Category: Tributes

Kerouac 100

Artwork of Jack Kerouac by Becca Stein @BecVersa
Artwork by Becca Stein @bec.versa

Jack Kerouac was born 100 years ago today, on March 12, 1922. I wrote a poem about this.

The poets are coming out of the woodwork lately

Called by a voice, and our careworn restless souls

Jack Kerouac! We called you famous for a book

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Diane Di Prima’s Revolutionary Letters

Revolutionary Letters by Diane di Prima

I’m reading Diane di Prima’s “Revolutionary Letters” this morning. The great Beat poet died this weekend. I haven’t heard many details yet – the news hit social media late last night – but since this is the morning of October 26 2020 here in USA where our Supreme Court is … Read the rest

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Moment of Clarity

I went to the climate march in New York City last week. This was on Friday, September 20, connecting with a massive strike and protest happening all over the world on the same day. My friend Attila had just flown in from Portland, Oregon, and the sprawling scene all over … Read the rest

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Reflections

I’m in a reflective mood lately. Looking within, through a glass darkly and all that. That’s my excuse for the fact that it’s March 2018 and this is my first post of the year.

I also have another excuse: I’ve been working on a really good Litkicks article about opera. … Read the rest

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Midsummer in Winter

I fell particularly in love with Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” when I saw it performed in Central Park in New York City — a perfect setting, long ago, outdoors on a summer night, with William Hurt as a bemused but domineering Oberon.

I loved the play not for its … Read the rest

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Beverly, Clearly

For a long time I thought her name was Beverly Clearly. That’s because she wrote so clearly. For real: as a kid I would look at the covers of these wonderfully readable books, and “Beverly Clearly” was the author name I saw.

It’s rare that I have a chance to … Read the rest

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