Artwork by Sandra Kleven One may feel an inclination to adore famous poets. To be impressed beyond ease of expression. To see the greatest of poets as nearly holy, and the greatest poems as personal touchstones. “You do not have to be good…” Mary Oliver “This is the way the world ends…” T. S. …
Yup’ik dancer at the Cama-i Festival in Bethel People with keen intelligence publish reviews of plays, books, concerts and movies. Their attention is scrupulous, their standards unwavering, as they reflect on each element of a piece: Is it art? Does the director meet the intention of the composer? Is the work derivative? Bla, bla, bla. …
Sandra Kleven: Acts of Attention: Lancing Wounds, Treating with Inquiry’s Ointment Read More »
The 11th issue of Cirque will be posted at www.cirquejournal.com (Volume 6, Number 1) on Winter Solstice, December 21. This release marks five years since Michael Burwell established Cirque, in order to give writers (and artists) of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest more places to publish their work – and as a vehicle to bring …
Frank Soos teaches the Art of the Essay We were delighted by the announcement that Frank Soos has been selected to serve as the next Alaska Writer Laureate. Frank has worked with many of our writers over the last year, helping them to to develop their work and ‘the art of the essay.’ He has …
The 49 Writers elves are hard at work behind the scenes in their quest to bring you the gift of a sensational spring season! We will announce the full schedule here next week and open registration on December 28. Meanwhile, we can tell you that the lineup includes a new course in spiritual writing from …
This post continues the discussion from Kleven’s post last week, Rural Alaska Lit: Poet as Witness. As an outsider writing about rural Alaska, I was conflicted about my right to speak at all. The idea of poet or writer as witness, would in time give a channel, a justification, for my words and perceptions. The …
Sandra Kleven In December of 1984, I flew out of Bellingham, WA, to take a job, in Bethel, AK. That was my first mistake. The second was bringing my entire family on this jaunt. Even in ‘84, it cost about $2000 to transport five people to the distant bush; once you brought them, it would …
Sandra Kleven: Rural Alaska Lit: Poet as Witness Read More »
Ken Post entertains us with a story about Scrabblewith an Alaskan twist What a great turnout at last night’s Resolve to Write gathering in Juneau—the energy and enthusiasm in the room were palpable! Member Sarah Isto provided the perfect setting and we thank her for welcoming Juneau’s writers to her home. Thanks too to 49 …
What a wonderful turnout for Joan Naviyuk Kane’s reading on New Year’s Eve! Thank you to all the poetry lovers who chose to see the old year out in this way, who were also treated to some fine music by local musician Michael Howard. Host Olena Davis provided the perfect setting for the event, and …
Requiem for the Kuskokwim It is cold and windows rattle with razors and hooks. Dread permeates light moments like a mean dog tied to a stove. Foreign to the territories, with tendered immunity, you walked through wild like a wraith. Jingling coins, coining jingles, sure to find another word for snow. Happy, you floundered there, …
