Thursday, May 9, 2013
Cathedral Village Arts Fest Readings
Monday, May 6, 2013
the snow just disappeared
Slowly settling into life back home. Nice to be around family and friends, and an adorable niece for Nathan which arrived only two days after we got back.
We've been getting stuff ready for the move to Iowa.. hoping to get down there in the next couple months to find a place to live. I am really looking forward to living in the midwest, and only 3.5 hours from Chicago. I am interested in checking out the town as well... What is it like to live somewhere surrounded by poets and pie milkshakes?
I got to test out some of new poems a few nights ago at a writers' guild reading, which was a bit last minute. I also have a reading coming up at the Cathedral Village Arts Fest Literary Tent. It's on May 25th and I'll post when I know the time I hit the stage. I always love checking out the street fair so I'm really excited I get to read this year.
One of the poems I wrote at Sage Hill last year has also been accepted to an upcoming issue of Carousel... It's a sonnet and my first non-riddle poem published since 2011.
Today I'm waiting for some fedex stuff from Iowa and thinking about getting some frames for a few postcards of masked carnival figures we got in Venice..
We've been getting stuff ready for the move to Iowa.. hoping to get down there in the next couple months to find a place to live. I am really looking forward to living in the midwest, and only 3.5 hours from Chicago. I am interested in checking out the town as well... What is it like to live somewhere surrounded by poets and pie milkshakes?
I got to test out some of new poems a few nights ago at a writers' guild reading, which was a bit last minute. I also have a reading coming up at the Cathedral Village Arts Fest Literary Tent. It's on May 25th and I'll post when I know the time I hit the stage. I always love checking out the street fair so I'm really excited I get to read this year.
One of the poems I wrote at Sage Hill last year has also been accepted to an upcoming issue of Carousel... It's a sonnet and my first non-riddle poem published since 2011.
Today I'm waiting for some fedex stuff from Iowa and thinking about getting some frames for a few postcards of masked carnival figures we got in Venice..
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Visiting Rilke's Muzot Castle and grave- Feb 4 3013
(Reposted from me and Nathan's travel blog.. A moment of reflection as I begin to head home to Regina...)
Our reason for coming to switzerland was to visit Muzot castle in Veyras where Rainer Maria Rilke wrote Duino Elegies and Sonnets to Orpheus and lived out his last days in solitude.
We love these poems and since the castle where Rilke lived is somewhat notorious we decided we had to see it for ourselves. This involved taking the train from lausanne and then taking a bus from the Sierre station up the mountain to the commune of Veyras. There were only three of us on the bus and since the two of us missed our stop (no doubt distracted by the huge mountains around us), the driver kindly pointed us to the collection of houses that distinguished Veyras from the next village on the mountainside.
In the distance, we saw a huge castle atop a cliff surrounded by vineyards. The towering castle looked so gothic and romantic it seemed only a poet could live there. Then we turned around and saw Muzot castle, a tiny stone house across from Muzot car garage. Somehow, this humble yet elegant dwelling seemed to fit Rilke even better, and we approached the stone walls of the yard.
We traversed the castle a few times and took photos. Probably the coolest thing to see was the signs with Rilke's name and presence amidst the people living out their lives in surrounding homes. Rilke really had a great view from the tiny windows overlooking the mountains. It would be nice to have a little space to work and write, I think.
Then, somewhat on a whim, we decided to visit the site of Rilke's grave in the nearby town of Raron. We hopped on the train and arrived just as children were walking home from school, taunting one another in German. We looked up to see a huge castle church atop of cliff overlooking the entire town. This time, the impressive tower was our destination. We walked below the cliff to a parking lot where signs directed us to Rilke Musee. We were transported from a modern town to an old village with stone walkways and teetering houses. It was like being in a movie set except people lived here.
We then walked up a steep path to the church tower, stopping to take photos along the way. Out of breath, with wind blowing, we reached the top. The snow up here was deep and temperature seemed to drop five degrees. We found Rilke's grave on the other side of the church below the tower. Rilke really picked an excellent view. We could see the entire town below us and the huge mountains surrounding us.
We spent a little time taking in our surroundings before the wind picked up and we decided to head down. The blowing wind and snow felt like a dream. Halfway down the path we met another pilgrim likely visiting Rilke as well.. I'm glad we made the trip. I was reading Rilke's letters on the train back. He wrote about visiting graves:
“I always spent in graveyards, by unknown graves often and often by the graves of relatives and ancestors, by graves which I couldn't explain and upon which I had to meditate in the growing winter nights. It was probably then that the thought first came to me that every hour we live is an hour of death for someone, and that there are probably even more hours of death than hours of the living. Death has a dial with infinitely many figures."
Our reason for coming to switzerland was to visit Muzot castle in Veyras where Rainer Maria Rilke wrote Duino Elegies and Sonnets to Orpheus and lived out his last days in solitude.
We love these poems and since the castle where Rilke lived is somewhat notorious we decided we had to see it for ourselves. This involved taking the train from lausanne and then taking a bus from the Sierre station up the mountain to the commune of Veyras. There were only three of us on the bus and since the two of us missed our stop (no doubt distracted by the huge mountains around us), the driver kindly pointed us to the collection of houses that distinguished Veyras from the next village on the mountainside.
In the distance, we saw a huge castle atop a cliff surrounded by vineyards. The towering castle looked so gothic and romantic it seemed only a poet could live there. Then we turned around and saw Muzot castle, a tiny stone house across from Muzot car garage. Somehow, this humble yet elegant dwelling seemed to fit Rilke even better, and we approached the stone walls of the yard.
We traversed the castle a few times and took photos. Probably the coolest thing to see was the signs with Rilke's name and presence amidst the people living out their lives in surrounding homes. Rilke really had a great view from the tiny windows overlooking the mountains. It would be nice to have a little space to work and write, I think.
Then, somewhat on a whim, we decided to visit the site of Rilke's grave in the nearby town of Raron. We hopped on the train and arrived just as children were walking home from school, taunting one another in German. We looked up to see a huge castle church atop of cliff overlooking the entire town. This time, the impressive tower was our destination. We walked below the cliff to a parking lot where signs directed us to Rilke Musee. We were transported from a modern town to an old village with stone walkways and teetering houses. It was like being in a movie set except people lived here.
We then walked up a steep path to the church tower, stopping to take photos along the way. Out of breath, with wind blowing, we reached the top. The snow up here was deep and temperature seemed to drop five degrees. We found Rilke's grave on the other side of the church below the tower. Rilke really picked an excellent view. We could see the entire town below us and the huge mountains surrounding us.
We spent a little time taking in our surroundings before the wind picked up and we decided to head down. The blowing wind and snow felt like a dream. Halfway down the path we met another pilgrim likely visiting Rilke as well.. I'm glad we made the trip. I was reading Rilke's letters on the train back. He wrote about visiting graves:
“I always spent in graveyards, by unknown graves often and often by the graves of relatives and ancestors, by graves which I couldn't explain and upon which I had to meditate in the growing winter nights. It was probably then that the thought first came to me that every hour we live is an hour of death for someone, and that there are probably even more hours of death than hours of the living. Death has a dial with infinitely many figures."
Sunday, March 24, 2013
some thoughts from vienna
There's been so much happening these past few months that sometimes it's been difficult to look ahead, while other times I've felt scattered and unfocused on the present. My trip has found me in berlin, krakow, prague, nuremberg-- cities filled with so much history that they seem the physical embodiments of being pulled in two directions. Pictures and thoughts on visiting these places can be found at nathanandcassidy.tumblr.com
Early in the trip I found myself drafting a lot of poems, which has slowed a bit now that we're moving place to place so quickly. I'm looking forward to my independent artist grant beginning in May, when I'll settle into writing a new manuscript. On the publishing front, some of my riddle poems can be found in the new issue of Vallum magazine. Vallum is a Montreal-based journal which I'm really excited to appear in. This issue is magic-themed-- I hope to find some trickery within!
I've also been doing a lot of reading. Nathan pointed me in the direction of the hilarious George Saunders' Tenth of December. These stories are disturbing, funny, and insanely well-crafted. I've just started Rilke's Notebooks of Malte Brigge, which are proving relevant to my surroundings-- Brigge spends a number of pages describing the unicorn tapestries at Cluny in Paris. I've also re-read L.M. Montgomery's Anne series, with new appreciation for Montgomery's wisdom and irony. As I read so many great books I'm inspired by the many different ways and forms storytelling can take.
In an earlier post I wrote a little about applying for MFA programs, and I now know the results of most of these. In January I was rejected by program after program-- some really amazing schools that would have been great to attend. The first weeks of February did not bring much better news and I started imagining alternate plans for next fall. Then mid February I received word that the University of Iowa wanted me to come study poetry with them. I've hoped to attend Iowa for many years and was thrilled to get such good news! This was followed by more rejections, but also fiction acceptances at a few schools. It was very difficult to choose a program--and a genre to focus on-- but I have decided to study at Iowa next fall.
I'm hoping for a relaxing last month of my trip before heading home. There's a few readings--by myself and friends-- coming up in Regina. I'll post about these when I get the info.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Keats' grave and House
While in Europe, I've decided to keep this blog poetry-related and post my other photos and things to nathanandcassidy.tumblr.com
In Rome, though, we did have the chance to visit Keats' grave, and Shelley's grave, as well as the house where Keats died, which is now a museum for Keats and friends.
The graves were located in the Old Protestant Graveyard in Rome, easily found since it's located by a huge pyramid. Keats' grave is found in the corner of the cemetery. It shows a lyre and is not inscribed with his name or age. It instead reads "Young English Poet" along with the line "Here Lies One Whose Name Was Writ In Water."
The place was filled with sprawling cats. A lot of these old ruins and cemeteries seem to double as cat sanctuaries. Shelley's grave was located in the middle of the cemetery below a stone tower. The inscription struck me as riddlic and stayed with me a while after leaving the cemetery.
We visited Keats' House a few days later, after coming across it by chance. It's located right beside the Spanish Steps, which Keats' liked to look at while he was ill in bed. The rooms of the apartment look out onto the steps and the chatter of tourists is heard amidst ringing of bells.
The house contained much miscellany on Keats, Shelley, Mary Shelley, Byron, and even poems by Thomas Hardy and Oscar Wilde all concerning Rome and Keats. Keats and Shelley traded locks of hair, which were on display, and there was also a lock of MIlton's hair, which Keats had apparently prized. The many bookshelves housed first editions of Keats' work and there were letters from everyone in his circle. Some of the coolest things found were a wax carnival mask belonging to Keats, and a piece of Shelley's rib as well as the tin that held the incense used in his cremation. There was also a painting of Shelley composing a poem in the Carcalla Baths, which I found amazing since I had visited those same baths that morning (but composed no poem therein). The museum provided plenty of information on Keats' home life and his struggles with negative reviews of his first works. It is insane to think that Keats was only 25 when he died and is easily considered one of the greatest poets. Yet his grave lies in a lonely corner of a graveyard all the same..
In Rome, though, we did have the chance to visit Keats' grave, and Shelley's grave, as well as the house where Keats died, which is now a museum for Keats and friends.
The graves were located in the Old Protestant Graveyard in Rome, easily found since it's located by a huge pyramid. Keats' grave is found in the corner of the cemetery. It shows a lyre and is not inscribed with his name or age. It instead reads "Young English Poet" along with the line "Here Lies One Whose Name Was Writ In Water."
The place was filled with sprawling cats. A lot of these old ruins and cemeteries seem to double as cat sanctuaries. Shelley's grave was located in the middle of the cemetery below a stone tower. The inscription struck me as riddlic and stayed with me a while after leaving the cemetery.
We visited Keats' House a few days later, after coming across it by chance. It's located right beside the Spanish Steps, which Keats' liked to look at while he was ill in bed. The rooms of the apartment look out onto the steps and the chatter of tourists is heard amidst ringing of bells.
The house contained much miscellany on Keats, Shelley, Mary Shelley, Byron, and even poems by Thomas Hardy and Oscar Wilde all concerning Rome and Keats. Keats and Shelley traded locks of hair, which were on display, and there was also a lock of MIlton's hair, which Keats had apparently prized. The many bookshelves housed first editions of Keats' work and there were letters from everyone in his circle. Some of the coolest things found were a wax carnival mask belonging to Keats, and a piece of Shelley's rib as well as the tin that held the incense used in his cremation. There was also a painting of Shelley composing a poem in the Carcalla Baths, which I found amazing since I had visited those same baths that morning (but composed no poem therein). The museum provided plenty of information on Keats' home life and his struggles with negative reviews of his first works. It is insane to think that Keats was only 25 when he died and is easily considered one of the greatest poets. Yet his grave lies in a lonely corner of a graveyard all the same..
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
The art of listening
I want to focus completely on perceiving the world around me, and listening to the quiet voices as well as the louder ones. I want to watch the mannerisms of those passing by, feel the tilt and lull of others' voices in unfamiliar languages, accept the conflicting emotions that accompany each relationship. I want to remove the perceiver from perceiving, and if this can't be accomplished--then I hope to accept my emotions as honestly and compassionately as I can. I want to banish impatience, and give time instead to waiting, and watching, and becoming bored. I want to wonder about others, and to wander unknown places, and to observe this world as completely and greedily as I can.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
pre-trip
I've been feeling so nervous lately. My stomach has been twisting, I think in part, in preparation for this trip me and Nathan are about to go on. We've been gathering things. New glasses for both of us. Spending time with both our families. Today is my second last day of work at the library. Then we leave on the ninth (gulp). My brother will be completely finished the semester by the time we get back. I'll know if I'm going away to grad school, and whether we're moving to the states.
We saw the Hobbit twice. I'm re-reading Etty Hillesum's diaries. Read a book on the history of Auschwitz as a place. Primo Levi. Beginning to get a sense of things. Found the 1945 Norton editions of Rilke's letters on ebook. I think this is the big one I'll read while on the road. Etty wrote about Rilke a lot. He was a comfort to her, and she hurried to finish his letters before leaving for Westerbork. One of our big destinations is the castle where he wrote Duino Elegies. I also want to find the diary he kept of his own travels, perhaps to read when I'm in some of the same places.
Etty writes "I always return to Rilke. It is strange to think that someone so frail, who did most of his writing within protective castle walls would perhaps have been broken by the circumstances in which we now live. Is that not further testimony that life is finely balanced? Evidence that, in peaceful times and under favorable circumstances, sensitive artists may search for the purest and most fitting expression of their deepest insights so that, during more turbulent and debilitating times, others can turn to them for support and a ready response to their bewildered questions?"
I think it goes the other way, as well. As Etty says, "We should be willing to act as a balm for all wounds."
I'm planning on keeping a journal, and then a travel blog for family and friends. If you want to follow along, we'll be posting images and updates here: nathanandcassidy.tumblr.com
Might post a couple things here as well!
Got my issue of Arc in the mail. Cover looks like this, and can be found at Chapters.
Hope everyone had a great December vacation~~
We saw the Hobbit twice. I'm re-reading Etty Hillesum's diaries. Read a book on the history of Auschwitz as a place. Primo Levi. Beginning to get a sense of things. Found the 1945 Norton editions of Rilke's letters on ebook. I think this is the big one I'll read while on the road. Etty wrote about Rilke a lot. He was a comfort to her, and she hurried to finish his letters before leaving for Westerbork. One of our big destinations is the castle where he wrote Duino Elegies. I also want to find the diary he kept of his own travels, perhaps to read when I'm in some of the same places.
Etty writes "I always return to Rilke. It is strange to think that someone so frail, who did most of his writing within protective castle walls would perhaps have been broken by the circumstances in which we now live. Is that not further testimony that life is finely balanced? Evidence that, in peaceful times and under favorable circumstances, sensitive artists may search for the purest and most fitting expression of their deepest insights so that, during more turbulent and debilitating times, others can turn to them for support and a ready response to their bewildered questions?"
I think it goes the other way, as well. As Etty says, "We should be willing to act as a balm for all wounds."
I'm planning on keeping a journal, and then a travel blog for family and friends. If you want to follow along, we'll be posting images and updates here: nathanandcassidy.tumblr.com
Got my issue of Arc in the mail. Cover looks like this, and can be found at Chapters.
Hope everyone had a great December vacation~~
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
December news
Some exciting news: I've been awarded a Sask Arts Board grant to write a book of poems! This manuscript will include poems about living in inner-city Regina, and ekphrastic poems that respond to paintings and artefacts. I'm very excited to work on this project in the spring and summer and grateful to the arts board for funding me. The work I've been writing lately is very different from my thesis poems of my riddlehoard project, but I don't think I could have gotten here without that foundation in form and Old English. More and more, I'm realizing how important my MA has been to my artistic development, especially in teaching me the discipline of writing daily and revising my work.
Speaking of university, there's an awesome write-up about the U of R's MA program in Creative Writing in the new issue of Inklings, the English department newsletter. I'm excited to be the third graduate of this program, and humbled at the kind words regarding my research and writing. I really encourage creative BA graduates to consider the program... You get to write a manuscript in a genre of your choice with the most helpful editing and mentorship. Having a research background and is also HUGEly helpful in writing grant proposals and articulating the ideas that go into your work.
Lastly, I'm all done applying to MFA programs for next year... I applied to way more programs than I'd like to admit. Hopefully my applications will catch a nibble somewhere. If not, I'll be sure to post about what went wrong (haha). I've been kind of silent on the subject but I think it's more out of nervousness than secrecy.
I've only got SIX more shifts of work left. My job at the library has been fun, and it's been so great to work in the community but I'll be glad to be finished and pursue these new projects!
Speaking of university, there's an awesome write-up about the U of R's MA program in Creative Writing in the new issue of Inklings, the English department newsletter. I'm excited to be the third graduate of this program, and humbled at the kind words regarding my research and writing. I really encourage creative BA graduates to consider the program... You get to write a manuscript in a genre of your choice with the most helpful editing and mentorship. Having a research background and is also HUGEly helpful in writing grant proposals and articulating the ideas that go into your work.
Lastly, I'm all done applying to MFA programs for next year... I applied to way more programs than I'd like to admit. Hopefully my applications will catch a nibble somewhere. If not, I'll be sure to post about what went wrong (haha). I've been kind of silent on the subject but I think it's more out of nervousness than secrecy.
I've only got SIX more shifts of work left. My job at the library has been fun, and it's been so great to work in the community but I'll be glad to be finished and pursue these new projects!
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Dec 5, 2012
Exciting: my book's available to purchase online now. Thanks to everyone who got one and I hope you enjoy it!
Some of my recent reads:
The Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore.
Solaris by Stanisław Lem
currently reading Black Swan Green by David Mitchell
and next is Jennifer Egan A Visit from the Goon Squad.
Half of these are recommendations from my little brother. The classes he's taking in university seem a lot more fun than some of the ones I took. All my electives were taken up by philosophy courses, and not courses on American Lit and Sci-Fi, like he's taking.
The Gate at the Stairs was my own pick. I'm a huge fan of Lorrie Moore's short fiction and while I enjoyed the novel (especially for its humour), I think I still prefer her stories.
Black Swan Green is really amazing so far too. I wanted to read it after reading this article by David Mitchell, where he talks about growing up with a stammer. I think Mitchell really treats his young protagonist with empathy and and humour. The writing is wonderfully vivid and there's a bit of mystery, as well. After this book, and the Egan, I'm very much looking forward to reading Cloud Atlas since I enjoyed the movie so much!
Hope everyone out there is finding time to read some good books in between exams, and holiday activities.
Some of my recent reads:
The Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore.
Solaris by Stanisław Lem
currently reading Black Swan Green by David Mitchell
and next is Jennifer Egan A Visit from the Goon Squad.
Half of these are recommendations from my little brother. The classes he's taking in university seem a lot more fun than some of the ones I took. All my electives were taken up by philosophy courses, and not courses on American Lit and Sci-Fi, like he's taking.
The Gate at the Stairs was my own pick. I'm a huge fan of Lorrie Moore's short fiction and while I enjoyed the novel (especially for its humour), I think I still prefer her stories.
Black Swan Green is really amazing so far too. I wanted to read it after reading this article by David Mitchell, where he talks about growing up with a stammer. I think Mitchell really treats his young protagonist with empathy and and humour. The writing is wonderfully vivid and there's a bit of mystery, as well. After this book, and the Egan, I'm very much looking forward to reading Cloud Atlas since I enjoyed the movie so much!
Hope everyone out there is finding time to read some good books in between exams, and holiday activities.
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