Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Haiku Workshop

I'll be offering a haiku workshop at the South Fork Natural History Museum, in Bridgehampton, on Sun., July 17, from 10 AM-12 noon. Here is the announcement on the museum website, www.sofo.com:

Haiku Workshop

7/17/2011 · 10 am - Saturday
Bridgehampton
Leader: George Held, SoFo Board of Directors

George Held, a widely published poet, will teach the philosophy and practice of the haiku, a concise Japanese verse form that focuses on an instant in nature. The SoFo Museum and outdoor surroundings offer many opportunities for a “haiku moment,” when the writer has an insight into a natural object that can be expressed in about 12-17 syllables. Only a pen or pencil and a small notepad are needed. For adults and youngsters 16 and older. Limited enrollment, reserve now!

To make a reservation for this program, please call the museum at 631-537-9735.

Photo: Haiku master Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)


If you can make it, that would be cool. Please share with anyone who might be interested.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Comment on "Barter"

"Barter" has evoked some valuable memories, none more telling than this by my friend Priscilla in Sag Harbor:

     Each summer I stayed with my grandparents in Freeland, Michigan. It was a working farm and one of the old fashioned kind. We had thrashing in late summer, with the straw, wheat and oats separated by this huge dinosaur-like machine - ending up with a huge strawstack. All the farmers around would contribute a team, a man, etc., which would be returned in kind. After work in the field gathering up the bundles of wheat, etc., before a late lunch, they would wash off in the big laundry tub - outside under the big maple tree - with their sunburned faces except where their hair had hung down, or the straw hats had covered - this with their sweaty, blue work shirts, and huge brown arms.with rolled up sleeves, The dining room table would hold some 15 "men" and the kids would stand around waiting for their turn to eat - expecting all to be gone - this while the women fussed around in the kitchen and served when necessary. Of course there was food to spare. Yes, this was the mid-west American in the 1930s. Similar to the spirit to a Brueghel painting. Priscilla   

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

New Poem online

Please check out a new poem of mine at

http://www.muddyriverpoetryreview.com//George%20Held.pdf

This poem is included in a chapbook manuscript called "Dog Hill Poems."

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

New Work

For my poem "The rage in you," in the online journal FIRST LITERARY REVIEW - EAST, please click on http://www.rulrul.4mg.com/.

Another poem of mine, "Ernest," is in the current issue of BARBARIC YAWP, which is published in Russell, NY, way upstate. Since the '90s, the YAWP has published other poems by me, as well as an interview, a column on NYC poetry readings, and my elegy on underground fixture Dave Church. Church was a regular in the YAWP, which is the baby of John Berbrich, poet & writer, and his wife, Nancy, artist & writer. A single copy of this always provocative little magazine is only $4.00:  3700 County Route 24, Russell, NY 13684.