BETTER LATE THAN NEVER


Remember, read the batches of poems with urgency. You
can either number them into a new order or literally
unstapled them and put them back together in the new
order you think works best. Highlight what's strong
(what's working) either by using a HIGHLIGHTER or
by simply making check marks beside the line or
image or whatever that works. Also edit the poems.
If it's PERFECT literally write on it "I can't find a thing
to change!" (I'm serious.) But if there are weak lines,
places where the poem drags, extraneous seeming
content, overwrought language CROSS IT OUT.
Perhaps write a note if the crossed out stuff needs to
be replaced, but consider most poems can live
WITHOUT everything we pack them with, which is to
say we tend to include our scaffolding in our poems.
I want you to be able to speak to the poems' meaning(s)
etc. in class, but use your pen to suggest alternatives,
or to highlight what's kicking ass. An occasional "Reminds
me of ____ _______ (some great poet) is helpful.
We want to encourage, overall, but if we suggest
a poem that's bad can't get good, and more to the
point a poem that's good can't get better.

Order: Jeff's poems first.
2. Lee's poems
3. Meghan's poems
4. Nicole's poems
5. Hannah's poems
6. Danny's poems

I'll talk about Clayton's book, and the schedule, and bring
in a bunch of chapbooks and talk about them a little
more, and we'll peruse magazines so you can pick between
three to five to send poems to.

Thanks for tuning in.