Infernoland!

that's right. i'm a minor demon running an amusement park in the fifth circle of hell. shit, at times this semester it has certainly seemed like that is the case. but alas, after tonight's workshop, I am officially one class (plus) away from my MFA. anti-climatic? sure, but don't we all need something to look forward to these days?

anyway, here's something to look forward to: i just passed my username & password for this ol' nook of hell to your friend & mine, a pillar of Midwestern virtue, Woody Loverude (of Glamour Arrives fame). as i mentioned a couple days ago, he has, for the moment, abandoned his blog due to lack of available time. point is, now he has access to this blog (if he chooses to use it) & i am certain things will get severe & vastly more interesting the minute he shows up. i hope you're all still chanting his name-- WOOD-Y! WOOD-Y!

i'm also chanting his name 'cause he sent me a copy of his MFA thesis manuscript (speaking of being done) & i must say i am pretty moved. hopefully most of the poems will get out into the world via journals or, satan willing, in book form. he is my brother & my hero & one of the reasons i always feel compelled to write. so thank you woody. & speaking of done, tonight is (most unfortunately) Ed Roberson's last class at CCC. while i am always compelled to write, what usually has come out is rarely worth a damn. but thanks to Ed, i have learned to write. again. the way i want to write. so let me take a moment to publicly thank Ed Roberson for helping me to be more articulate, being incredibly generous with his poetic eye & ears, & his deep wisdom, and for raising the bar for me & i think everyone he comes in contact with, both as a craftsman & as a human being. my greatest hope for the summer is that he will be around the city awhile longer & hopefully we can keep in touch. he is easily the most significant influence on my work & in my opinion, one of the best poets alive in this country. probably anywhere, in any language. even in Infernoland.

sadly, though, i am sure his ticket's not been punched for this ride. hell has no place for that man. & he will be missed. woody & i will be here for the duration, so stayed tuned, true believers! things are about to get a whole lot more interesting in hell. who are the people in your neighborhood? bring 'em down for discount thursdays!!

oh yeah, we need a catchy nickname for woody if he's gonna be working here, like "the foundling" or "rc cola" or as Sharks call me, "the truth." suggestions welcome!

end transmission.