I'm always so joyful when I see how much my little bunny loves music—he folds his ears down and settles in for a calm, relaxed listen.
There is something about art that calms and "civilizes" beasts. I think it is so interesting to think of poetry in terms of evolution and as one of the qualities—and closely connected to many other qualities—that make our species and our societies what they are. South Dakota Poet Laureate David Allan Evans addresses this topic and more in a thoughtful interview as well as in his poetry. Art is connected to the way we thrive on being a part of a group; it’s part of the way we get others to trust, respect, and love us; and it’s part of the way we communicate who we are for our own benefit and for the benefit of the group. I am grateful that David chose us to be part of the group that he is benefiting; Mr. Evans has certainly earned my respect through his art. His thoughtful interview may give you new perspectives on how art is integrated into who we are as individuals and as a civilization.
Associate Editor Nicelle Davis brings us two breathtaking poets with extraordinary interviews this month. I still can’t get over Matt Mauch’s attestation in his interview with Nicelle that, on especially cold nights where he lives in Minnesota, a glass of water thrown into the air evaporates into a cloud before it hits the ground. That is magic like lightning bugs, and Matt’s poetry is even more compelling. And don’t miss the interview and poems of George Held, whose poems are cutting and bold.
Nicelle writes:
At the strike of midnight when "Auld Lang Syne" begins to play, a mix of sadness and joy overcomes me. I’m usually in tears by the time I get to Robert Burns’ lyric “we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne.” Oh how I love Robert Burns, that sentimental rebel.
The way I love a Robert Burns poem, I have enjoyed reading George Held and Matt Mauch.
Held and Mauch are rebellious and charming, like Burns. They lead me into an intensity of feeling about the subjects they choose to write about. Their poems also surprise me like a Robert Burns poem. For these reasons I have chosen these poets to help us usher in the new year.
Best to you all and the art you make in the new year!
Held and Mauch are rebellious and charming, like Burns. They lead me into an intensity of feeling about the subjects they choose to write about. Their poems also surprise me like a Robert Burns poem. For these reasons I have chosen these poets to help us usher in the new year.
Best to you all and the art you make in the new year!
Returning to the poetry column this month is Matthew Nadelson, with three new poems that are darkly, intimately, lovingly human. Mr. Nadelson also supplied us with an audio recording of a different version of one of his poems, and I’m pretty smitten with it. I love to hear a poet interpret his or her own work, and I love that Matthew set his version to music.
Melissa Schuppe gives us a chilling poem for this cold season. I wish we could always bring joy to the people we love, but Ms Schuppe reminds us that that is, heartbreakingly, not the case.
We’ve just begun 2011, and we like to reminisce and plan at the beginning of a year, though every day has countless beginnings, middles, and ends. It seems to me that, new year or not, it’s important for us to remember that being human is dark, lonely, and horrifying, but it is also brilliant, loving, and joyous. It’s important to consider where and what we come from, who we are, and who we can be—and to remember that we can be loved by a warm fireplace, and we can be freezing and alone, and all of us have the potential to be both. So I hope you will share with me my ongoing resolution, for this year and always: respect. Respect for ourselves, for our loved ones, for those we do not know or understand, for those we disagree with, respect. This is the way we move forward. Sharing art is one of the greatest manifestations of respect: artists must respect and trust the world with the deepest parts of themselves to publish their work. I am grateful to all of the artists who color our lives by contributing to our magazine, who paint mosaics on our city walls, who add habanero and cilantro to sorbet, who respect us enough to share their art with us. Cheers.