Big day! My contributor copies have arrived!
@toughpoets_review took a chance on this gal and published 2 of my poems in their Spring/Summer 2026 issue!
I love writing poetry, although often times it writes itself and I’m just the conduit. I’m really grateful for publishers like @toughpoets_review who are willing to take a chance on a newbie, and am humbled by the artists and writers whose work sits alongside my own.
It can be a bit nervy to put yourself out there, especially with something as personal as writing/poetry. The folks at Tough Poets were so genuinely kind and the process so wonderfully easy, I just can’t thank them enough. I hope everyone considers supporting small press and publications such as these as it is ultimately a big show of support for all of the artists and writers involved as well.
Thank you to all those that read poetry and literary magazines and books and chapbooks and articles and zines and comics and journals and diaries and backs of cereal boxes. Thank you for reading ❤️
“Tough Poets Review is a 501(c)(3) biannual print journal featuring critically engaged writers and artists. We publish irreverent work to generate conversations that go beyond exposition and instruction. We believe this approach can be applied to our collective experience to confront the world with defiant optimism.”
I put a link in my bio for anyone interested in purchasing a copy…they are gorgeous.
#toughpoetsreview #poetry #readmorepoetry #supportsmallpress #read
Mondays with Monk
Genius of Modern Music Vol. 2
The companion piece to last week’s feature, Volume 2 compiles the remainder of the Blue Note recordings from 1947-1952, the majority of the tracks recorded in the 1950s, with 5 of the 12 tracks not previously issued on LP.
Carolina Moon (one such track) opens the album with an immediate display of innovation. Monk twirls jazz composition around, electing to compose this tune in 6/4 waltz. But this is not your typical waltz…deviating from the more common 3/4 to allow for more room to breathe without losing intensity. This one takes a minute and forces you to work a little for the swing. He records this with a sextet of heavy hitters:
Lou Donaldson on alto sax
Kenny Dorham on trumpet
Lucky Thompson on tenor sax
Nelson Boyd on bass
Max Roach on drums
The take home message here is Monk’s continuous ability to not only stand out as a singular force amongst great musicians, but as a leader in jazz innovation. It’s easy to forget that this was the beginning of his career and already he presented as an old pro. True genius.
#mondayswithmonk #theloniousmonk #geniusofmodernmusic #bluenoterecords #jazzvinyl @theloniousmonk
A couple of Moms I love.
Mother’s Day means your kids buy YOU ice cream.
Hug ‘em tight, love ‘em lots. Very grateful and thankful for all the moms in my life and for moms everywhere making sure we say our pleases and thank yous.
Every year I wear all the necklaces my boys made me when they were little. Now they make me beautiful flowers! I’m the luckiest mom 🩷
#happymothersday #momsarethebest #momsday #luckymom
Chevalier de Pas
Dr. Pancrácio
David Merrick
Charles Robert Anon
Alexander Search
Alberto Caeiro
Álvaro de Campos
Ricardo Reis
A rose by any other name…
is still the great Fernando António Nogueira de Seabra Pessoa.
What I’ve discovered about Pessoa is that he’s one of a very small group of writers that I can pick up at any time, flip to any page, and immediately become captivated.
And if I tire of Pessoa (a near impossibility), I simply pick up Ricardo Reis and all is once again settled.
(Clark makes a brief cameo during my reading. He came running when he heard Pessoa 😂)
#fernandopessoa #ricardoreis #poetry#readmorepessoa #thecompleteworksofricardoreis
Celebrating #nationalcartoonistday with my favorite cartoonist…Ernie Bushmiller!
Best known for creating the sassy ragamuffin, Nancy in 1933, for which I am forever grateful, as she is my alter ego.
@fantagraphics was incredibly generous in allowing me a sneak preview of Nancy For All Seasons, a perfect companion piece to Nancy Wears Hats. It’s funny, silly, charming…exactly what we could all use a little bit of right now.
Reading Nancy is mandatory, so get a copy of Nancy For All Seasons June 16th from @fantagraphics because they are rad, super kind, and have published zillions of graphic novels and comics over the past 50 years so they know what the hell they’re doing.
“Anything can happen in a comic strip.” - E. Bushmiller
#erniebushmiller #nancy #comicstrip #cartoonists
Mondays with Monk
Genius of Modern Music: Volume One
Monk recorded 6 sessions with Blue Note from 1947-1952 (accounting for well over a third of his compositions) 5 of these sessions made up the original 10”s, which eventually were fleshed out with outtakes and repressed into the 12”, 2 volume LPs we know and adore. The greatest of his early work makes its true debut on this 1951 collection.
‘Round Midnight (previously titled Round About Midnight) could easily be considered one of Monk’s most recognizable songs, and a personal favorite of mine due to its melodic richness. It gives big, big smoky jazz bar vibes. I imagine sitting at a small, round table…air hung with smoke, drink sweating in my hand, just shy of the stage lights…I close my eyes and let the song infuse me.
One definition of genius is an “extraordinary intellectual power, especially as manifested in creative activity”. Monk’s power lies within his ability to create new music by blending melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic innovations with innate richness of soul. This cannot be taught…it just is.
He just is…genius.
#mondayswithmonk #theloniousmonk #geniusofmodernmusic #bluenoterecords #jazzvinyl @theloniousmonk
I wanted to say thank you to all of those who applied…the spot for May has been filled.
TBR submissions now closed.
And a special thank you to @dalkeyarchive for understanding that I cannot wait until July 28 to read more Fosse.
#jonfosse #melancoly #damionsearls #grethekvernes #translatedlit
Today, April 30, marks the end of the 30th anniversary of #nationalpoetrymonth
And I read Seamus Heaney’s “A Villanelle for Marie” to celebrate.
#seamusheaney #poetry #readpoetry #readmorebooks
Mondays with Monk
In the beginning, Alfred Lion said, “Let there be Monk!”, and modern jazz rained down upon the world.
From what I can best tell, this 10” shellac is the first recording Monk did for Blue Note in 1947 (and first recording in his career), marking a pivotal moment for the beloved jazz label and Monk’s career. 14 other shellacs would follow before his first 10” LP comp would be pressed in 1951.
I feel lucky to have this as a part of my collection…the very roots of Monk’s recorded catalogue. Here he plays 2 songs with the Thelonious Monk Sextet; “Thelonious” and “Suburban Eyes”.
I’m sure the audiophiles out there can spin these 78s on a slick system, drawing out the nuances of the old recordings. Me? I dusted off the 1926 Victrola “Victor Talking Machine”, threw on a new Lux needle, and hand-cranked this 78 back to life.
This is not necessarily an easy listening experience, but rather a good reminder of how far we’ve come over the years from a recording, producing, and listening standpoint. What I enjoy most is no matter how loud the crackle and distorted the noise, the music of Monk plays through and is easily recognizable.
#mondayswithmonk #theloniousmonk #jazzvinyl #bluenoterecords #victrola @theloniousmonk
I support indie bookstores every chance I get. Yesterday, they supported my current poetry binge.
Also, anyone who would pass up this first edition Pretty In Pink PB, I would kindly show the door.
Big thanks to my local booksellers!
#independentbookstoreday #poetry #readmorepoetry #prettyinpink #booksbooksbooks
