Photo caption: Taras Shevchenko (1814-1861), Ukraine’s beloved poet, playwright, and painter is honored in this bronze statue installed in 1960 in Washington, D.C. and dedicated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Its inscription says it is “Dedicated to the Liberation, Freedom, and Independence of All Captive Nations.” Shevchenko spent many years imprisoned for his pro-Ukrainian sovereignty […]
Poetic Interference by Kathleen Tarr Read More »
Merton’s coming to Alaska in that beast of a year, the “year of everything horrible” as he referred to it, is a little-known, under-told story. The publication of my book, We Are All Poets Here, coincides with the 50th anniversary of Merton’s Alaska journey, which also happens to be the 50th anniversary of his death. Alaska was one of the last places on earth he saw.
Thomas Merton & the Art of the Journal If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men—you may make some money and you may give someone a little joy and you may make a noise in the world, for a little while. If you write only
Guest Blogger Kathleen Witkowska Tarr | Thomas Merton & the Art of the Journal Read More »
A Harvest of Wisdom—Lessons from a First Book I signed the contract for my first book in an east Anchorage home exactly one year and ten months ago, on December 16, 2015 at 10:30 p.m. in the middle of a Christmas party while nervously sitting in the host couple’s master bedroom. During the holiday cheer
Guest Blogger Kathleen Witkowska Tarr | A Harvest of Wisdom—Lessons from a First Book Read More »
Listening to a Literary Monk: Balancing Writing with Silence Thomas Merton chose to live on the margins. As an isolated Trappist monk, he joined a strict and austere religious order as a deep and profound act of cultural resistance. He entered the Abbey of Gethsemani on December 10, 1941 at age 26, a newly confirmed
Guest Blogger Kathleen Witkowska Tarr | Listening to a Literary Monk Read More »
I’ll admit that I never really nailed all of the grammar rules until I became a high school English teacher. I firmly believe that the best way to learn something deeply is to teach it to someone else. Good teachers spend time considering their subject from all angles, pulling it apart, and putting it back
Those Who Can, Teach Read More »
I have cast my fate with Krakow, at least for the next six months. When I left the homeland in late March, everyone wished me well on my solo journey to Poland, but a few people expressed concern because of the political unrest in nearby Ukraine. The U.S.
Kathleen Tarr: Taking the Circum-Poland Route Read More »
For the next six months or more, I’ll be living solo in Krakow, Poland. I don’t know a single person in Poland and have never been. As a destination, it hardly makes anyone’s top-twenty travel list, though it’s bordered by seven countries, including Ukraine. I seem to be drawn to countries with cataclysmic and tragic
Kathleen Tarr: Poland as Muse Read More »
FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 6-10:30pm. It’s Write-a-thon time! Save the date and get the details here. This is our premiere fundraising event of the year and a great way to show your support for the literary arts in Alaska, while working on your own contribution to the state’s growing body of literature! It was such a treat
Linda: 49 Writers Weekly Roundup Read More »
49 Writers members get creative at Tutka Bay Lodge Coming down from last weekend’s Tutka Bay Writers Retreat (for it really is a literary high), we are grateful to all the writers who participated, experimented, shared their work, and connected with new friends in Alaska’s writing community. Retreat leader Ron Carlson provided so many ways
Linda: 49 Writers Weekly Roundup Read More »
