I went into the vault to get this prose poem from 1978, written soon after the experience that provided the brief story thread in the poem. In those days, I was constantly on the lookout for images and incidents that could feed a new composition. I wanted to write, write, write.—PM . Memorial Day…
Bridge Street Cover FINAL This is an Adobe file of an image, which I can’t insert directly into this blog post, so please click the link to see the cover design for Tom Sexton’s new book of Lowell poems due from Loom Press in June. The collection of poems plus…
On April 29, 1962 President John F. Kennedy held a banquet honoring Nobel Laureates at the White House. Forty-nine Nobel Laureates, or their representatives attended. The guests included Pearl Buck, Rudolf Mossbauer, Mrs. Ernest Hemingway, Mrs. George Marshall and Dr. Linus Pauling.* It was on this occasion that Kennedy made his…
Sunday, April 22: Two Earth Day Events in Lowell Earth Day Family Fun Day 12 noon to 4 pm: Earth Day Family Fun Day with the National Park Service and Community Gardens Project at the Park Maintenance facility at 220 Aiken Street. Create crafts from recycled materials, tour the greenhouse…
Here’s another piece of lyrical writing that former Mayor John Robert Smith of Meridian, Mississippi, quoted at the Creative Placemaking Summit on Wednesday. This sentiment pre-dates the Bread & Roses slogan of Lawrence by some centuries, but makes the same case about the need to feed soul and body. .…
On the Building of Springfield Let not our town be large, remembering That little Athens was the Muses’ home, That Oxford rules the heart of London still, That Florence gave the Renaissance to Rome. Record it for the grandson of your son — A city is not builded in a…
Poet Kate Hanson Foster of Groton learned today that her book “Mid Drift” from Loom Press was selected as one of the best collections of poetry published in Massachusetts in 2011. Mass Book Awards are for books by Massachusetts authors or about Massachusetts. The book is on the “Must-Reads” list…
On Sunday, April 22, some interesting people will gather at the Rogers School on Highland Street, on the edge of the South Common, for Earth Day activities. We will have a guided tour of the South Common Historic District by Dick Howe Jr, unplugged music by Joe Darensbourg, a display of design plans showing…
In one of the most memorable images from John F. Kennedy’s inauguration, poet Robert Frost at the age of 86, was unable to read a poem written for the occasion, “For John F. Kennedy, His Inauguration” because of glare. Instead, he recited “The Gift Outright” from memory. On this…
These serene words of spring are by Robert Browning from his “Pippa Passes” ~ The Year’s at the Spring The year’s at the spring, And day’s at the morn; Morning’s at seven; The hill-side’s dew-pearled; The lark’s on the wing; The snail’s on the thorn; God’s in his Heaven— All’s…