Link: How to Turn an Alligator into a Crack Addict

I could not make this up even if I tried. I’m not sure if this is tragically humorous or humorously tragic. There are laws in this country that dictate where people can smoke cigarettes; do we need to regulate where people smoke crack as well? Don’t take me seriously! I wonder if the [...]

My Dirty Little Secret: Pink Truth

I’m afraid to admit it, but I can’t keep this to myself. I have a dirty little secret. I love the Pink Truth website. Pink Truth, formerly known as Mary Kay Sucks, is a blog whose purpose is “is to provide information, opinions, and support to those looking for information about Mary Kay Cosmetics and [...]

Poetry Writing Tips: Creating Tension

Have you ever read one of those novels you couldn’t put down? You felt as though you had to finish it right then and there. You were hooked. You had to know, “Who dunnit?”. Besides a good plot, you were caught in the tension of the book. Good poetry has a way of generating [...]

Poetry: “The Season”

© 2006 by Dennis J. Colwell. All rights reserved. This post may not appear on another blog or website without the express written permission of the author.

“Death and taxes and childbirth! There’s never any convenient time for any of them!”
Margaret Mitchell
It is a reality that none of us can avoid. It is something to [...]

Who is Performance Poetry’s Audience?

Let’s cut right to the chase. The basic question is this: for whom are you performing? I’m pointing this question to those who do open mics and/or participate in poetry slams. The genesis for the question comes from my experience this evening.
I went to an under-21 poetry slam. Although this is not relevant to my [...]

The Honor of a Lifetime… So Far

Intoxicating. Exhausting. Humbling. Exciting.
At the risk of sounding like I’m breaking the hyperbolic barrier, I had the most incredible experiences today. One was an experience that I’ve previously had. The other was totally new and, admittedly, unexpected.
For this Thanksgiving, I wanted to do something totally different. Every year, the routine is pretty much the same: [...]

Should Poetry Slams Be Put to Sleep?

Carlos Gomez contends that what passes as poetry slams is broken and is need of either repair or replacement (my words, not his). I think his article is worth consideration, if for no other reason than this: audience applause and winning slams are not necessarily signs of artistic/poetic credibility.
This is one of those dilemmas that [...]