Don Yorty

A Scene by Iris Shieh

… One way for an ESL teacher to get students to write in English is to have them translate a poem they know from their own language. Iris was in my poetry workshop summer of 2010. She introduced me to … Continue reading →

You Are Beautiful by Di Wu

25 Jul ’10

Every country has its radicals, thank goodness, most within a stone’s throw, and if you look, you will find them, like the truth. Even radicals can be in love, and feel its pangs, and write about it. Di Wu … Continue reading →

Exquisite Corpses: Wuhan Poetry 2010

25 Jul ’10

… The six photos above were picked at random. I first picked 13 because 13 is one of my favorite numbers, then I flipped a coin, tails (odds) and heads (even) to eliminate either 6 or 7 of them. It … Continue reading →

Eden writes a poem after Alice Notley (a beautiful thought)

24 Jul ’10

… Eden is my youngest student. She is 15 and still in high school. Like many 15 year olds, Eden is a joy: every moment is something new. I showed the class a poem by the poet Alice Notley called … Continue reading →

My Heart by Nicolas

21 Jul ’10

A poem in English written by someone whose first language isn’t English is often very beautiful with other skin over its bones. Like many of my students in China, Nicolas is a scientist. He’s going to Paris soon to … Continue reading →

On Passion by Richard He

21 Jul ’10

… This little poem with the fewest words possible says it all. … You see it raining and rushing Like beasts, and roaring You tremble at it and pray It keeps on pouring. … … Continue reading →

After the Rain: 7/20/10

20 Jul ’10

… Today it started to rain and thunder and then it stopped. After class, puddles were everywhere as I walked to my favorite restaurant. It was closed. For good. The man keeping guard in the gutted space spoke Chinese of … Continue reading →

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17 Jul ’10

… Grass, flowers and some tiny trees have grown through all the cracks and crevices of the bleachers on the Olympic Field. What does this mean? That no one sits here anymore to watch a game? If I had more … Continue reading →

First blog from Wuhan: 7/17/10

16 Jul ’10

… Good morning. I am in Wuhan, China at Wuhan University teaching American Cultural Studies and a workshop on English poetry, or I should say poetry that is written in English. I am planning to write daily (or almost daily) … Continue reading →

A Walk in the South Mountain, Early Spring

4 Jul ’10

… News in the world seems pretty bad these days, but spring is coming here to the South Mountain. Not really any blossoms yet, but there are some hard buds on the tips of the branches. No dandelions to dig … Continue reading →

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4 Jul ’10

… In the devastating cold early spring I watch the vultures glide from one side of The sky to the other. There’s a stalk of Dried up milkweed leaning over a log Uprooted with half a pod still on whose … Continue reading →

Shadows On The Rocks

24 Jun ’10

… Whether we want to admit it or not we are only shadows on the rocks. “Yes,” says the cricket. “Yes,” says the mouse. “You are only shadows on the rocks.” “No,” says the blossom wanting to come out. “No,” … Continue reading →