MN poetry: Robert Bly's "Call and Answer"

Posted at 3:18 PM on January 10, 2011 by Marianne Combs
Filed under: Minnesota Poets, Poetry, Video

Once I heard Robert Bly read his own poetry, I couldn't help but hear it again in my head as I read his words. Rough and melodic at the same time, his voice has become for me an integral part of his work.

So thanks to local filmmaker Mike Hazard, here's a clip of Bly reciting his poem "Call and Answer."

And while I'm on the subject of poetry, I thought it worth pointing it out that the "MN Poets" archive on State of the Arts is now one year deep, and I have yet to repeat the work of any one poet. That's 54 poets and counting! So, when you have a moment, peruse the archive to see what a fine collection of poetry we've built. And if you have some ideas on poets you think should appear on the Monday "Minnesota Poetry" post, let me know.

Wayzata poet Joyce Sidman wins Newbery honor

Posted at 3:40 PM on January 10, 2011 by Euan Kerr
Filed under: Minnesota Poets

The Association for Library Service to Children today awarded a Newbery Honor to Wayzata poet Joyce Sidman for her book "Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night."

Sidman, says she wrote the poems as a way to explore a forest ecosystem, but also with memories of how as a child at summer camp in Maine how she had been scared of the dark.

Sidman learned of the award just before the the ALSC press conference this morning. She says she's very excited.

"It's unusual for a poetry book to be chosen," she said this afternoon from her home. "And I feel really great about that, that poetry has been acknowledged, So that's part of why I am happy because I don't think poetry is always given its due."

Of the honor itself she says she'll learn more of why the Newbery judges chose her book during the award ceremony in June. Of course it will also bring great attention both to the book, and for her other collections of poems.

"It means a lot of validation for me"Sidman said. "And it means a really warm glow for a little while, until I have to sit down and keep writing. It's not making me any better of a writer, but it's helping with the morale I guess."

You can get a sense of Sidman's work, and of the Rick Allen illustrations in the book trailer below.