Author Archives: Don Yorty

The irrepressible Kristine Byrne

I met Kristine Byrne years ago on Facebook. When she was in New York, she visited Akram and me in our apartment, and we had a good time talking and eating some Mexican takeout. She lives in Ireland, has a … Continue reading →

Amy Barone reads from Defying Extinction

14 Jan ’23

Travel, a trip somewhere new, or a return to a land you love, always restores body and soul. Poetry, like travel, can do that too. In fact, I was recently inspired reading Defying Extinction, a new book of poems by … Continue reading →

Milkweed Sonnets

4 Jan ’23

Among my sonnets are eight that are about milkweed; I include them below for you to read whenever you have the time. Hope you enjoy. 86 As I put my nose in milkweed blossoms their resemblance to lilacs remindingme … Continue reading →

Alicia Ostriker reads from The Old Woman, the Tulip, and the Dog

21 Dec ’22

Alicia Ostriker’s The Old Woman, the Tulip, and the Dog begins with a quote by Gertrude Stein: A very important thing is not to make up your mind that you are any one thing. The Old Woman, the Tulip, and … Continue reading →

Jerome Sala reads from How Much?

19 Dec ’22

The first poem in How Much? questions the value of poetry. Why does that Urinal signed by Marcel Duchamp continue to go up in price while the poems of Frank O’Hara do not? while the other arts add valueto … Continue reading →

Pathetic Literature at Karma Books, a reading with Eileen Myles, 11/30/22

1 Dec ’22

I attended the reading for the anthology, Pathetic Literature, that had been organized by its editor, Eileen Myles at Karma Books on East Third Street near Avenue A. The place was packed. Besides Eileen, Jerome Sala, Sparrow, and Morgan Bassichis … Continue reading →

Jeff Wright reads from his Top Ten

1 Dec ’22

Last month, I saw Jeff Wright read at the Tompkins Square Library and really enjoyed the poems. He read from several of his books, and also a poem he had recently written. I asked him if I could come over … Continue reading →

Schneeman, Savage and Angel

25 Nov ’22

… Ken Angel Davis gave me a postcard he made out of a poem by Tom Savage on one side and a drawing by George Schneeman on the other. And I am sending it along to you. …

A Reading at the Jefferson Market Library

21 Nov ’22

Last Saturday, when I attended a poetry reading at the Jefferson Market Library, I recorded the whole thing. My friend, the teacher and poet, Scott Hightower, had curated it and did the introductions as well. The poets, Skye Jackson, … Continue reading →