poetry « onegecko.com: risking absurdity since 1996

July 14, 2011

Victor Densmore reads on July 22nd, 2011

Every month, the Jeudevine Memorial Library hosts a reading of local poets at the Memorial building here in Hardwick, VT. My dad, Victor Densmore, is normally the co-host of these events. During the third week of July, however, he will be reading his work as one of the guests of honor.

The reading comes at a good time for both him and fans of his work. His first book, Out of the Hermit’s Meadow and Wood, will be entering a second printing in August and he is hard at work on a second book of 100 or so more poems.

If you’re interested in supporting my dad, or are a fan of good poetry, I encourage you to come out to the reading in Hardwick on July 22nd. It starts at 7 p.m. If you can’t make the reading, then please consider taking a look at his book on lulu.com and helping to support him as a writer. If you’re unable to do that, then feel free to drop a note here or share his book with people you know. He deserves all the readership we can help build for him. I know he’s my dad and some of you will think I’m just saying this, but he really is one of the best poets I’ve ever read.

Within the next couple of weeks, we will be releasing a form for people to pre-order a copy of his second book. All pre-orders will be signed and numbered in the same way he did for his first title. Also, we are looking to broaden the market of his books beyond lulu.com and a handful of local stores. I will be talking about that more in this space soon.

Filed under: poetry,publishing,thoughts,vermont poet,victor densmore — Tags: poetry, poetry reading, vermont poet, vermont poetry, victor densmore — Sabin @ 11:16

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February 9, 2011

Reading runes this month in Hardwick, VT

I’ve been working on my own translation of the Old Icelandic rune poems for a month or so now and am going to be reading it alongside the original language later this month. I was supposed to do it last month, but got sick. Now I’m scheduled for February 25th. In spite of my Old Norse accent being somewhat weak, I’m really excited. Each poet gets 15 minutes to read, so I’ll get a chance to discuss a bit, too.

The rune poems are three poems written in Old Icelandic, Old Norwegian, and Old English that describe through riddles and metaphor the meanings of the runes in the Younger Futhark. Through thoroughly reading and comparing the three poems, we’re able to interpret the meanings of the Elder Futhark for use in runic practice. I’ve finished a translation of the Old Icelandic (Norse) version, and now I’m working on the Old Norwegian. They’re actually really similar to each other, the Norwegian being a different dialect with the same declensions as Old Norse.

I’m contemplating whether I want to publish the translations here or through our soon-to-be-born imprint, Midwinter Fire Press. Either way, I’ll be posting here once the decision is made.

Filed under: poetry,runes — Tags: old norse, old norwegian, poems, poetry, runes — Sabin @ 19:59

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November 10, 2007

All of that is behind me, and what’s left is forward

The other day I realized that I don’t really know where I’ve been the past few years. I feel as one who has been wallowing in the middle of truth and fiction; one who looks across a darkening ocean for a future, only to see the past. I feel as though all of that is behind me, though. I’ve woken up.

I’m returning to my studies of literature, philosophy, and Latin. I’ve got a career as an information architect that I’m enjoying fully. I’m working to get my dad’s poetry to the public. Perhaps the most exciting, though, is today I bought myself new saxophone reeds and am practicing again.

My saxophone is important to me, and it was the trigger for my realization above. I’ve gone for three years without ever taking it out of its case, without ever feeling the taste and rough-hewn flexibility of a bamboo reed, without ever honking out my feelings through the tube of cold brass, ivory, and wood. Tonight, though, I felt the vibration of that reed against my bottom lip and honked myself silly.

So now why does Deval Patrick have to go and ruin it? Why was it I voted for him? I’m going to write him and find out.

Filed under: deval patrick,latin,literature,poetry,saxophone,victor densmore — Sabin @ 19:54

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