New York’s First Responders
Reflexive and fearless
They rush into burning towers
Or deliver life support in the face
Of an invisible killer virus
These humble heroes
Keep us safe and secure
God bless and protect
New York’s first responders
Poetry
“Running the Rapids” by Twitchell Lake’s Poet Laureate
One of the titles I have earned as an adult is “Poet Laureate of Twitchell Lake.” Along with the title goes a hat someone crafted out of old sugar-free Tab cans, this writer posing with it here.
Strange hat isn’t it! One of the community-building activities on our lake in Big Moose, New York, is a Fourth of July “Poet’s Potluck,” an event hosted by the Conable family. [Read more…] about “Running the Rapids” by Twitchell Lake’s Poet Laureate
Four New York Poets Featured in “Postcard Poems” Broadside Series
The Adirondack Center for Writing (ACW) has announced four New York State poets selected for “Postcard Poems”: Jackie Braje, Joseph Bruchac, Laura Cordts and Sophie Morelli. Their poems were selected from over 100 submissions from across the state. [Read more…] about Four New York Poets Featured in “Postcard Poems” Broadside Series
Poetry: When It Rains, It Pours
When It Rains, It Pours
After suffering a string of losses
He thought his luck would change
But unfortunately it did not
His streak of setbacks
Continued without letup
When it rains, it pours
Louis Riel: A Canadian Rebel’s Exile in Northern New York
Louis Riel (1844-1885) a founder of the province of Manitoba in Canada and a political leader of the Métis people (mixed Indigenous and European ancestry) at a time when they actively resisted the Northwest Territories integration into the Dominion of Canada in the late 1860s and 1870s. [Read more…] about Louis Riel: A Canadian Rebel’s Exile in Northern New York
Poetry: Unintended Consequences
Unintended Consequences
They thought their plan
Couldn’t possibly fail
But then suddenly it did
Creating more problems
Than they began with
Much to their chagrin
The unexpected outcome
Rudely reminded them
Of the aggravating law of
Unintended consequences
The Poetry Machine Distributes Free, Pocket-Sized Poems
If you live in or visit Lake Placid or Tupper Lake, keep your eyes peeled for the Adirondack Center for Writing Poetry Machine this winter.
Created in collaboration with visiting writer Erin Dorney, the repurposed gumball machine distributes free, pocket-sized poems. [Read more…] about The Poetry Machine Distributes Free, Pocket-Sized Poems
Poetry: Better to be Lucky than Good
Better to be Lucky than Good
To his credit he humbly
Attributed his success
To good fortune
Rather than his
Skill and ability
Thereby affirming that it’s
Better to be lucky than good
Poetry: Tall Chair
Tall Chair
Sitting in my tall chair
listening for the footfalls
in the damp floor
below me, around me,
over me-
my room is green. [Read more…] about Poetry: Tall Chair
Poetry: New York State of Mind
New York State of Mind
From New York Harbor
To the Canadian border
New Yorkers share
An indomitable spirit
Of grit and ingenuity
Springing from a winning
New York State of Mind