We received Lucy’s ashes yesterday. Unsure at first what to do with them, we’ve kept them since they are in a nameplated urn. She was part of our daily lives for eleven years and there’s unusual silence in the house. She served as a muse at times, odd as that sounds. I thought I’d share … Continue reading Mongrel Hearts
A highlight of my week was having Abraham Smith jump-start the visiting writers series I’m developing for my school. On the day he spoke his new book came out and we got to hear him read from his own work and from greats like Dylan Thomas. I hope my students enjoyed interacting with him as … Continue reading a new denomination ain’t a thing but a name
In order to hone my fiction chops, I decided to join The Five Hundred, a site that presents a prompt every month with the outcome being some form of flash fiction between 400-600 words. Next week, I’ll have a ghazal (based on a “bonus” 100 word prompt) and flash fiction piece called, “In the Cup … Continue reading you’re never too old to apprentice and 7+ pieces of audio inspiration
I have a poem and interview available at Driftwood Press. My previous post is a reflection on a Hemingway reading project that covered fourteen books. And now I have a two-hour delay at work. Not a bad way to start the new year. Continue reading a poem, an interview, some posts
“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” Hemingway, New York Journal-American (11 July 1961) I’m lucky enough to have at least one friend who will devote time to reading projects. We just finished our Hemingway list started a year-and-a-half ago. Our goal was similar to the Vonnegut project: … Continue reading a farewell to Papa, for now
For several years I have celebrated Day of the Dead by writing “calaveras literarias.” Some people write poems for loved ones, but another tradition is to write humorous “tombstones.” I write the latter–or try to. Hope you enjoy! Here Lies McClurg (2013) He grabbed a second warm cider– An excuse to sit down beside her. … Continue reading Tradition!
Originally posted on Eunoia Solstice:
I rarely get asked to write commemorative poems, but when I do I feel like I’m connecting to ancient traditions, to times when the bard’s song was a monument as important as any statuary. There’s also an interesting challenge in pleasing a specific audience rather than the imaginary, amorphous readers or… Continue reading He was not of an age, but for that one time!
I started the year with the intention of writing in this space more. I even had outlined topics through February. Obviously that didn’t happen. But here’s some of what did: Baby still can’t walk, but—like her dear old dad—has taken to climbing on couches, chairs, and tables. She likes to awkwardly bounce and shriek like … Continue reading Do I dare disturb the universe?
If there’s ever been a constant in my life, it’s been books. My grandparents had a massive collection and my mother and grandmother regularly took me to the library. I remember the day I was finally old enough to get my own card. It was exciting, particularly for such a shy and nerdy kid. Right … Continue reading I like big books and I cannot lie…
Stephen McClurg 