Announcing my latest article, published in the Feb. 26 issue of Louisville’s Community newspaper, on the necessity and pleasure of reading American Jewish poetry. I want to thank Lee Chottiner, editor, for publishing the piece. I also want to thank Rabbi Jacowitz Chottiner of Temple Shalom and Lee Chottiner, who invited me to give aContinue reading “OpEd: Why read Jewish poetry?”
Category Archives: musings
Introducing my new Youtube playlist
Greetings everyone! I want to introduce you to my new Youtube playlist: “Teaching Podcasts by Michael Jackman, Poet and Teacher.” There, you can watch video podcasts I’ve made about poetry, teaching poetry, and teaching in general. If there’s something you’d like me to feature, drop me an e-mail at podcasts /at/ michael-jackman.com In the meantime,Continue reading “Introducing my new Youtube playlist”
I married the dugans
It was one of the great honors of my life to be asked to marry my beloved and awesome sister out-law Maryann Dugan and her equally beloved and awesome life-partner Carly Dugan née Mandeville. So life took an unexpected turn and I became an officiant just to marry the Dugans! “by the authority vested inContinue reading “I married the dugans”
New Poems: North Meridian R.
Hi. I wanted to share some good news. I have three poems featured in The North Meridian Review: A Journal of Culture and Scholarship, Volume 1, Winter 2020 Special Issue. These are three “letter poems” from my chapbook manuscript-in-progress: Letters from Spickert Knob. My featured poems are at the end. You can read the issueContinue reading “New Poems: North Meridian R.”
On trying to teach students not to use clichés
With experience as a writer comes certainty about clichés (and their exceptions). Don’t use ’em exclamation point period. These worn-out formulas add nothing to the writing. Setting aside characters like Hamlet’s Polonius who spout clichés as a way of demonstrating that very fact. Yet I have students in upper level creative writing classes who willContinue reading “On trying to teach students not to use clichés”
Virtual Band Performance: John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery”
Greetings, everyone. I’m excited to have a new remix uploaded today. Here’s a virtual performance of John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery” with the addition of a new cello track. The trio features me on acoustic guitar/vocals, Andy Mosholder on cello, and Aaron Lambert on cahon/percussion. Andy, of Harper’s Ferry, VA, arranged the cello part. I’mContinue reading “Virtual Band Performance: John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery””
Listen to an amazing poem by Gwendolyn Brooks
If you’re into poetry, then you’ll love this series celebrating the 110th Anniversary of the Poetry Society of America. Here’s Major Jackson reading a poem by Gwendolyn Brooks. Check out the series of readings here: poetrysociety.org/features/reading-through-the-decades. Enjoy the reading of a wonderful poem (I’m going to add it to my classes).