I reached out to some poets and writers who are working today to get some suggestions on how to read poetry for enjoyment, not for a book report.
Author: jfigy
I'm a writer, vegetarian, musician, francophile, and student at UIndy. I have a beautiful GF/editor, a big family, two rabbits, and a devil cat.
Originally published on City Pages: June 3, 2019 Hozier at the State Theatre in Minneapolis, June 2019 The end is nigh and Hozier doesn’t want anyone to forget it. At last night’s sold-out State Theatre show, the Irish singer-songwriter led the audience through a packed set list, spanning sounds from heavy blues-rock to folky acoustic tracks. He spoke … Continue reading At the State Theatre, Hozier reminds us to have fun because we’re all about to die
Originally published on City Pages: Thursday, October 4, 2018 Good Night Gold Dust. Photo by Dan Dinsmore Good Night Gold Dust couldn’t see where they were going. Barely outside of Mankato, they were driving through a snowstorm on the way to a January 2016 show at Icehouse. Colin Scharf (guitar and vocals) had grown excitable … Continue reading Ever wonder what a band from Mankato sounds like? Meet Good Night Gold Dust.
Originally published on City Pages: Friday, November 16, 2018 Elvis Costello and the Imposters at the University of Minnesota, 2018 What would happen if we called BS on Elvis Costello? No one who attended his three-hour, double-encore performance with the Imposters at the Northrop last night could do this about his music. And they likely … Continue reading Elvis Costello is a rock star whether he likes it or not
So many of us are staying at home to help limit the spread of COVID-19, and a lot of our to-read book piles are slowly shrinking. Quarantine is very important for flattening the curve, but it's definitely rough on local bookshops, which must remain closed to the public in Minnesota for now. Since libraries are … Continue reading Twin Cities bookstores that can help you get lit even during quarantine
This week, we lost Henry. He was a rabbit. He was our friend. There has been so much sadness in our little zoo of a house, but also a lot of remembrance. Anyone who's ever loved a "pet" (a term I dislike) for some time knows that they have a unique personality and tendency to … Continue reading 10 things to know about Henry
Bonnie Tyler: “Total Eclipse of the Heart” If I didn’t possess the voice of an angel, I wouldn’t attempt this song; if I didn’t attempt this song, I wouldn’t end up in the dark parking lot leaving another voicemail for my ex, Nigel, that he’ll probably never return. Hinder: “Lips of an Angel” I own … Continue reading What This Karaoke Song Is Really Saying
These thoughts will hopefully help you survive your creative writing education. I’ve tried to be broad enough that it will help no matter if you’re taking one-off classes at the local writing center, crossing off a gen-ed for your chemistry degree, or on the way to completing an MFA.
1: Thought Are roses still discounted the day after Valentine’s Day, if on Valentine’s Day there was a mass shooting? Or are those clipped stems, floating in a vat of water, still full price? After all, it’s a supply-and-demand thing—the way gun sales go up after a mass shooting—and either way, these people stand to … Continue reading 17 Thoughts & Prayers
The front room of my house is called the pawffice. It has a broad desk, a chair, three windows, a guitar, and a varying number of cats, depending on which spot they fancy that day, that hour, that instant. I used to have to share the pawffice. Stephanie and I both started to work from … Continue reading I have been spoiled
James Figy 