A Book Launch at Vermillion, a Desert Rat Poem in Assaracus, Spring Bird Appearances, The Pulitzer Prize for Poetry

Rufous male facing in flight

A Week for Poetry: Book Launches and Pulitzer Prizes

This week saw my friend Catherine Broadwall launch her book Aftermath at the downtown gallery/bar Vermillion, the announcement of the Pulitzer Prizes, a new poem in the lit mag Assaracus, and the return of some favorite birds, like the Black-Headed Grosbeak and the Rufous Hummingbird.

Also, the Iran war continues and a hantavirus scare from a cruise ship. Plus, the Supreme Court continues to abuse the “shadow docket” in order to support an evil, racist regime. Is this all discouraging and apocalyptic? It is.

Catherine Broadwall at her book launch, with me and poet Erika Wright at Vermillion.

Catherine’s Book Launch of Aftermath at Vermillion

On Tuesday night Girl Noise Press (a local feminist press) launched Catherine Broadwall’s book of poetry, Aftermath, and I was one of the opening readers. Everyone did a great job, and the publisher seems really together. It was great to hear Catherine read. You should really check out her work for yourself, of course! Girl Noise Press also sells adorable collage journals with themes such as “Ina Garten” and “Gilmore Girls.” (Yes, I am still accepting birthday presents! Just kidding.) We parked by the Unicorn Bar, and it made me bizarrely nostalgic for an earlier time in my life and Capitol Hill, when I was still energetic enough to go out to bars with friends after readings. The crowds outside the bar were actually really nice, with one teen stopping me to comment that he liked “my poetry thing.” Heartwarming moments.

Charlotte poses with her copy of the issue

A Poem in Assaracus for the Desert Rats

This lovely journal from Sibling Rivalry Press celebrates Gay and Queer Poetry. I am part of it thanks to Jeff Walt and his wonderful Desert Rat Residency program for writers, which I had the pleasure of judging when it first opened its contest. We were meant to include a poem inspired by Palm Springs and the residency, and so here is a sneak peek at the poem which involves imagining Jesus and his reactions to the Palm Springs scene.

And Some Bird Photos…

No matter how bad the news gets, or how my health is (not great right now,) the birds outside my window cheer me up – and I hope they cheer you up too. This week, we have Rufous Hummingbirds, Goldfinches, Woodpeckers, and Black-Headed Grosbeaks.

The Pulitzer Prizes were announced this past week, and Julianna Spahr won for her book, Ars Poetica, which I’ve ordered and will be commenting on it here soon.