E Y E W E A R, THE BLOG - FREEDOM MEANS BEING UNAFRAID TO WRITE WHAT YOU THINK

Tony Lewis-Jones , the UK poet behind Various Artists , a special e-newsletter for poets, commisioned a 500-word review. Here is the review, in full. INSIDE THE OUTSIDE AN ANTHOLOGY OF AVANT-GARDE AMERICAN POETS EDITED BY ROSEANNE RITZEMA Presa Press, 2006 Review by Todd Swift It is hard to imagine something smaller than “small press” poetry and poets who proudly assert their association to COSMEP (Committee of Small Magazines Publishers & Editors). I recall somewhere hearing that Michael Donaghy used to call experimental poets “ampersands” – well, these would be poets from the firm of Ampersand & Sons. I actually share some of the aims and concerns of this anthology, at least as outlined in the rather brief (two-page) Introduction by editor Roseanne Ritzema . I certainly agree with much (but not all) of the statement: “The large, commercial publishers, owned & operated by huge communications conglomerates, have published only what is deemed a safe investment, predictably ...

As Easter approaches, the revelation that Titanic director James Cameron has helped to uncover the actual burial place of Jesus - and his supposed wife Mary Magdalene - is sure to raise some eyebrows, if not other body parts - among practicing Christians. Protests are already being heard, since for most people who believe in Jesus, the idea that He suffered on the cross, was buried and rose again on the third day, is of canonical importance. I am no theologian, nor was meant to be, but wish to suggest that it is high time we moved beyond a forensic ideal of resurrection for the body of Christ. I do not mean the actual divine miracle should be newly interpreted as a merely useful symbol. I mean that, in fact, the "body of Christ" is more aptly understood as His teachings, and his works. More fully, the spirit of the letter of Christ's law, graced with a tremendous genius for compassion, tolerance and indifference to power's corruption, is already a body resistant,...

Hollywood has played the villain (see photo) for too long - albeit a good-looking one. Finally, they have given Mr. Martin Scorsese the Oscar for Best Director (and Best Film) for a motion picture ( The Departed ) that Eyewear , on its general release last year, described as one of the best of its decade. See the review by clicking on the "film" label. Fans of great direction, and Taxi Driver , can now relax, safe in the knowledge a cinematic genius has been recognized in his time.

Eyewear's nostalgia knows no bounds.... On Sunday, February 23, 1997, I hosted a Vox Hunt cabaret show at the Cabaret Music Hall on St. Laurent Blvd. in Montreal, featuring writer Evelyn Lau , "MTV Poet of the Year Regie Cabico , local slam champ Emily S. Downing ", as well as musicians Bionik , The Buzz Blast-Off Trio , and violinist Jonathan Crow , performing the work of Fritz Kreisler . I recall sharing cigarettes with Heather O'Neill that evening, backstage. She had run to a shop to get them for us. She must have been 22 or so. Already brilliant and writing then, she recently published a highly popular new Canadian novel. I am happy for her.

Eyewear is very pleased to welcome Kathryn Maris as this week's featured poet. Maris is an American poet based in London. She was educated at Columbia University and Boston University and has held fellowships at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown and Yaddo. Her poems have appeared in American journals including Poetry and Ploughshares ; in the British magazines Magma and Poetry London ; on websites such as Slate , Verse Daily , and Poetry Daily ; and in two anthologies. She regularly publishes essays and reviews in British and American periodicals and recently edited, with Maurice Riordan, a British and Irish poetry supplement for the American magazine Agni . She has just published her first collection, The Book of Jobs , which was launched in London on Auden's centenary birthday, a few days ago. I think this is a very fine debut collection (from Four Way Books, see link below), which emphasizes Maris's wit and sense of argumentative, stylish flow. Poems dash forw...

Kingston University – School of Humanities – Field of Creative Writing Creative Writing Reading Series IS PROUD TO PRESENT TODD SWIFT (POET) WEDS 28 FEBRUARY, 5-6.30 pm, in town house 111 OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED

In a canonical alignment of great beauty, today, Ash Wednesday, is one hundred years since Wystan Hugh Auden (pictured) was born, in York, North Yorkshire, in 1907. Some words of his below... We look round for something, no matter what, to inhibit Our self-reflection, and the obvious thing for that purpose Would be some great suffering. So, once we have met the Son, We are tempted ever after to pray to the Father; "Lead us into temptation and evil for our sake." They will come, all right, don't worry; probably in a form That we do not expect, and certainly with a force More dreadful than we can imagine. In the meantime There are bills to be paid, machines to keep in repair, Irregular verbs to learn, the Time Being to redeem From insignificance. The happy morning is over, The night of agony still to come; the time is noon: When the Spirit must practice his scales of rejoicing Without even a hostile audience, and the Soul endure A silence that is neither for nor against he...