This week, I continue to explore the poetry of Chilean writer Nicanor Parra, who could be loosely described as the anti-Neruda anti-poet. The poem below is one of the best I’ve read by Parra. A Man A man’s mother is very sick He goes out to find a doctor He’s crying In the street he sees his wife in the company of another man They’re holding hands He follows a few steps behind them From tree to tree He’s crying […]

Categories: Ana Maria Caballero, ZiR • Tags: books, lit, literature, poetry, reading, writing

In this, my first post of a brand new year, I offer a poem about possibilities. It is by poet Adrienne Rich, who died in 2012 after a hugely successful career as a poet and essayist, feminist and activist. The poem below feels like it was written after a turning point, or significant change, in her life. Indeed, she had many. Here is a great article from The Guardian about the poet. And, here is The Poetry Foundation’s summary of her […]

Categories: Ana Maria Caballero, ZiR • Tags: books, lit, literature, poetry, reading, writing

Every time I come across a remarkable literary journal, I get surprised. Another one? There are already so many good ones, it seems. Could the rumor that no one reads poetry anymore be just that, a rumor? Let’s hope so. In the meantime, I leave you with a poem by Joanna Schroeder, which appeared in issue #60 of the remarkable “Pudding Magazine.”   Splitting Up the Books When the marriage is over, no one wants Jane Austen. Happy endings taped […]

Categories: Ana Maria Caballero, ZiR • Tags: books, lit, literature, poetry, reading, writing

No one like William Carlos Williams to capture the simple transcendence of snowfall. His poem “Blizzard,” below, beautifully captures the private feeling of loneliness that heavy snow can instill. It seemed like a fitting piece to share now that much of the country is immersed in the thick of winter. Blizzard Snow: years of anger following hours that float idly down — the blizzard drifts its weight deeper and deeper for three days or sixty years, eh? Then the sun! […]

Categories: Ana Maria Caballero, ZiR • Tags: books, lit, literature, poetry, reading, writing