elizabeth Barr)CAST LISTBonaventura, a Friar/ Bergetto, Nephew to Donado: alanmapstoneA Cardinal, Nuncio to the Pope AND Banditti: Algy PugSoranzo, a Nobleman: tovarischFlorio, Citizen of Parma: Bob Neufeld Donado, Citizen of Parma: Arnie HortonGrimaldi, a Roman Gentleman: Ric FGiovanni, Son to Florio: Chuck WilliamsonRichardetto, a supposed Physician: Denny SayersVasques, Servant to Soranzo: Chris MarcellusPoggio, Servant to Bergetto: laurenburwellAnnabella, Daughter to Florio: Elizabeth BarrHippolita, Wife to Richardetto: Elizabeth KlettPhilotis, his Niece: Charlotte DuckettPutana, Tutoress to Annabella: Amanda FridayOfficer(s): Libby GohnServant: CaprishaPageNarrator: Kristingj

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