Don Yorty

In my words, November 11 – 17

… On Thursday morning I saw Lou Reed’s memorial announced in an AM NewYork a student had brought and decided to go on the spot. After class, I caught the 1 and headed north to Lincoln Center where the celebration … Continue reading →

In my words, November 4 – 10

30 Nov ’13

… In English we deal with the future by using nine helping verbs called the modals: will, shall, can, could, would, should, may, might and must. Only will and shall will ever happen; all the others are possibilities, the wouldas, … Continue reading →

In my words, October 28 – November 3

19 Nov ’13

… I can only say this in the present: the past is everywhere you look and obviously the older you get, the more of it there is. As I was waiting for the L train yesterday reading some graffiti on … Continue reading →

In my words, October 21 – 27

10 Nov ’13

… Walking to class through Tompkins Square, I see red roses in the brisk air. I’ve been thinking about the present because that is what we will be talking about in class and here it is, a blooming rose. Although … Continue reading →

The Monkey at 9th and C

4 Nov ’13

… I’m not exactly sure when the monkey appeared on my apartment building’s wall. I look at him every day coming and going. No one has desecrated him yet. People walk by but they don’t destroy him. Art often appears … Continue reading →

In my words, October 14 – 20

27 Oct ’13

… I’ve been putting some chapbooks together, Sonnets 1 – 60. Working on the books myself and printing them out is helpful for the final editing whenever that may be. Just thinking of the poems in the hands of others … Continue reading →

In my words, October 7 – 13

21 Oct ’13

… On Tuesday afternoon I met Françoise on Rector Street at the R train’s downtown entrance because I wanted her to see the 9/11 Memorial before she returned to France. My friend lived, worked and wrote a novel in the … Continue reading →

Fucking

11 Oct ’13

… … for John and Ruth A bedroom. North Philadelphia. 1972 Ouvrez-moi cette porte où je frappe en pleurant. —Apollinaire Open this door where I knock weeping. … I I will come to you with a candle burning light a … Continue reading →

Sweet Mary

11 Oct ’13

….. I lived at home as a young man full of fears that paralyze I was a believer in truth and the truth was a lie then I slept with Sweet Mary and she made me realize there are more … Continue reading →

Sonnets 61 – 120

9 Oct ’13

… … 61 Things are often more beautiful at a distance, but not you. The closer the more inevitable you become. Before I thought beauty was what I saw, that the superficial awed, but I was wrong. Your skin is … Continue reading →

In my words, September 30 – October 6

7 Oct ’13

… What do you do when you don’t know what you’re doing? The first thing that comes to mind is to connect with something you’ve already done. The glass you drank from last night is dirty. Wash it. In the … Continue reading →

On Some Collages by Joseph Cornell

6 Oct ’13

… I like to see things as clearly as I can. I’ll slice anything you give me quicker than a Chinaman and more cleanly— Bloody meats and radishes a penis or a peach. Can’t you take the picture just like … Continue reading →