ONCE UPON A TIME

Read a poem from this book the other night, first time in a long time. The 1980 or '81 photograph on the cover was taken by the great Lynn Goldsmith for the 1982 poetry collection, put together and named before I decided to move to LA that summer. She caught me mid-finger-popping. I was "so cool" back then this was my outfit for New York winters, two shirts (opened at the neck) and a leather. Those were the days my friend.

JONATHAN DEMME R.I.P.

I didn't know him but admired his artistry. Everyone I know who worked with him praised him and wanted to work with him again, like another poet/actor, Harry E. Northup (whose book REUNIONS brought me back to loving reading and books and poetry again after one of my major operations had me knocked down for a minute). Harry said Demme was an honest and honorable guy. Or words like that. And since Harry is an honest and honorable guy, I believe him. My condolences to Demme's family, friends, and fans.

LAST NIGHT'S READING AT THE NEW SCHOOL

I had so much fun last night at The New School sharing my poetry, experiences, and stories with an appreciative audience that included so many dear friends I can't name them all (and would probably forget some and feel bad, though I did give shout outs to quite a few who were in the packed room).

But I have to mention two who came the farthest, my oldest and dearest friends: the poet, writer, and traditional Irish music composer and performer Terence Winch, who came all the way from DC, and the actor, director (both stage and now movies) who I knew originally as a poet when she was young, Karen Allen, came all the way down from Western Mass. Seeing their faces sitting in the front row cheering me on, as always, made me feel comfortable enough to give as loose and revealing a presentation as ever.

And it was all arranged by the great writer and teacher, David Lehman, who introduced me and after I read asked questions in the Q&A session, with his usual wit and insight. Though for me, it could be called Q&AAAAAAAA... Since, as my friend poet Rachel Diken put it afterward, all you have to do is ask me a question and then hit record and sit back. I can go on. But I was happy to be allowed to.

QUOTE OF THE MOMENT

"Can we also remove the Confederate monument that's currently serving as Attorney general?"  —Tom Ceraulo

FAVORITE EARTH DAY SIGN

FINAL LAST MINUTE REMINDER

I'll be reading my poetry and responding to interview questions from David Lehman and the audience at The New School Poetry Forum, this Tuesday, April 25th, 6:30PM, Room 510 (Alvin Johnson/J. M. Kaplan Hall), 66 West 12th Street, NYC, all welcome, and it's free.

REPOSTED FROM BOBBY MILLER ON FACEBOOK

It's National Poetry Month
From the great American Poet Michael Lally
"...all the forbidden fruit I ever
dreamt of — or was taught to
resist and fear — ripens and
blossoms under the palms of my
hands as they uncover and explore
you — and in the most secret
corners of my heart as it discovers
and adores you — the forbidden fruit
of forgiveness — the forbidden fruit
of finally feeling the happiness
you were afraid you didn’t deserve —
the forbidden fruit of my life’s labor
— the just payment I have avoided
since my father taught me how —
the forbidden fruit of the secret
language of our survivors’ souls as
they unfold each others secret
ballots — the ones where we voted
for our first secret desires to come
true — there’s so much more
I want to say to you — but for
the first time in my life I’m at
a loss for words — because
(I understand at last)
I don’t need them
to be heard by you."
Photograph Bobby Miller©2017