I’m British too (in that sense)… All who like poetry must be somewhat British! Even though I noticed belatedly that it was supposed to be Positivity week on ROL site. I think I clicked that box with my cheerful book endorsement.
The Minnesota poem was probably my favorite in the anthology. I looked up other poems by the author and was not equally moved- which speaks to your album-song distinction.
As to the 180 anthologies, I looked all over my house and couldn’t find either one. I did find Garrison Keillor’s GOOD POEMS, which has more older work than the Instagram anthology. But many good poems, as the title says!
Me too! I didn’t know her work prior to reading this poem. She died at her own hand which I didn’t mention in the piece as a way of honoring the best of what she left behind.
Other details- she was a finalist on the GREAT AMERICAN BAKING SHOW and her husband Blake Butler wrote a memoir about their relationship after her death.
I’ve not read his book nor seen the show so these are Internet details. But the poem gains even more poignancy in the light of those details.
Interesting project. I wonder how this compares to more conventionally assembled anthologies and brought to mind Billy Collins’ “poetry 180” anthology of one-a-day poems, although I found that one a little dull, with so much free verse.
I prefer individual poems to collections, just as I like individual songs and not albums, but this book does sound intriguing. I’ve never looked at Instagram, which often comes in for a kicking when mentioned by poetry guardians, but I do like that Minnesota poem. In the show The Mallorca Files, the detective Miranda says something like “I’m British. I can be miserable anywhere.” The poem reminded me of that.
I’m British too (in that sense)… All who like poetry must be somewhat British! Even though I noticed belatedly that it was supposed to be Positivity week on ROL site. I think I clicked that box with my cheerful book endorsement.
The Minnesota poem was probably my favorite in the anthology. I looked up other poems by the author and was not equally moved- which speaks to your album-song distinction.
As to the 180 anthologies, I looked all over my house and couldn’t find either one. I did find Garrison Keillor’s GOOD POEMS, which has more older work than the Instagram anthology. But many good poems, as the title says!
Thank you for your fun response!!!
I love the Molly Brodak lines, and I'm intrigued by your reference to her chaotic life.
Me too! I didn’t know her work prior to reading this poem. She died at her own hand which I didn’t mention in the piece as a way of honoring the best of what she left behind.
Other details- she was a finalist on the GREAT AMERICAN BAKING SHOW and her husband Blake Butler wrote a memoir about their relationship after her death.
I’ve not read his book nor seen the show so these are Internet details. But the poem gains even more poignancy in the light of those details.
Interesting project. I wonder how this compares to more conventionally assembled anthologies and brought to mind Billy Collins’ “poetry 180” anthology of one-a-day poems, although I found that one a little dull, with so much free verse.
I prefer individual poems to collections, just as I like individual songs and not albums, but this book does sound intriguing. I’ve never looked at Instagram, which often comes in for a kicking when mentioned by poetry guardians, but I do like that Minnesota poem. In the show The Mallorca Files, the detective Miranda says something like “I’m British. I can be miserable anywhere.” The poem reminded me of that.