off the shelf: what member mark stratton is reading
by the Read Write Poem Staff
For this installment of Off the Shelf — the column in which we share the latest five books Read Write Poem members have read or are currently reading — Mark Stratton shares his latest reads, along with a brief comment on each collection.
Recovered Body, by Scott Cairns
I read a poem or two every few days, then think on them.
Poetry Magazine
It’s pretty cheap, and of good quality.
Creating Poetry, by John Drury
I believe myself to be a neophyte in the truest sense of the word. This book gives me the feel, without the drudgery, of a textbook. I learn from it.
The Haiku Handbook, by William J. Higginson
Again, I have much to learn. This has been a wonderful book for this purpose. Plus it has wonderful haiku to read and enjoy.
Japanese Haiku, by Kenneth Yasuda
As much of a collection as guide and instruction.
Mark also adds, “I read Dickens for words and stories. But words … words he used to wonderful effect. I also have a few of the Everyman Pocket Library poetry books; Poems of New York, the Brownings, and the Beat Poets. All have been fun. Finally, the various poets and contributors to Read Write Poem show me much in the weekly sharing of work based on prompts.
If you want to share your latest five reads, send an email with your titles and comments for each book to info (at) readwritepoem (dot) org.
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get the read write poem badge! 
Wear it loud, wear it proud! Display the Read Write Poem badge on your site. Just click here or on the image above to get the code! read write poem news- yes, yes, here’s another virtual book tour stop for ‘a walk through the memory palace’
February 6, 2010 | 11:37 amFind the latest tour stop for Pamela Johnson Parker’s debut collection, A Walk Through the Memory Palace at Jillypoet, Jill Crammond Wickham’s blog, where you can find an interview with Pamela that discusses how she creates manuscripts.
Previous stops include Daniel Romo at his blog, Peyote Soliloquies and James Brush at his blog, Coyote Mercury.
You can find all our plans for the tour here.
- the best of the web is in our ranks
February 6, 2010 | 11:35 amSarah J. Sloat’s poem,”Attending the Tasting” (published in The Literary Bohemian) has been selected for Best of the Web 2010. Congratulations, Sarah!
- another (w00t!) read write poem member on the joe milford poetry show
February 6, 2010 | 11:34 amOn the Joe Milford Poetry Show tomorrow (Feb. 6): W.F. Roby at 9 AM (PST). Find the show here!
Joe describes Will as a “great language poet and bad-ass.”
- ‘literary podcasting made simple with wordpress.com’
February 6, 2010 | 11:33 amDave Bonta has published a how-to article that might be of interest to WordPress users: “Literary Podcasting Made Simple with WordPress.com,” based on his and Beth Adams’ experience at Qarrtsiluni.
Thanks, Dave, for continuing to help make the community aware of technological resources that can expand our art.
- the latest (virtual) book tour stop for ‘a walk through the memory palace’
February 3, 2010 | 3:53 pmThe latest tour stop has been posted for Pamela Johnson Parker’s debut collection, A Walk Through the Memory Palace. Find out how Daniel Romo responded to the work at his blog, Peyote Soliloquies.
James Brush provided our first tour stop at his blog, Coyote Mercury.
You can find all our plans for the tour here.
- planning for napowrimo in april, and you are invited!
February 2, 2010 | 6:12 pmHello, hello dear Read Write Poem community members! We are in the planning stages for NaPoWriMo. (What? Is that a groan I hear, or an excited exclamation?)
We are planning another prompt-every-day for those folks who love to write a daily poem in April (which is, as most of you know, National Poetry Month in the United States — although there is an international following of writing poetry every day in April, too, so it is not just about the States).
Anyway! This is a call for prompts because we want to run your ideas, one every day, in April. So here’s what to do:
- Prompts must be no more than 250 words, and we will take the first 30 that we receive.
- Include “NaPoWriMo Prompt” in the subject line of your email as well as your username (e.g., the name you use when you log in) so we can match you up with your prompt and give you the link love.
- Email your submission (in the body of the email — no attachments please) to prompts (at) readwritepoem (dot) org!
We’ll let you know when we’ve got the 30, but don’t delay because it takes a lot of time to format the posts and we want to be ready come April Fools’ Day. Woohoo!
- new senior contributors at read write poem
February 2, 2010 | 11:51 amWe are thrilled to announce that Ren Powell and Dave Jarecki are moving into the senior contributor role at Read Write Poem. Both have been writing feverishly for the site, as well as providing ideas for content and for the community as a whole. In short, they make this site a more lively, and better, place.
Ren and Dave will fill the roles vacated by Carolee Sherwood and Jill Crammond Wickham, who have moved into the manager role.
Everyone please thank Ren and Dave for their hard work and commitment to Read Write Poem.
- rounding out the virtual book tour of sarah j. sloat’s ‘in the voice of a minor saint’
January 31, 2010 | 1:53 pmOur last stop on the Virtual Book Tour of Sarah J. Sloat’s In the Voice of a Minor Saint is with Ren Powell. Find Ren’s review at More Babel.
Joseph Harker provided our first stop in December, and you can find David Moolten’s review at Edible Detritus. David’s was followed by Dave Jarecki’s. Dave’s review is at his blog. Find Jill Crammond Wickham’s at Jillypoet: Mom Trying to Write.
In case you missed the introduction, we are (virtually) hosting Sarah J. Sloat’s In the Voice of a Minor Saint. For complete tour information, such as how you can get your own copy of the collection or how you can get involved in future tours, read this post.
- make your own book: get off the computer and onto the paper
January 30, 2010 | 4:19 pmBeth Adams has posted her latest project at The Cassandra Pages. “A Handmade Book” may not explicate all the details of bookbinding, but Beth shows readers the “Secret Belgian Binding.” It’s a beautiful as well as inspiring post.
If you would like more detailed instructions, Google “secret Belgian bookbinding” and find sites such as this one. Or look for a local book arts class for hands-on instruction.
As Beth says, ” … it did me good to get away from the computer and feel my hands at work!”
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Nice to see what folks are reading. Poetry magazine is indeed a pretty good deal if you subscribe. I haven’t heard of Scott Cairns. Will check out the title. thanks
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mark Stratton replied:
November 16th, 2009 at 8:47 am
This book was recommended to me by an employee at the local Barnes & Noble a while ago. He is a professor at the University of Missouri, where I also work (I have never met the man).
It is an interesting read.
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This is a fantastic list, Mark. Thank you for sharing it.
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mark Stratton replied:
November 16th, 2009 at 8:48 am
You’re most welcome, Dana. Glad to do it.
The last tree books on the list have been an immense help to me, helped to spur my growth both as a writer and as a reader of poetry as well.
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I like seeing these, too. It’s cool to get the briefest of rundowns, then let the comments expand.
(Or not. No pressure on the next person. It’s just nice to have a quickie sometimes, you know?)
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mark Stratton replied:
November 16th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
I like to know what others are reading, so when given the chance to share what I’ve been reading….? I jumped at it.
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Thanks for sharing, Mark! I’ve also learned a great deal from the book Creating Poetry by John Drury.
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mark Stratton replied:
November 16th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
It is a terrific book, one I intend to go back to next month as National Novel Writing Month is consuming me. I am ahead of pace, but it is still time and energy consuming…
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I was very lucky to come across copies of Bill’s Haiku Handbook in a local Queensland library in the early 90s.
I remember taking the library book with me to a trip to Kuala Lumpur and finishing the book in a week. It never left my side. I took that library book out several times and read it cover to cover all over again.
It was a thrill to receive his invitation to send haiku to his next major project “The Haiku Seasons” which resulted two books, in the amazing Haiku World: An International Poetry Almanac and its companion book The Haiku Seasons.
I’m glad to see that new editions (albeit posthumously) are coming out. No one interested in haiku should be without these additional Bill Higginson books.
Alan
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mark Stratton replied:
November 16th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
It’s a fine book and one I have really enjoyed and learned from.
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Does anyone else want to tell us what they are reading? Anyone? Anyone?
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Dana Guthrie Martin replied:
November 16th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
And by that I mean, send us an email and we can get you slated for an upcoming Off the Shelf column. Woohoo!
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