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"The Theatre of Language: the Living Poem" - USC's Voices & Visions, 2008









2016 David Dukes Tennis Tournament





• Please go here to view more photos from past tournaments.



Annie Muske-Dukes speaking at her dad's posthumous induction into Redwood High School's (Marin County) "Hall of Fame" - March 3, 2017





2011 National Book Festival






"Channeling Mark Twain" Interview with Terry Gross


Listen to Carol Muske-Dukes' interview on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross from July 5, 2007 >>
















David Dukes Memorial
 
The scholarship, established in memory of the late actor David Coleman Dukes, is awarded annually to a third-year Theater Arts student working toward a career in stage acting. A bronze plaque commemorating the scholarship benefit held in David Coleman Dukes' name can be seen in the lobby of the Bing Theater, off Queen's Court on the USC campus.
- Madeline Puzo, Dean, USC School of Theatre



The Dukes Tournament

Proceeds from the David Coleman Dukes Memorial Tennis Tournament benefits the USC School of Theatre David Dukes Acting Scholarship.





© 2022 Carol Muske-Dukes





Photo credit: Kathy Muske
Carol Muske-Dukes is a former Poet Laureate of California, and her book of poems, Blue Rose, is a 2019 Pulitzer Prize short-list finalist.



A Story: Breaking a Bad Law - Please Read

https://agnionline.bu.edu/blog/the-writing-lives-of-roe-v-wade/#Muske-Dukes




WHAT I'M THINKING — CMD

My latest Substack essay: https://carolmuskedukes.substack.com/p/the-gish-gallop-rat-fucking-dirty







HERE'S MY TERRACE, LOOKING OUT AT THE PACIFIC! ONWARD!







Here was a Valentine's Day surprise! USC posts my image from a prior V-Day when I selected love poems for their News Service as a current professor & former Calif Poet Laureate. You would never know that I'm now retired & recently sued the Death Star for persecution & cancellation. Why are they using my image?





My Latest Substack Essay "Sign of the Trigger"







This link is from a 90's sitcom called "The Mommies" & that harried self-involved actor "husband" who doesn't get his wife's multi-tasking life is my late real-life husband, David (Coleman) Dukes!








My latest Washington Post review - UP LATE by Nick Laird







My daughter Annie after a Thanks Day I Like Pie K-5 - in Bend, Oregon - where I'm moving.





Substack







NEWS


CAROL MUSKE-DUKES is now officially retired from USC, after over thirty years as a full professor with tenure and solo founder of the PhD program in Creative Writing/literature. Glad to be free!

(I've also taught at Columbia Univ. MFA program, Univ. of Iowa Writers Workshop, UC Irvine MFA Program, Univ. of Virginia, George Washington Univ. (Jenny McKean Moore Lecturer) etc.

I have published 16 books, poems, novels and essay collections - as well as co-edited anthologies. Most recent book of poems, BLUE ROSE, (Penguin) was a long list Pulitzer prize finalist in 2019. Other awards, etc. Guggenheim, NEA, Ingram Merrill, Castagnola award, 7 Pushcarts , Barnes & Noble Writer for Writers award, etc. National Book Award finalist, LATimes Book Prize finalist, Witter Bynner Library of Congress award. California Poet Laureate (2008-2011)

+ NYTimes Most Notable Books. Published & anthologized widely + also: I write & review for the NYTimes Book Review, LATimes, (former Poetry columnist, LA Times),. NY Times Op Ed, + Magazine, The New Yorker, Huffington Post, etc.
Rea Visiting Distinguished Writer, Univ. of Virginia , + Harmon Writer Residency, Baruch College, NY.





Grace Paley with Carol Muske Dukes, Conversation, 7 May 1996







A WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD ESSAY
ON JORIE GRAHAM'S "TO 2040":


To the reader, please note: When the Washington Post editors gave me this assignment, they asked me to write an "appreciation" of TO 2040, by Jorie Graham. The assignment was to be in part "personal" but mostly "critical" - an impossible task. Jorie is a longtime friend, who is ill with cancer - but I resisted the push toward what felt like an obituary. The result is this slightly odd blend of intimate memory and critical overview - and desire to hold on to both visions of this extraordinary poet and friend.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2023/09/01/jorie-graham-poetry-appreciation/





"Raccoons," by Carol Muske-Dukes | The New Yorker







The Washington Post: The MacArthur 'genius' poet who got her first break at 58
Review by Carol Muske-Dukes







Cecilia Woloch & Friends ~ featuring Carol Muske-Dukes and Yona Harvey ~ POETRY ON ZOOM ~ September 18, 2022 ~ 12PM PST / 3PM EST





Choice Words: Writers on Abortion (Aug 20, 2022)




SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 5PM EDT Lit Balm Zoom Link | Lit Balm Facebook Event Page



My former student & brilliant poet, Yona Harvey & I at the Century reception in NYC for new Guggenheim fellowship winners - Yona just won & I won many years ago!






DON'T LET THEM TAKE OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT AWAY!


https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/25/magazine/the-year-the-law-changed.html

The Year the Law Changed
By Carol Muske-Dukes
April 25, 2018

Note the way slant and full rhyming couplets provide graceful rails for this poem's difficult subject. Carol Muske-Dukes glides associatively down the rhyme scheme until around Line 14: "When my name/was called." The end rhyme dissolves - or is absorbed into the lines of the poem. Yes, the subject here is daring and tenderly drawn, maybe controversial. Poems are rarely simply about subject. They are almost always about poetry: form, sound and deliberations of order and disorder. Selected by Terrance Hayes

Waiting hours, each of us in a curtain-stall.
Two men outside, mopping the floor and hall,
Shouting "Murderers!" at us. Were they janitors?
Or medics who'd read our charts & diagnosed?
If men could get pregnant, it would end up
a sacrament, Gloria said. Simone said We
know that no woman takes it lightly. So
could both be true. In class in San Francisco
our teacher spoke of his wife who lost
a child to leukemia, haunted by her ghost
& told by her shrink to write about blood.
She wrote about a vampire and her book shot
to fame so maybe she forgot the one who
never grew into her name. When my name
was called I went to have it done and then knew
I had my life back but covered myself with blood -
mine and some not - but still of me. I don't know
what I mean by "of me," it's undefined & even
the shouting accusers won't cross that line. I had to
swear I was clinically mad to have it done. What's
madness to the men in white: they clean the world
of residue like me and all the blood from both of us.




The New Yorker - "Daphne, After"





Highlights from the 2021 Miami Book Fair


https://www.mercurius.one/home/highlights-from-the-2021-miami-book-fair





Miami Book Fair - November 17, 2021 12:00 pm EST


2020 National Poetry Series Winner Teresa K. Miller
Author: Teresa K. Miller, Carol Muske-Dukes, Daniel Halpern

"This conversation features Teresa K. Miller on Borderline Fortune, in conversation with the judge who selected her manuscript, Carol Muske-Dukes, Twin Cities. With a special introduction by Daniel Halpern, founder of HarperCollins imprint Ecco and the National Poetry Series." https://www.miamibookfaironline.com/event/2020-national-poetry-series-winner-teresa-k-miller/





KCRW Bookworm - Nov. 04, 2021


"Poet-judge Carol Muske-Dukes selected Teresa K. Miller as a National Poetry Series winner. Listen to her explain that decision."

https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/bookworm/teresa-k-miller-carol-muske-dukes-borderline-fortune





Teresa K. Miller's BORDERLINE FORTUNE in conversation w/ Carol Muske-Dukes


https://www.eventbrite.com/e/teresa-k-millers-borderline-fortune-in-conversation-w-carol-muske-dukes-tickets-186254230417





A Tribute to Jane Mead - Wednesday, Sept. 29 @ 7:30PM ET


Ira Sadoff, Anne Marie Macari, Carl Phillips, Carol Muske-Dukes, Kathleen Finneran, Betsey Osborne, Andrea Cohen, and Carey Salerno pay tribute to our beloved, Jane Mead.

Zoom Meeting Registration link: https://cutt.ly/XEyVHwY





Poetry Foundation Poem of the Day (8/21/2021):
August, Los Angeles, Lullaby by Carol Muske-Dukes


Poem of the Day: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/91249/august-los-angeles-lullaby




2021 Pushcart Prize for Carol Muske Dukes' poem "Monarch"


https://dornsife.usc.edu/faculty-recognition/





Poets.org Poem-a-Day on April 12, 2021: Grief Dream by Carol Muske-Dukes


https://poets.org/poem/grief-dream




Vroman's Live - Alice Quinn, Carol Muske Dukes, Tommy Orange, Rex Wilder, & Ron Koertge present Together in a Sudden Strangeness: America's Poets Respond to the Pandemic


Friday, December 11, 2020 - 6:00pm

Event page: https://www.vromansbookstore.com/event/together-in-a-sudden-strangeness-event

Stream link: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/g63q07gb





Ruth Bader Ginsburg


I wish everyone could watch "On the Basis of Sex", Showtime's biopic of Ruth Bader Ginsburg - & end up cheering for her blazing courage combined with such strategic legal intelligence it nearly defies belief. She was the true Wonder Woman. Honor her wishes!




The West Coast Keeps Burning.


My daughter in Oregon - in Bend - & Teresa K. Miller, whose beautiful book I chose for as an NPS judge this year, had to evacuate Clackamus County.

Yet the Orange Horror opined that he didn't believe the scientists about climate change. Maybe he'll be transported to Oz via tornado?

In the meantime, everyone please stay safe!

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/17/us/fires-oregon-detroit.html




2020 WINNERS OF NATIONAL POETRY SERIES OPEN COMPETITION


The National Poetry Series congratulates the five winners of the 2020 National Poetry Series Competition:

Borderline Fortune by Teresa K. Miller
Chosen by Carol Muske-Dukes for Penguin Books

Requeening by Amanda Moore
Chosen by Ocean Vuong for Ecco

[WHITE] by Trevor Ketner
Chosen by Forrest Gander for University of Georgia Press

Philomath by Devon Walker-Figueroa
Chosen by Sally Keith for Milkweed Editions

Dear Specimen by W.J. Herbert
Chosen by Kwame Dawes for Beacon Press

https://nationalpoetryseries.org/announcing-the-2020-national-poetry-series-competition-winners/




HERE IS AN ANTHOLOGY OFFERING POEMS ABOUT THE WAY THE CORONA VIRUS HAS CHANGED LIVES - JUST AS NATIONWIDE PROTEST HAS DONE THE SAME — TOGETHER IN SUDDEN STRANGENESS - EDITED BY FORMER NEW YORKER EDITOR, ALICE QUINN. I'M HONORED TO JOIN WITH OTHER POETS IN THIS IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF VOICES. - CMD


https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/18/books/coronavirus-books-publishing.html




READ THE "FIRE GILDER" BY EAVAN BOLAND, (THE NEW YORKER) ONE OF THE MOST ELOQUENT POEMS EVER WRIT BY A POET MEANT FOR THE AGES. DEAR EAVAN, REST IN PEACE: "The only thing is/it is extremely dangerous."


https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/05/11/the-fire-gilder




Victoria Chang's OBIT - a book reviewed by CMD with an eye on The Grim Reaper - throwing shade


https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/grief-is-singular-on-victoria-changs-obit/




MEMORIES: AS WE ALL SHELTER IN PLACE! PHOTO OF MY DAUGHTER ANNIE & ME IN A HAPPIER TIME — SENT BY MARY YEAGER & JOHN LITHGOW





POSTPONED! NEW DATE TBA
REMEMBERING JANE MEAD: a Poetry Reading

A TRIBUTE TO JANE MEAD
Poets House, 10 River Terrace, New York, NY 10282

Please join us at Poets House to honor the life and work of the extraordinary Jane Mead (1958-2019). Mead was our beloved friend, teacher, and poet. She was the author of seven books of poetry, including her most recent TO THE WREN: COLLECTED & NEW POEMS 1991-2019 (published by AJB in August 2019).

The event will feature readings by Ira Sadoff, Andrea Cohen, Carl Phillips, Carol Muske-Dukes, Betsey Osbourne, and Anne Marie Macari. A reception will follow. This event is free and open to the public. https://www.facebook.com/events/839619833148509/





Good Advice: No Hoax!

Dr. James Robb is a consulting pathologist at the National Cancer Institute. Among the first molecular virologists in the world to work on coronaviruses -

Here's Dr. Robb's advice to his colleagues:

Subject: What I am doing for the upcoming COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic

Dear Colleagues,

As some of you may recall, when I was a professor of pathology at the University of California San Diego, I was one of the first molecular virologists in the world to work on coronaviruses (the 1970s). I was the first to demonstrate the number of genes the virus contained. Since then, I have kept up with the coronavirus field and its multiple clinical transfers into the human population (e.g., SARS, MERS), from different animal sources.

The current projections for its expansion in the US are only probable, due to continued insufficient worldwide data, but it is most likely to be widespread in the US by mid to late March and April.

Here is what I have done and the precautions that I take and will take. These are the same precautions I currently use during our influenza seasons, except for the mask and gloves.:

1) NO HANDSHAKING! Use a fist bump, slight bow, elbow bump, etc.

2) Use ONLY your knuckle to touch light switches. elevator buttons, etc.. Lift the gasoline dispenser with a paper towel or use a disposable glove.

3) Open doors with your closed fist or hip - do not grasp the handle with your hand, unless there is no other way to open the door. Especially important on bathroom and post office/commercial doors.

4) Use disinfectant wipes at the stores when they are available, including wiping the handle and child seat in grocery carts.

5) Wash your hands with soap for 10-20 seconds and/or use a greater than 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer whenever you return home from ANY activity that involves locations where other people have been.

6) Keep a bottle of sanitizer available at each of your home's entrances. AND in your car for use after getting gas or touching other contaminated objects when you can't immediately wash your hands.

7) If possible, cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and discard. Use your elbow only if you have to. The clothing on your elbow will contain infectious virus that can be passed on for up to a week or more!

What I have stocked in preparation for the pandemic spread to the US:

1) Latex or nitrile latex disposable gloves for use when going shopping, using the gasoline pump, and all other outside activity when you come in contact with contaminated areas.

Note: This virus is spread in large droplets by coughing and sneezing. This means that the air will not infect you! BUT all the surfaces where these droplets land are infectious for about a week on average - everything that is associated with infected people will be contaminated and potentially infectious. The virus is on surfaces and you will not be infected unless your unprotected face is directly coughed or sneezed upon.

This virus only has cell receptors for lung cells (it only infects your lungs) The only way for the virus to infect you is through your nose or mouth via your hands or an infected cough or sneeze onto or into your nose or mouth.

2) Stock up now with disposable surgical masks and use them to prevent you from touching your nose and/or mouth (We touch our nose/mouth 90X/day without knowing it!). This is the only way this virus can infect you - it is lung-specific. The mask will not prevent the virus in a direct sneeze from getting into your nose or mouth - it is only to keep you from touching your nose or mouth.

3) Stock up now with hand sanitizers and latex/nitrile gloves (get the appropriate sizes for your family). The hand sanitizers must be alcohol-based and greater than 60% alcohol to be effective.

4) Stock up now with zinc lozenges. These lozenges have been proven to be effective in blocking coronavirus (and most other viruses) from multiplying in your throat and nasopharynx. Use as directed several times each day when you begin to feel ANY "cold-like" symptoms beginning. It is best to lie down and let the lozenge dissolve in the back of your throat and nasopharynx. Cold-Eeze lozenges is one brand available, but there are other brands available.

I, as many others do, hope that this pandemic will be reasonably contained, BUT I personally do not think it will be. Humans have never seen this (edited: animal)-associated virus before and have no internal defense against it.

Tremendous worldwide efforts are being made to understand the molecular and clinical virology of this virus. Unbelievable molecular knowledge about the genomics, structure, and virulence of this virus has already been achieved. BUT, there will be NO drugs or vaccines available this year to protect us or limit the infection within us. Only symptomatic support is available.

I hope these personal thoughts will be helpful during this potentially catastrophic pandemic. You are welcome to share.

Good luck to all of us!

James Robb, MD FCAP




Flossie can't wait to head with me to New York & beyond. I have the whole year off on sabbatical, it's wonderful!





HAPPY NEW YEAR TO MY DEAR FRIENDS & MY ENEMIES AS WELL
Here is a bouquet of beautiful peonies - famously sweet yet hardy & long-lasting. They are survivors - as I am.





This says it all


https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/december-web-only/trump-should-be-removed-from-office.html




My little dog Flossie stares into the fire here in Sisters, Oregon at my beautiful writer's cabin - w my daughter Annie in nearby Bend. Flossie's thinking "Happy holidays to all!" &

I'm thinking: I have all of next year off on sabbatical! My reward for so many years of hard work for students — & ongoing love for all!

& here is Annie with dear Rhombus & Flossie!





Hope for the future she is fighting for!





Flossie prepares to head North for the holidays & is trying on her Santa sweater here!





BRAVE ELOQUENCE FROM A RUSSIAN COLLEGE STUDENT: ON TRIAL & CENSORED


https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/a-powerful-statement-of-resistance-from-a-college-student-on-trial-in-moscow









JANE MEAD: TRIBUTE TO AN ORIGINAL


https://lareviewofbooks.org/?p=295436&post_type=article&preview=1&_ppp=43f67098a5




Here we are - the brilliant Chris Abani & me (Chris was first applicant introduced to me after I founded the Creative Writing/Literature PhD - (which began as a "perk" USC provided as part of my retention pkg., when I was offered the chair & directorship of the UCR CW program). We've been friends & colleagues since then, (2000)! Here we are, toasting goodbye to my house at the time of my daughter's & my move from Hancock Park, five years after the death of my husband. We chose Chris & he chose us & the rest is history!





Fires to the right of me, fires to the left!


Here in Santa Monica - the air is filled with ash & smoke, as the wildfires edge closer, homes burning in Malibu, Pacific Palisades & north of Sunset - schools closed, evacuations - Apocalyptic indeed.




I miss my little Coleman a lot & Flossie does too





HEY Congressional Repubs!


Republicans: have you seen the Fox News poll that reports that 51% of Americans support impeaching Trump - AND removing him from office! Is it finally time for you to jump the rotten ship? Or are you worried your missing balls won't keep you afloat??




FLOSSIE PREDICTS! My little dog Flossie is a political wonk & she predicts that, because both Trump & Pence were part of this Shakedown, both will be impeached - & then the Speaker of the House will step up: President Pelosi!!





Here is Flossie, who misses her best buddy Coleman, but is carrying on!





JANE'S HOMETOWN PAPER SAYS GOODBYE


https://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/jane-mead/article_184167c5-fee7-5ada-93c8-3c6cee6d71c3.html




Not one of us can claim her, but she is still here in her extraordinary poems. "To the Wren", Jane Mead, 2019.





R.I.P. dear Jane Mead & R.I.P. dear Coleman. Loss beyond words. Ave atque vale - love & heartbreak.





Here are my two dear hearts. How can I say goodbye to one of them soon?"





Resistance to Toxic Call-outs


https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/17/opinion/sunday/cancel-culture-call-out.html




James Baldwin & Laurie Sheck's historic connection —


https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-forbidden-words-lost-lessons-11566255442




With the great poet Jane Mead, after our reading together @Moe's Books in Berkeley last year. Annie took this photo at dinner afterwards. I have her brilliant Collected Poems, To the Wren, out soon, in hand. Please think of her now —






NOTE: I keep saying that I am planning to leave FB (because of its notorious history of violations of individual privacy & selling of private data) - but a very helpful associate mostly posts "for" me. I will disappear from FB slowly, as my eyes have become a problem & I need to (literally) focus on other matters. Thanks always, Carol





Victory indeed

https://www.thefire.org/victory-professor-exonerated-for-quoting-iconic-black-writer-at-the-new-school/




Annie, Johnny & I with the ever magical Sara Ballantine @ the Magic Castle! Sleight of hand & other wonders!





Please read carefully re Laurie Scheck & the attack on first amendment rights in academia.

Dear Friends, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education and I are trying to get the word out about an egregious infringement on academic freedom, and growing culture of intimidation. Documents below. FIRE's press release puts it well in a nutshell. Please tweet, forward, bring to the attention of journalists if you can. Whatever you feel comfortable with. The Washington Post already tweeted it this morning.In Solidarity, Laurie

https://www.thefire.org/fire-letter-to-the-new-school-july-17-2019/
https://www.thefire.org/academic-freedom-at-the-new-school-not-if-you-quote-an-iconic-black-writer





Splendid review of Blue Rose by the remarkable poet (& former phd student of mine), Jennifer Kwon Dobbs — for The Loft!

"Blue Rose by Carol Muske Dukes (Penguin Poets Series)

In Blue Rose, the latest poetry collection from Saint Paul native and former California poet laureate Carol Muske Dukes, rose--blue, "danger blue"--is both a child birth "that came too fast" and the possibility of life and death that a woman's body possesses. Muske Dukes constructs an original, penetrating lens of precise lyricism to look at the materials of history, law, literature, mass incarceration, and personal fragments to the rose found there, pulsing with urgent knowing among the structures that sometimes conceal the power of women as artists, mothers, and daughters."




PLEASE CHECK OUT THIS BREATH-TAKING NEW COLLECTION OF STORIES BY MY FORMER STUDENT, XUAN JULIANA WANG - HOME REMEDIES! UNFORGETTABLE ELOQUENCE & CRAFT!

THIS LINK IS TO A "PREVIEW" - THE REVIEW WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE LA REVIEW OF BOOKS ON AUGUST 7 -!

https://lareviewofbooks.org?p=288514&post_type=article&preview=1&_ppp=744224680a





This last year has been filled with ups & downs - but I have to say that the announcement of my latest book of poems, BLUE ROSE https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Penguin-Poets-Carol-Muske-Dukes/dp/0143131257/ as a long-list finalist https://twitter.com/PenguinBooks/status/1118952689231069185 for the 2019 Pulitzer prize was a definite "up"! Also the judges' note that my publisher, Penguin, re-tweeted, "that any of these books could have won" - was another lift indeed!

& this thank you note, from one of the students in the Creative Writing/Literature phd program I founded at USC (sent to me, with flowers, after I provided an open door for her book idea to successfully reach a major publisher, who produced a remarkable book contract) reminds me daily that working tirelessly for one's talented writing students (at all levels) is part of the job description, though gratitude is always a radiant extra.



I know the student who wrote these words meant them sincerely - & although thank you's are not at all required - they make the hard work of teaching and advocating for students easier indeed.

I'm a longtime Professor at USC, but have taught in the past (or been Visiting Writer) at Iowa Writers Workshop, Columbia MFA program, UC Irvine grad program, Univ. of Virginia (Rey "Visiting Writer"), City College, Baruch (Distinguished Harmon Teaching Award), NYU & New School - & it's been very hard work over years, but always worth it.

I don't intend to leave this wonderful job of teaching any time soon - but I look forward to my upcoming leave & generous writing time - to re-charge the batteries for teaching, since the two commitments are so deeply connected.

In other news, my daughter Annie is continuing to do brilliant work as a research scientist - AND triathlon athlete! Her focus, her line of inquiry in a field that seeks truth in a different manner than poetry, but with similar intensity - is inspiring.

I'm rarely on FaceBook, as many know - but I've been asked to give an update re all I have to be thankful for - so voila!




My daughter & I tree-climbing in Minnesota





PLEASE SEE THE TONI MORRISON DOCUMENTARY

PLEASE CHECK OUT "THE PIECES I AM" — the superb documentary about the life and writing of Toni Morrison, just out from Magnolia Pictures!

It is an unforgettable exploration of the two "sides" of Toni Morrison's existence — her personal ("Chloe Wofford") life and that of her Nobel Prize-winning authorial presence that (as a professor notes in the film) broke the written canon apart and made it new again. Her boldness, majesty and originality — and her refusal to accept any limitations on her ground-breaking style continue to inspire all who attempt to express themselves freely in written language.

Her quote for my novel, "Channeling Mark Twain", (Random H, 2003) meant a great deal, for obvious reasons. But her kind generosity to a poet attempting to write novels — was a personal gift. I've known Toni since she was an editor at Random House. She supported the prison writing program I established at the Women's House of Detention on Riker's Island, which expanded to all NY State prisons as "Art Without Walls/Free Space" in the '70's and '80's.

Here is her quote, to be treasured always:

"Effortlessly, the narrator's story becomes one with the stories of the women in prison. Rarely do we encounter a prospective clear as glass, through which the characters look back at the narrator without mirror or microscope, false hierarchy or romanticizing."

See the documentary, if you can — and tell others. It is a source of wonder — like Toni Morrison herself. I am grateful to her, always — for what she has given to all of us.




Now that we're living in an Orwellian universe - those who have never read him give his warnings their reality!


"Certain commissars with large followings patrol the precincts of social media and punish thought criminals, but most progressives assent without difficulty to the stifling consensus of the moment and the intolerance it breeds — not out of fear, but because they want to be counted on the side of justice.

This willing constriction of intellectual freedom will do lasting damage. It corrupts the ability to think clearly, and it undermines both culture and progress. Good art doesn't come from wokeness, and social problems starved of debate can't find real solutions." (Quote is from "A Re-Review of 1984, The Atlantic, July, 2019.")




Kickstarter project for Choice Words, a remarkable anthology of writings by women!

http://www.choicewordsanthology.com/

It's incredibly important to remember that the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision protects a woman's PRIVACY, her right to control her own body and make decisions based on her choice. As Justice RBG has stated, if this right is not protected and preserved - women cannot be considered equal to men.

Our right, our privacy, our choice, OUR choice, not the State's.

Pay attention to these CHOICE WORDS!




I'm so lucky!

Blue Rose was on the long list for the 2019 Pulitzer - along with my fellow Penguin poet, Terrance Hayes & other wonderful poets!




DOWN MEMORY LANE - as poet Greg Orr retires from the University of Virginia - we were all part of a reading Way Back When. Name those poets!





AN UPDATE ON USC's NEED TO "RE-MAKE" ITS BLOATED BOARD OF TRUSTEES

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-tierney-usc-carol-folt-20190321-story.html




Kickstarter project for Choice Words, a remarkable anthology of writings by women!

http://www.choicewordsanthology.com/




Not All Students Are Entering through the Side Door!

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/09/your-money/college-application-essays-money.html




View from My Hotel Window - Empire City!





The 2019 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books





GUESS WHICH POLITICAL PARTY DENIGRATES THE MIDWEST??

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/25/opinion/midwest-economy.html




Good Reviews Never Stop Giving

A Poet and Essayist Meditates on the Deep Roots Binding Humans and Trees https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/05/books/review/cd-wright-casting-deep-shade.html

State Lines: Carol Muske-Dukes' 'Blue Rose' https://www.sfchronicle.com/books/article/State-Lines-Carol-Muske-Dukes-Blue-Rose-12941396.php

Unsung Choices: Blue Rose by Carol Muske-Dukes https://therumpus.net/2019/01/blue-rose-by-carol-muske-dukes/




My NYTimes review of CASTING DEEP SHADE, the posthumous book of the late extraordinary poet, C.D. Wright:


https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/05/books/review/cd-wright-casting-deep-shade.html




CHECK OUT THE APRIL 1 NEW YORKER for Carol Muske-Dukes' new poem - "DAPHNE, AFTER"





MORE USC SCANDALS & WHY?


All one has to do is look at the vapid chirping vlog of "Olivia Jade" (from her dorm room at USC) to get that, for some parents & their offspring, the world is made up of "selfies", not schoolwork. As a USC prof, I try, along with my colleagues, to teach undergrad and grad students how to think for themselves, how to read and analyze, how to "grow" intellectually. Most of our students are present & accounted for because they have that urgent desire to learn. But what happened re "Olivia Jade"? Simply this: her "helicopter" parents morphed into the new "bulldozer" parents: the ones who seek to remove all obstacles from the path of their children, thus infantilizing them and also "teaching" them that money is power, that character doesn't matter - and that working hard is not necessary for success. Success will be provided for you. THAT is what led to the bribes and scams and "side door" sleaze-trickery that have now been exposed, media-wide - to the shame of the scam artist Singer, the bulldozer parents - and the schools that allowed a climate of CEO, celebrity and major ka-ching to permeate some of its departments and employees. An institution of higher learning is not supposed to be a corporation, as most universities define themselves now. & btw, should a Board of Trustees, (significantly weighted by moneybags) who have no idea what academic freedom is, no idea of how education works - be the ones to choose the chief pollicy-maker (pres) of a university? If you don't want your kid to ever have to learn to think, to problem-solve, to read seriously and widely, to be independent - then, please: don't follow the path of "Olivia Jade". Don't let your parents lie and cheat to get you into college. Just let Olivia J. be your role model for vlogging & your career of "Influencer" - and let your parental servants keep bulldozing the way for that "influence" you will leave as your own legacy: like the creepy shine of lip gloss on a corpse.




SLOW BOAT TO FRESH HELL

https://www.tmz.com/2019/03/13/lori-loughlin-daughter-olivia-yacht-usc-board-of-trustees-rick-caruso/




My Women's International Day statement in Persian!

Note: I believe the translation of my statement into Persian has problems & also was apparently censored - from including my praise of "Reading Lolita in Teheran".





International Women's Day!

This is a belated but heartfelt message - joining the chorus of women throughout the world on this day of acknowledgement of women everywhere!

I received an invitation from a woman who is a journalist and translator in IRAN, who asked me to talk about International Women's Day and sent questions. The questions didn't "translate" well - so I simply sent a short statement about how freedom of thought through reading (I mentioned "READING LOLITA IN TEHERAN" - that brilliant brave book) as a way for women to resist oppression that is intellectual as well as physical.

KEEP READING & THINKING TOGETHER - WOMEN ARE CHANGING THE WORLD!




Some "Greatest Hits" for Valentine's Day


https://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/2951/love-poems-for-valentines-day/




PLEASE CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN - MONARCHS ARE ALREADY NEARLY EXTINCT & NOW THIS?

https://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/54845-rsn-crushing-blow-to-butterflies-as-border-wall-



THE BRILLIANT YOUNG COMPOSER, REENA ESMAIL SET MY ELEGAIC POEM, "WHITE KEY" TO MUSIC A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN IT DEBUTED IN SAN FRANCISCO — & NOW IT IS BEING PRESENTED AGAIN IN VERMONT


https://bmcvt.org/event/brattleboro-concert-choir-the-last-sunbeam-music-of-grief-and-peace/

REENA'S EXTRAORDINARY ORATORIO IN SEVERAL LANGUAGES, "THE LOVE BETWEEN US", RECENTLY ENJOYED A COMMAND PERFORMANCE AT DISNEY HALL JUST BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS.

PLEASE FOLLOW REENA'S AMAZING COMPOSING CAREER (& HER WORK ON SKID ROW IN L.A.) & CHECK OUT MY NEW BOOK OF POEMS, BLUE ROSE, AS WELL!




TED CRUZ wants my support to de-fund Planned Parenthood.

A troll or two have put Count Choc-ula Look Alike, Ted Cruz - on my case. Because he believes that "the sanctity of life" begins with erection, he has sent me a letter asking me to help him defund Planned Parenthood & also help Trump appoint another anti-choice justice to the Supreme Court.!

In fact, I plan to make a donation to Planned Parenthood in Ted Cruz' name. I hope you will join me in this effort.

Btw, Cruz has a fundraising arm for this "initiative" creepily entitled the Susan B. Anthony List, Attn. Ted Cruz, PO Box 1852, Merrifield, VA. 22116
I wonder what Susan B. Anthony would think of his use of her name?

Instead of pondering this, please do donate to Planned Parenthood in Mr. Ted Cruz' A.K.A. Count Chocula's name.

Happy New Year, all!
Carol



Brilliant new review of Blue Rose


https://therumpus.net/2019/01/blue-rose-by-carol-muske-dukes/




Here with Annie, snow-shoeing in beautiful Bend!








This is sparkling ruby-topped Nanci Lee, artist & hair genius (!) surprising me with red velvet cupcakes for my birthday!!! Talk about making my day!





CMD & Sandra Tsing Loh, after Sandra's dazzling holiday satire of the Sugar Plum Fairy at Skylight Theatre - go see it, it will make you laugh & feel better about everything!





Once upon a time at the LA airport — Mark Twain & me





Paying Attention

Here are some thoughts about ethical protocols and judging of award candidates.
I mention this because judges are expected to follow rules. There are obvious cases where a judge must recuse herself.

Back when I reviewed regularly for the New York Times Book Review - there was a form that the Times required of its reviewers. The form's questions included (in paraphrase, in memory) something like the following: "Is the person you are assigned to review, a close friend or lover? Has he or she been, or is s/he now a student of yours or a colleague - or an employee of yours? Does this person owe you money or do you owe this person money?"

The form continued in this vein.

I've been a judge (& shortlist finalist in Poetry) for the National Book Award & a judge for the Kingsley-Tufts Prize, as well as the Kate Tufts. I've judged for the NEA, Poetry Society, Y Discovery and Sarabande Books, etc. The rules always apply - judges should know when to recuse themselves.




Dear friends,

I have been planning for a while to withdraw from FaceBook and now that it has been reported (NY Times, "Delay, Deny and Deflect: How Facebook's Leaders Fought Through Crisis") that Mark Zuckerberg & Sheryl Sandberg not only misrepresented the reality to Congress re their knowledge of Russian & other interference in the 2016 election but more frightening - about their profit-making from their massive repository of our private data, it seems imperative. Rather than Zuckerberg & Sheryl S. immediately instituting radical change at FB in the face of these revelations - it was left to their employees to confront them with the evidence of wrongdoing. Again, instead of acting to correct these violations (or stepping down!) they chose to engage a Republican opposition-research firm to discredit other "data" companies & also the liberal philanthropist George Soros, who is Jewish - the attacks on Soros have been seen as anti-Semitic. This should be enough for any of us to re-think our addiction(s) to FBook. I admit that it is difficult to disengage from what has become the major source of information and communication among friends, colleagues & family groups - but (as I've been saying, with others, for a long time) this non-stop private data mining and sharing has made us all immediate targets of instant "profiling" - for shopping and political (& trolling) margin promotion. Facebook's "eyes" are on all of us, all the time - and reviewing the facts above - it becomes more & more difficult to continue being a soft target. The customers of FB are not "us" - they are the corporate and political entities that "buy" into FB, in effect - "buy" us all.

I've also found that almost inevitably, each time I register an "opinion" on a post on FB - there is ugly blowback, if I speak out "against" the sentiments of the post. Recently I noticed a post that asked a specious question "opposing" the "three meals a day, etc. etc." that inmates of prisons enjoy - vs. the degraded conditions of many nursing homes. On the face of this, the post would appear to imply that U.S. prisoners have it "better" than nursing home patients, who do not enjoy the mandated "care" of prisoners. Immediately (in my opinion) one would have to ask the question, "who is behind this false "pitting" of two admittedly troubled "institutions" - and what is their intent?

Recently, Trump actually agreed (or appeared to) a major prison reform bill that would seek to improve inhumane incarceration conditions that have existed for decades - & have worsened as prisons have become "corporatized" & money is being made on increased incarceration. (I founded a prison writing & arts program throughout New York state years ago - which I started at the Women's House on Riker's Island) - and though conditions for prisoners were beyond shocking then, they have grown far worse now, especially for women inmates, who (as before) are jailed with lengthy sentences for what used to be called "victimless" crimes or for being "accessory" - or for minor drug possession, etc. When women are incarcerated or even detained (detention can last longer than a year, despite "habeas corpus") - their children routinely become "wards of the state" - which means that they are put in foster care.) Mothers do not know where their children are placed and have to fight to get them back upon release. (Please see recent New Yorker article on incarcerated women in Oklahoma.) Recent horrific "border" crimes against humanity in separating immigrant children from their parents - are routinely suffered by women who lose their children to the "system".)

But one might wonder, why the questionable "comparison" & false equivalency presented in the FB post - comparing, as I said, nursing homes & prisons? Could it have anything to do with Trump's (unbelievable) seeming recent support for prison reform. ? Question: who has something to lose if prison reform takes place? Maybe the huge corporate structure that profits each time an individual (or immigrant!) is thrown in jail?

This, to my mind, is the type of "loaded" post by an unknown source that is typical of Facebook's enabling of political influence in "hidden" drops into FB "consciousness".

I do not expect anyone to agree with my opinions on this or anything else. But when I find myself confronted (on-line or otherwise) for having a "wrong" opinion on this - rather than having some heed of the warning to "follow the money" -- to interrogate the source of the post/"ad" - it is alarming, it's FB shocking, as always.

I understand that it is v difficult to remove oneself from FB - but I intend to do so gradually. I don't want to lose touch with close friends & family - but I know that if there is real desire to stay in touch, it won't be necessary to show up always on a data-harvesting site! Maybe a brief glimpse of photos on Instagram (I know, I know, also "owned" by FB!) could be enough to satisfy the urge to keep up constantly?

My web designer is posting this for me - I'm recovering from the flu and other struggles.

Best to all,
Carol



My Question to Evangelical Supporters of Trump -

Evangelical Christians: you profess to believe in life - so I am wondering how you can refrain from condemning murderous terrorist bomb attacks by Americans on other Americans - as implicit in your backing of a "president" who encourages individual and crowd violence and an agenda of hate? Please consider voting Common Good!



UPCOMING BLUE ROSE READING AT TRINITY COLLEGE





Blacksmith Poetry Series | CCAE

October 15
Carol Muske-Dukes reads from her new book, Blue Rose, with Sophie Cabot Black, author of The Exchange.

All readings take place at 8pm in the Spiegel Auditorium at 56 Brattle St. Admission is $3. https://ccae.org/blacksmithpoetry




PLEASE NOTE

Quite a few friends & acquaintances seem to think that I'm "on" LINKED IN - I am not. I apologize to those who keep asking to join my "network". The only network I belong to is the one that is in my overloaded memory!




My dazzling niece Amy & me at or near the beach in Oxnard. Photo credit: Amy's wonderful Nate.





More beach fun - love this shot!





My beautiful daughter Annie, post-reading, with Mom!
So many poems in my new book, Blue Rose, for & about her!





The amazing Jane Mead & Carol - after great reading at Powell's Books in Portland!






http://www.powells.com/eventdetail?popup=true&eventID=1779&rwndrnd=0.9078623175295697



Well, it's happened! God (who's a woman) has spoken to me through my pal, Pope Frank. Frank tells me that God has HAD IT with Trump & she is about to take major action against him! Hold onto your hats or whatever keeps your hair on your head! (Unlike Trump!) Justice is on the way!! Ora pro nobis, domina vobiscum.

As you can see, I have been granted a halo through which I receive Messages from Her - telling me what the future is for the Orange Diabolical.





DANGER BLUE: Dana Goodyear interviews Carol Muske-Dukes

https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/danger-blue-dana-goodyear-interviews-carol-muske-dukes




With my sis-in-law Kathy at her beach house with a few of our pups! Sweet summer interlude!





I'll be at the Saratoga Springs Writers Conference: July 1-6. In Saratoga Springs, NY - with brilliant poet-friends & BLUE ROSE, my new book of poems!



"I'M A GOLDEN STATE WORRIER" - THANKS TO THIS GREAT IRONIC CAP DESIGNED BY THE AMAZING BRENDA HILLMAN - LOVE IT!





Today, June 6: remembering my late husband, David Coleman Dukes' birthday - please scroll down to the "in memoriam" section!

https://50plusworld.com/june-6th-birthdays/



San Francisco Chronicle - State Lines: Carol Muske-Dukes' 'Blue Rose'

https://www.sfchronicle.com/books/article/State-Lines-Carol-Muske-Dukes-Blue-Rose-12941396.php




Praise for Blue Rose

The Guardian >>

The Hudson Review >>

KCRW Bookworm >>

New York Journal of Books >>

The New York Times >>

The Paris Review >>

The Washington Post >>

Booklist >>






I've somehow brought blossom-time to NYC - 80 degrees today - & the great poet Jane Mead & I read tonight for PSA at McNally/Jackson bookstore, 7 pm!









The Washington Post: Can poetry both challenge and uplift? Four new collections show us how (Includes BLUE ROSE)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/can-poetry-both-challenge-and-uplift-four-new-collections-show-us-how/2018/04/26/79aa1e20-3cc7-11e8-a7d1-e4efec6389f0_story.html




Terrance Hayes, NY Times Magazine, chooses a poem from BLUE ROSE

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/25/magazine/the-year-the-law-changed.html




Michael Silverblatt & Carol Muske-Dukes - listen in to their Blue Rose conversation on NPR (KCRW in LA) on April 26, 2018 at 2:30 PM!





The Guardian Reviews "No Hands" from BLUE ROSE by Carol Muske-Dukes

https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2018/apr/23/poem-of-the-week-no-hands-by-carol-muske-dukes




UPCOMING AT THE LA TIMES BOOK FESTIVAL, CAROL MUSKE-DUKES READING FROM HER NEW BOOK, BLUE ROSE & JOINING A POETRY PANEL

Carol Muske-Dukes, Reading from "Blue Rose"
Saturday, 4/21/2018, 11:00 AM

Poetry: Trauma and the Problem of Beauty
Saturday, 4/21/2018, 2:00 PM




HEAR CAROL MUSKE-DUKES READ FROM BLUE ROSE & TALK WITH MICHAEL SILVERBLATT ON KCRW's "BOOKWORM" - APRIL 26th AT 2:30 PM.



MORE READINGS

April 10 - Chevalier's, 126 N Larchmont Blvd, L.A. (7 pm)

May 2 - McNally/Jackson Bookstore, 52 Prince St, NYC (w Jane Mead) (7 pm)

May 3 - Lillian Vernon House, New York University, NYC (7 pm)

May 24 - Moe's Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley (w Jane Mead) (7:30 pm)

SARATOGA SPRINGS WRITERS CONFERENCE, CAROL WILL BE ON FACULTY, READING & TEACHINIG, FROM JULY 1 - JULY 6 in Saratoga Springs, New York.

TBA - Powell's Books, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR (w Jane Mead)




POEM DAILY: BLUE ROSE

http://poems.com/poem.php?date=17626




NEW EARLY REVIEW OF BLUE ROSE





For Lu: Stay, Illusion!

http://www.latimes.com/books/la-et-jc-lucie-brock-broido-tribute-20180308-story.html




Upcoming BLUE ROSE readings





Read Tom Boyle's essay on the devastation in Montecito - unforgettable!

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/after-the-mudslides-an-absence-in-montecito




BLUE ROSE

Announcing BLUE ROSE, my new & ninth book of poems, forthcoming from Penguin on April 3, 2018 - with a stunning painting by April Gornik gracing the cover! Pre-order here https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/553065/blue-rose-by-carol-muske-dukes/ or here https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Penguin-Poets-Carol-Muske-Dukes/dp/0143131257/ - & see you at a reading!




Blue Rose: Staff Pick, Paris Review!

https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2018/01/05/staff-picks-dorothy-oz-arkansas/ (photo credit by Micah Baird for Women's Wear Daily)





My amazing daughter Annie & I at my brother & sister-in-law's splendid Christmas Eve gathering with family & friends! Happy holidays to all!





A HAPPIER NEW YEAR'S EVE FROM A PAST HOLIDAY— Here we are, our little group of celebrants: Mimi Kennedy & her husband, and John Lithgow & Mary Yeager, his wife - and my late husband, David Coleman Dukes - and me! I "toast" this happy time we all had for a few years, so long ago. AULD LANG SYNE!





SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS WORLDWIDE

https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/angelina-jolie-sexual-violence-women-speech-un/




Goodbye to a great lady!

- who had a great heart & shared her "good gossip" with panache.

Here's a long-ago nod from her - for my wedding day: at City Hall, NYC - to the late David Coleman Dukes, whom she "celebrated" regularly. May she rest in sweet peace!





My little dog Coleman


My little dog Coleman (aka The Ewok) has cancer. He had surgery today & came through very well. Thanks for all your prayers & good wishes - it's been a long day & night!




Protest and Precincts

Everyone: I've been critical of FaceBook before this - I don't like its gobbling up of our private lives & our own willingness to "share" 24/7 -- but after the revelations of social media's cooperation with Russian trolls & hackers in attacking our democracy in the 2016 election, I intend to show up even less in its getting-creepier pages. It's good for keeping family & friends who are real friends somewhat close & for announcing this & that - but I can live without the ugliness of some exchanges, including the ugliness of these social media giants selling us all out, apparently unable to guess why some eager trolls wanted to pay in rubles..? Time to return to reading. Books.

So here is a link to a must-read article which brings us back to the actual earth on the subject of protests - from a longtime California precinct worker. PLEASE READ. https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/protest-and-precincts/




HOPE FOR THE FUTURE


So the torch of Wonder Woman was passed this Halloween from the great-aunt in California to the great-niece in Minnesota!

Here is strong, brave & amazing Piper (complete with magic lasso!) celebrating kick-ass women on the holiday - just as her elderly aunt was in L.A. Here's to our wonder women who are the future, Piper - & here's to you! Love, Auntie Carol



The Culture of Male Silence: Men Treat Sexual Assault Like America Treats White Supremacy

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/46627-the-culture-of-male-silence-men-treat-sexual-assault-like-america-treats-white-supremacy




HAPPY HALLOWEEN! From Ben the Bananna & me at USC! Photo credit: Prof. Bill Handley





TO FRIENDS & COLLEAGUES OF JANE MEAD

Jane's family home, her dear dogs, her personal effects (& poetry) & the vineyard barns & equipment were all lost in the terrible wildfires in Napa (& beyond) here in California.

She wanted me to let people know that she is alive, she barely made it out - but she is alive.

This is devastating - no words for what she & so many others are going through here as our state goes up in flames.

- Carol




Driving Westward, in Golden State, Burning





Here is my author's photo for my new book of poems (forthcoming, Penguin, April 3, 2018) - photo credit goes to my niece, Kelsey Anne Muske!





HEY EVERYONE: TODAY'S THE DAY! THE ANNUAL TOURNAMENT IN DAVID'S NAME - WITH PROCEEDS GOING TO THE USC SCHOOL OF THEATRE SCHOLARSHIP ALSO IN HIS NAME! THANKS! CMD



Here are images of the remarkable Owen Max at a cafe here in Santa Monica - where you can see a wee bit of his Mom, Elizabeth Metzger -- & a bit of me - but mostly Owen! How could you not fall in love with that face? Photos by Dan Attanasio.






Note from Carol (August 14, 2017)

Hi everyone - I've posted a lot of "please adopt this dog" pleas yesterday on FB - I hope someone will respond! I'm on FB so rarely & in NYC right now, where many many are in the streets protesting against the brainless puppet of white supremacists & nazis (who some may call our president, not I). We need to try to save our country, our world & the most helpless, inc. animals - This is not an over-statement: we must act to keep the sick poison of hate Dumpf represents from destroying us all. Please protest & please join together to rescue our world.
-CMD

Adding two notes: former President Jimmy Carter has offered words of diplomacy & wisdom re North Korea. (& Madeline Albright traveled there in 2000 & made real progress in diplomacy there.)

& please remember that the women targeted by Gamer Gate warned that there were on-line hate groups rising up back then!



My daughter Annie & I sip wine @ the Dancin vineyard in Ashland, Oregon





Jubilant Antarctic House Bear!





SO GRATEFUL FOR THESE TWO: PLEASE READ ALL THE WAY THROUGH, PLEASE!

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/15/fashion/bill-maher-fran-lebowitz-table-for-three-trump.html




AS I SAID ON TWITTER EARLIER - COMPARE THE TWO "LEADERS OF THE FREE WORLD": FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER CONTINUES, AT 92, TO BUILD HOUSES FOR THE POOR THROUGH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. OUR CURRENT "PRESIDENT" SEEKS TO BUILD WALLS OF HATE AND DIVISIVENESS TO PROP UP GREED & IGNORANCE. WHICH EXAMPLE WOULD YOU CHOOSE FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO FOLLOW?



PLEASE READ THIS - RIGHT ON TARGET RE HILLARY - SEXISM, MILLENNIAL FEMINISTS, ETC.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/commentisfree/2017/apr/03/the-destruction-of-hillary-clinton-sexism-sanders-and-the-millennial-feminists




Steve Scalise was against gun control - it's a tragic irony, but where are the voices now demanding it?



Why don't we ever talk about how women are treated in Saudi Arabia?

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/09/opinion/sunday/saudi-arabia-women-driving-ban.html




See the thrilling movie WONDER WOMAN --all you who believe that, (as a strong woman recently said), "Women's rights are human rights! It is going to change Hollywood, with Gal Gadot's electrifying brainy performance & director Patty Jenkins' stunning powerful guiding vision. The time has come to kick ass - we need to believe in our own wonder womanhood -- & this film will make you a believer.





A photo of my David & me, with dear friend John Lithgow, at the book party for my first novel, Dear Digby - a memory, a lost treasured moment - just for fun!





Notes on NOT Driving Your Host Crazy: 11 Simple Rules. (My Mother Taught Me Guest Etiquette & I've Never Forgotten It. #1 - Never Arrive Without a "House" Gift - All the Way To: Take Your Host Out for a Meal, please! If You Can't Cook, You CAN Make a Reservation!

http://www.wisebread.com/11-simple-rules-of-excellent-houseguest-etiquette




EVERYONE: PLEASE READ THIS INSIGHTFUL & INFORMATIVE ARTICLE ABOUT HILLARY CLINTON, (OUR "REAL" PRESIDENT).

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/05/hillary-clinton-life-after-election.html

THIS PIECE ADDRESSES THE FIRESTORM OF NEGATIVITY THAT BLASTED HRC AFTER THE INTERVIEW IN WHICH SHE ADDRESSED DIRECTLY THE REASONS FOR HER SHOCKING DEFEAT BY THE REPUTED HUMAN TRUMP.

THE ARTICLE'S AUTHOR FINALLY PUTS FORWARD, IN SUPERB ANALYSIS, THE BOTTOM-LINE REASON FOR WHAT HAPPENED -- WHAT SOME OF US HAVE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG: MISOGYNY.

DON'T DISMISS IT - JUST READ!!! THANKS, CAROL




Nice to be Called "Brilliant" - in this solid defense of the first-person essay...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/a-feminist-defense-of-the-first-person-essay_us_5924a891e4b0ec129d305430




TO ALL MY NEW YORK CITY FRIENDS:

As most of you know, I've been no big fan of giving out personal information on FB or websites, but I'm making an exception here. I've been in touch with so many of you, to let you know that I won't be making it to the City this weekend for what was to be a really eventful visit. But I haven't been able to reach everyone. So - I'm not coming, due to a "health issue" which presented itself as I was close to boarding a NY flight on Friday - a wise Delta supervisor advised me not to fly. I spent the day at UCLA for tests & found out what's wrong and it's being "addressed" now.

I'm feeling better physically but feel terrible about having to cancel so many meetings and events in the City - and so many meetings or meals or late nights with you all.

I've had to bow out of the "Resistance, etc." anthology reading in Tisch Auditorium at NYU on the 22nd - which meant a lot to me... and as well I'll also miss being on the WNYC Leonard Lopate live interview show, a B'way play & visiting my late husband's portrait at Sardi's, my ritual, as you know.

(I hope you will all attend the powerhouse Resistance reading - a great line-up of contributing poets! and listen to the LL show with the anthology's editor and Andrea Cohen at 1 PM on the 22nd.)

For all the other cancellations - all I can say is: I'm coming back as soon as I can. In the meantime, here's another something I thought I'd never do: type out my contribution to this "political poem" anthology - my poem on gun control, "Some Say" - a statement to share:

Some Say

Some say it's High Noon in a big hat, shooting
up the saloon. America? Some say it's your

Second Amendment, those stockpiles of ammo
bought at a chain. Say the next-door kid living in

screen games: exploding heads, walking dead?
Or it's gangs in torched neighborhoods, drugs

running in the brain or a bead drawn on a clinic
doctor, women in line next to a homeless vet

begging. Some say it's armed revolt, racist cops,
bragging hunters, looter-tools, mass crave/rave

for obliviion: Rapture addicts! Here comes one
more drive-by, school invasion, nightclub terror,

bully/bullied, lynch mob, god cult, toddler-a-cide.
O America, shooting from the hip, from the last

of the trees in a national park, your militia surrounded
by SWAT. Say you're an upstanding patriot in an

invented war - defending unborn lobbyists, a double-
sided coin minted by the National Reprisal Association

of the craven congressionals - saying it to history's
final judge. You, great god Gun, in whom some trust:

in bunker-mind, underground condos. O say it in Homeric
chanted dactyls: I sing of arms & the punk self-pumped

up lovers of the Silencer. Dickinson wrote it first,
living god of Gun, you are "without the power to die".

- Carol-Mukse-Dukes




HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to me from my Annie (& her husband Johnny) in Oregon
- & Happy Mother's Day to everyone! The "maternal" in each of us, women & men, is the enlightenment (in my opinion) that will save this struggling fractured world, in the end.





I know Mother's Day is coming soon & here's a photo of my beautiful mother: a graduation portrait. She died not long ago at 99, still reciting Great Poems by heart.





PLEASE READ THIS POEM , "REIGN OF EMBERS", BY MY FRIEND, THE DISTINGUISHED POET, CECILIA WOLOCH: THIS POEM SHOWS US WHY POETRY, (& ALL THE ARTS) MATTER!

http://www.theamericanjournalofpoetry.com/v1-woloch.html




Day after wonderful Easter brunch chez moi - with my brother Jim, sis-in-law Kathy, my nephew John & his GF Rachael & my niece Kelsey & Travis, her BF... I cooked & baked from "scratch" - entrees & desserts + everyone brought beaucoup delicious goodies: a feast! & here are some of the flowers - please note the beautifully-decorated "personalized" eggs (created by Kelsey) in foreground. Happy E!



& patio flowers too!





Carol Muske-Dukes at the LA Times Festival of Books

Carol Muske-Dukes, Reading from "Twin Cities" and her Forthcoming "Blue Rose", Saturday, 4/22/2017, 12:30PM, Poetry Stage

Carol will also be moderating a panel called "The Edge of Identity":
The Edge of Identity: Race and Gender in Contemporary Poetry, Saturday, 4/22/2017, 2:00PM, Andrus Gerontology Center




My dazzling & powerful niece Lauren Mueller "models" the Wonder Woman Punching Trump's Lights Out T-shirt! BAM! POW! "SAD!!"





Another moment at dinner in Palm Springs with my sister Michele & Todd!





Here is my new Grandniece, ELSIE JANE LEASE, named for her great grandmother Elsie! Her proud parents are my niece Molly Lease & her husband.





My sister Michele & I, with pups (Sammy, Coleman & Flossie) - 97 degrees in Palm Springs, poolside at their villa





PLEASE SUPPORT NYT SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR STUDENTS, THANKS FOR DONATING TO THE CAUSE OF EDUCATED MINDS!



BAM! POW! SHE'S HAD IT!!





As requested: Tom Lux & me, c. 1980 or so - no heaven then. R.I.P, T.L. (Photo by Kelly Wise)





STEVE BANNON & THE END TIME

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/steve-bannon-apocalypse_us_5898f02ee4b040613138a951




Second-Guessing Trump!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/turning-the-tables-on-trump_us_5894ea21e4b02bbb1816ba1d




Jesus would be, as a Jew & a hippie in Trump's America - an alien outcast as he was in ancient Rome.





The Democratic Base Is Marching Right Past Its Leaders

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/womens-march-democrats-base_us_588a490ce4b061cf898d7e98?




STOP POPULAR-VOTE-LOSER'S LATEST

Breaking news from The Associated Press: Popular vote loser Donald Trump says he'll announce pick to fill Supreme Court vacancy next week.

Antonin Scalia's seat has sat vacant since February 2016 thanks to Republican intransigence. Democrats must obstruct Trump's disaster nominee with equal resolve. 

Call Senator Kamala D. Harris at and Senator Dianne Feinstein at (202) 224-3841. Tell them to oppose and filibuster any Supreme Court nominee.

Sample script
:
Hi, I'm (say your name) from (say from where you're calling). Donald Trump has promised to nominate right-wing extremists to the Supreme Court. They would be disastrous for civil liberties, civil rights, reproductive rights, protecting the environment and progress. Can I count on you to publicly oppose and filibuster any Trump nominee?
Once you've placed the call, please click here to tell us how it went. 

Can't call? Please write a personalized letter to your Democratic senator(s) urging them to oppose and filibuster any Supreme Court nominee.


During his campaign, the Cheeto-dusted Führer offered two possible choices to fill Antonin Scalia's seat: William Pryor and Diane Sykes. Both candidates are top picks of the right-wing Heritage Foundation. 

Here are some of William Pryor's top hits: Diane Sykes, for her part, is even more conservative than Pryor:
  • She argued for limits on corporate liability for defects in their products, urged overturning of a $1 million award for damages from defects and overturning a $3.5 million judgment for discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  • She took the outrageous view that a prosecutor should be legally shielded from a claim that he fabricated evidence that put a wrongly convicted man in prison for 17 years.
  • Sykes wrote the 2-1 Circuit Court majority ruling to invalidate the contraception mandate of Obamacare.
  • She disagreed with the 10 other judges on 7th Circuit when she voted for the strict Wisconsin voter ID law despite its unfair impact on student voters.
  • She wrote that an anti-gay student group should be allowed to receive state funding and recognition even though it engaged in banned discrimination. Sykes even claimed the group had not discriminated because it allowed membership of gays who vowed not to be engaged in sex. The U.S. Supreme Court subsequently ruled the other way.
For anyone who cares about civil liberties, civil rights, reproductive rights, environmental protections, progress and basic human decency, these two -- or anyone that comes recommended by the far right -- would be disastrous.

We don't yet know who the nominee will be but whoever Trump nominates will be positioned to shape U.S. policy for decades after his administration is dust in the wind. Democrats need to fight every unqualified nominee that comes before them, with every tool they've got. 

Call Senator Kamala D. Harris at and Senator Dianne Feinstein at (202) 224-3841. Tell them we need Democrats to do everything in their power to keep ultra-conservative extremists away from the Supreme Court.

Sample script
:
Hi, I'm (say your name) from (say from where you're calling). Donald Trump has promised to nominate right-wing extremists to the Supreme Court. They would be disastrous for civil liberties, civil rights, reproductive rights, environmental protections and progress. Can I count on you to publicly oppose and filibuster any Trump nominee?
Once you've placed the call, please click here to tell us how it went. 

Can't call? Please write a personalized letter to your Democratic senator(s) urging them to oppose and filibuster any Supreme Court nominee.


Keep fighting,
Monique Teal, Daily Kos




MARCHING W MARY POPPINS: HER WORD FOR TRUMP!





LOS ANGELES Women's March - Jan. 21- in joy & defiance!





Trump's W House deletes reference to Climate Change, Women's Rights and LGBT rights

http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/41494-trumps-whitehousegov-disappears-civil-rights-climate-change-lgbt-rights




DON'T WATCH TOMORROW: GIVE THE GRABBER HIS LOWEST RATINGS EVER!

ATTENTION! HELPFUL INFORMATION!
There's a lot of talk about people NOT watching the inauguration. The Grabber will be checking his ratings, and many may not know the way that the tv shows are rated.

To keep his rating LOW, you must have your television turned ON, but NOT tuned into any channel showing ANY inauguration coverage. If you don't turn your tv on, his ratings will show higher because of the percentage of sets tuned in. So set up all your televisions to the geographic channel or cooking channel! Anything that is not covering the inauguration, basically!

- Television must be on, but NOT tuned into channels covering Trump.

Please share this information!




PLEASE READ (& WEEP), THEN FOLLOW MM's INSTRUCTIONS --

Here's why Congressman and civil rights legend John Lewis is right that Trump "is not a legitimate President":

1. Nothing, including an arcane, racist section of the constitution, can change the fact that 3 million more Americans voted for Hillary than for Trump. It's either a democracy or it isn't. If he had won by 3 million, I would sadly admit that Trump is the President the American people wanted. But that's not what happened.

2. He is not well and needs help. He has a number of serious mental disorders that make him unfit to hold office — and they are on display every day in one cringe-worthy tweet after another. He is a full-blown malignant narcissist. He displays sociopathic tendencies. He will say one thing and 30 seconds later say the opposite. He is disconnected from the truth. And he has a stunning lack of human empathy. These behaviors make him a truly dangerous occupant of the Oval Office.

3. The Russians interfered with the election in order to get him elected. Even Trump now admits as much. That alone makes the election tainted and should be voided. We spend trillions on ridiculous weapons and ineffective police state-style homeland security measures to defend us against those who would "destroy our way of life" — but we are to remain silent when a foreign government is caught trying to get THEIR candidate elected as OUR president? AND they succeed! This is a joke of monstrous proportions — and the fact that conservatives, Republicans and patriotic good ol' boys are actively defending this foreign aggression into our country confirms to me what I've feared all along: that they really hate our form of democracy, our Bill of Rights, our belief that "All men (sic) are created equal," our one person-one vote system, that whoever scores the most points wins and that people of all religions are welcome here. They don't believe that, and I'd respect them so much more if they would just simply admit it.

4. The FBI clearly chose sides, and FBI Director Comey's interference in the 10 days before the election most-definitely helped tipped the balance to the FBI's preferred candidate, Donald J. Trump. That our own federal police would so brazenly attempt to throw the election to the person with the least votes is mind-boggling, frightening and must be stopped. Attorney General Lynch must immediately, today, appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate what to me appears to be a criminal offense. If this is true, I want to see FBI Director Comey in handcuffs and behind bars. Short of murder and a few other heinous acts, is there a worse crime in our democracy than the highest ranking cop in the land attempting to throw the election?

5. Trump has nominated in Rex Tillerson the most powerful corporate CEO in the world as "our" Secretary of State. Why would the quarter-billionaire head of the world's richest corporation want a "government job?" So that he, a personal friend of Putin's, can get the US sanctions lifted off Russia so that his company, ExxonMobil, can get back to their exclusive oil deal with Russia — which will eventually net ExxonMobil three TRILLION dollars. This is nothing less than a bold, audacious robbery in broad daylight — and it says a lot about you and me that they think they can get away with it.

6. Trump has potentially committed a number of felonies — and a felon simply can't sit in the Oval Office (I can't believe I even have to state that). From his admitted sexual assaults to whatever he's hiding in the tax returns, to possibly evading taxes, to his committing fraud with Trump U, to his long list of conflicts of interest — the chance of us having to suffer through his impeachment trial in the Senate is just too much to bear.

Donald Trump is, as John Lewis said, NOT a legitimate president. He is unfit, unstable and was elected with help from the Russian government. John Lewis has announced he will not attend the Inauguration, and eight other members of Congress today have joined him. Call (202-225-3121) or write your Congressperson and insist he or she not attend the swearing in of an illegitimate president. It's the least you can do short of standing in front of this runaway train.

— Michael Moore



A POEM FOR TRUMP (WITH APOLOGIES TO DR. SEUSS!)
I DIDN'T WRITE THIS, but "ANONYMOUS" did!

In a land where the states are united, they claim,
in a sky-scraping tower adorned with his name,
lived a terrible, horrible, devious chump,
the bright orange miscreant known as the Trump.

This Trump he was mean, such a mean little man,
with the tiniest heart and two tinier hands,
and a thin set of lips etched in permanent curl,
and a sneer and a scowl and contempt for the world.

He looked down from his perch and he grinned ear to ear,
and he thought, "I could steal the election this year!
It'd be rather simple, it's so easily won,
I'll just make them believe that their best days are done!
Yes, I'll make them believe that it's all gone to Hell,
and I'll be Jerk Messiah and their souls they will sell.

And I'll use lots of words disconnected from truth,
but I'll say them with style so they won't ask for proof.
I'll toss out random platitudes, phrases, and such,
They're so raised on fake news that it won't matter much!
They won't question the how to, the what, why, or when,
I will make their America great once again!"

The Trump told them to fear, they should fear he would say,
"They've all come for your jobs, they'll all take them away.
You should fear every Muslim and Mexican too,
every brown, black, and tan one, everyone who votes blue."

And he fooled all the Christians, he fooled them indeed,
He just trotted out Jesus, that's all Jesus folk need.
And celebrity preachers they all crowned him as king,
Tripping over themselves just to kiss the Trump's ring.

And he spoke only lies just as if they were true,
Until they believed all of those lies were true too.
He repeated and Tweeted and he blustered and spit,
And he mislead and fibbed—and he just made up sh*t.

And the media laughed but they printed each line,
thinking "He'll never will win, in the end we'll be fine."
So they chased every headline, bold typed every claim,
'Till the fake news and real news they looked just the same.

And the scared folk who listened, they devoured each word,
Yes, they ate it all up every word that they heard,
petrified that their freedom was under attack,
trusting Trump he would take their America back.
From the gays and from ISIS, he'd take it all back,
Take it back from the Democrats, fat cats, and blacks.
And so hook, line, and sinker they all took the bait,
all his lies about making America great.

Now the Pant-suited One she was smart and prepared,
she was brilliant and steady but none of them cared,
no they cared not to see all the work that she'd done,
or the fact they the Trump had not yet done Thing One.
They could only shout "Emails!", yes "Emails!" they'd shout,
because Fox News had told them—and Fox News had clout.
And the Pant-suited One she was slandered no end,
and a lie became truth she could never defend.
And the Trump watched it all go according to plan—
a strong woman eclipsed by an insecure man!

And November the 8th arrived, finally it came,
like a slow-moving storm but it came just the same.
And Tuesday became Wednesday as those days will do,
And the night turned to morning and the nightmare came true,
With millions of non-voters still in their beds,
Yes, the Trump he had done it, just like he had said.

And the Trumpers they trumped, how they trumped when he won,
All the racists and bigots; deplorable ones,
they crawled out from the woodwork, came out to raise Hell,
they came out to be hateful and hurtful as well.
With slurs and with road signs, with spray paint and Tweets,
with death threats to neighbors and taunts on the street.
And the grossest of grossness they hurled on their peers,
while the Trump he said zilch—for the first time in years.

But he Tweeted at Hamilton, he Tweeted the Times,
And he trolled Alec Baldwin a few hundred times,
and he pouted a pout like a petulant kid,
thinking this is what Presidents actually did,
thinking he could still be a perpetual jerk,
terrified to learn he had to actually work,
work for every American, not just for a few,
not just for the white ones—there was much more to do!
He now worked for the Muslims and Mexicans too,
for the brown, black, and tan ones, and the ones who vote blue.
They were all now his bosses, now they all had a say,
and those nasty pant-suited ones were here to stay!
And the Trump he soon realized that he didn't win,
He had gotten the thing—and the Thing now had him.

And it turned out the Trump was a little too late,
for America was already more than quite great,
not because of the sameness, the opposite's true,
It's greatness far more than just red, white, and blue,
It's straight, gay, and female—it's Gentile and Jew,
It's Transgender and Christian and Atheist too.
It's Asians, Caucasians of every kind,
The disabled and abled, the deaf and the blind,
It's immigrants, Muslims, and brave refugees,
It's Liberals with bleeding hearts fixed to their sleeves.
And we are all staying, we're staying right here,
and we'll be the great bane of the Trump for four years.
And we'll be twice as loud as the loudness of hate,
be the greatness that makes our America great.
And the Trump's loudest boasts they won't ever obscure,
over two million more of us—voted for her.

- by Anonymous




ANOTHER (& PERHAPS THE GREATEST) DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OBAMA & TRUMP: READING

It was so gratifying to see that the New York Times sent its literary critic to interview President Obama in the White House and ran the story on the front page under the headline: "How Reading Nourished Obama" during his White House years. What followed was testimony to how intelligence and humanity GROW: through reading.

Conversely we look at Donald Trump and see the shocking opposite of a curious, searching mind. This is a man who doesn't read and prides himself on never opening books.

This is a man whose intellect stopped expanding at a very young age, whose overall comprehension - and most important, his potential for EMPATHY (which I believe is the fundamental, life-changing reason to read, to get out of the self and identify with worlds beyond the self) ceased.

I have dedicated my life to reading, writing and teaching - and one of the most important insights I hope to pass on to everyone with whom I come in contact is the importance of reading books, whether in the library, bookstore, electronically or on tape.

The voices in books speak to us from other times - and invite us into conversations with the imagination, the intellect, the dreams and arguments, the power-search and compassion of other minds. Reading operates outside of time, it is timeless, like poetry - and transports us from our pinging, trivia-burdened "devices" and screens into the ages, the galaxies, into the life of a grain of sand.

Reading is the antidote for the Tweet Cemetery - so many "dead" words - no room for the imaginative or the "in depth". (though I think poems at 140 characters could work!)

Just read. Do you want to grow up to be like Donald Trump? With a tiny brain and enormous ego - with no grace or style or charisma - or care for others, ever? Where money is everything, and lies are inventions of a tiny self-protecting sensiblity that knows nothing of the world of ideas?

Sorry - didn't mean to insist. Just think about it. Read the New York Times article on Obama and what he has read during the last eight years.

Then think about how any writer of note has been a passionate reader, forever.


- CMD




WRITERS RESIST!

The Writers Resist reading in L.A. (Beyond Baroque, in Venice, Jan. 15) was a huge success, with over 400 people attending - and superb contributions, read aloud by the writers!

Just a quick thought. This powerful national statement by writers came about because of Erin Belieu, poet and activist, who came up with the idea of the literary Resistance!

However, in the "guide" that organizers of the readings received - re creating reading "sites" in cities all over the U.S. (& Europe!) - there was a "cautionary" observation from the writers' organization, PEN (as "sponsor") about not mentioning "the president-elect's" name, rather concentrating on quoting great writers and statesmen of the past, etc.

Yes! to the reading of important words that inform democracy, the arts, free expression, etc.- and that certainly was the order of the day. (Others did talk about Trump - explicitly.) I think we (who agree) should "mention" Trump's name loudly and often! He was the reason we came together at Erin Belieu's suggestion in the first place - to "resist" him, in words - and with our voices.

I think that the "non profits" are feeling vulnerable right now and hence are attempting to stay within "safe margins" in their public events and broadcasting. Even Bill Maher is feeling edgy - and he's not even a non-profit!

But we must not soften our voices - or conform to "polite" standards - to try to stay on the safe side of a vindictive, tyrannical and unreasonable administration, even as I get it that nonprofits could lose their status.

So is the answer to temper the "news", the presentation, the "policy" - in order to keep the status quo?

I don't know.

All I know is - we need as many voices as possible, taking a risk, walking the edge, pushing out the margins of "safe" - to CLARITY about what is going on in our lives as citizens of the United States.

And writers.




BILL MOYERS SAYS THAT TRUMP ISN'T FIT TO BE A "WHATEVER" ON THE GREAT JOHN LEWIS' POSTERIOR!

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/41417-focus-john-lewis-is-a-true-american-profile-in-courage




QUOTE ME: TRUMP IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO DNA!



WRITERS RESIST! JOIN US on JANUARY 15th, 2017 - the L.A. WR READING!

Writers Resist Los Angeles Public Reading




PLEASE READ THIS. I'VE BEEN SAYING IT ALL ALONG.

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/41381-focus-this-is-a-coup-detat-plain-and-simple




EVERYONE: PLEASE READ!

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v38/n24/richard-seymour/schadenfreude-with-bite




MERYL STREEP SPEAKS AWFUL TRUTH TO AN AWFUL HUMAN BEING WHO IS THE PRESIDENT-ELECT

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/meryl-streep-takes-donald-trump-town-golden-globes-article-1.2940619




New poetry from Jane Mead and Daniel Borzutzky examine death - in both human and national forms

New LA Times review by Carol Mukes-Dukes >>




Happy New Year! Howard Altmann & I on our way to Steve Martin's NY's Eve party





"LIVE/DIE" - recent New York Times Magazine poem by CMD

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/14/t-magazine/nari-ward-carol-muske-dukes-art-poem.html




ON MY WAY TO SEE THE AMAZING HAMILTON - STOPPING BY SARDI'S TO VISIT DAVID'S PORTRAIT, AS ALWAYS (April 2016)





IN SNOWY BEND, OREGON - with Annie, Johnny & Rhombus: the chocolate Lab in the Santa hat!





A CHORUS OF POETS: A HUFF PO ROUND-UP REVIEW by CMD

New Huffington Post Blog: A Chorus Of Poets, Differently Caroling




Support Reader-Supported News, they provide the news you need to know about

The Daily Beast: How Russian Hackers Can Blackmail Donald Trump - and the GOP
The Daily Beast: World War III: Democrats and America vs. Trump and Russia




McCARTHYISM IS BACK: DISGRACEFUL "WATCH LIST" CREATED TO INTIMIDATE PROFESSORS - DON'T BE INTIMIDATED!

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/30/opinion/i-am-a-dangerous-professor.html




PARIS REVIEW POEM OF THE DAY!


TheParisReview.org - Condolence Note: Los Angeles by Carol Muske Dukes




https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/shouting-match-erupts-between...




OPRAH FOR PRESIDENT, 2020!

New Huffington Post Blog: Vote For President Oprah In 2020!




Wildfire Moon (Summer, L.A. 2016) by Carol Muske-Dukes

Poem-A-Day: http://academyofamericanpoets.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/...




THANK YOU NOTES! re: TRUMP!

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/13/opinion/sunday/2016-election-thank-you-notes.html




ANTI-TRUMP PROTEST, LOS ANGELES, Nov. 11, 2016 - NOT MY PRESIDENT!!!





Elect Hillary Clinton on December 19th!

https://www.change.org/p/electoral-college-electors-electoral-college-make-hillary-clinton-president-on-december-19




NASTY WOMEN UNITE AGAINST PREDATOR DUMPF!





THE 2016 "DUKES" tennis tournament - my daughter Annie read the "Dukes" memorial poem - and she and Johnny and my brother Jim, etc. - a wonderful day!







ANNOUNCING: Carol's ninth book of poems, entitled BLUE ROSE is forthcoming - to be published by Penguin (in the Penguin Poets series) in early 2018. Worth waiting for!




THE MUSKE & MUSKE-DUKES PARTY at BRUNCH PRIOR TO THE DAVID DUKES TENNIS TOURNAMENT & AWARDS CEREMONY - the 16th YEAR!


With Jim Muske, John Muske, Kathy Muske, Kelsey Muske, Annie Muske-Dukes-Driggs & Johnny Driggs.




Poetry

Carol Muske-Dukes' first book of poems was CAMOUFLAGE: Univ. of Pittsburgh Press, which was first runner-up for the International Poetry Forum prize. Next came the Dylan Thomas Poetry Award, 1975.

CAMOUFLAGE was followed by a new collection, SKYLIGHT, from Doubleday Poetry Series, 1981.

SKYLIGHT won a Creative Artists Public Service Program award (CAPS) and (while in progress) the Poetry Society of America's Alice Fay di Castagnola Award.

Then, the John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship (spent partially in Italy).

Next was WYNDMERE, from Univ. of Pittsburgh Press, 1985, awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Grant followed by APPLAUSE, Univ. of Pittsburgh Press, 1989, which garnered an
Ingram-Merrill Fellowship.

In 1993, Penguin Books published RED TROUSSEAU, which was a NYTimes Notable Book & Phi Kappa Phi, USC's book award.

And 1997 brought New & Selected Poems, AN OCTAVE ABOVE THUNDER, with poems featured in Best American Poetry. Also the University of Virginia's Rea Writers Award

SPARROW was published by Random House in 2003 & was selected as National Book Award Finalist, short list.

From the National Book Award citation:
"SPARROW demonstrates that the requiem, the elegy, and the blues are not always primal cries of hopelessness and despair, but are - at their most sublime- enduring efforts to turn that which is deeply devastating into something beautiful, even transcendent. SPARROW's understated musicality, intelligent architecture, and naked honesty seduce and comfort, even as the poems guide us through the pain of death, the details of marital disquiet, and the grace of marital love. Whether she is employing classical or contemporary forms, Muske-Dukes is teaching us how to grieve and lament, all over again."

TWIN CITIES came out from the Penguin Poets Series in 2011, with acknowledgements - the Harmon Visiting Writer Award & Smart Family Award (Columbia University)

BLUE ROSE, Penguin Poets Series, is forthcoming in 2018.

"On a dark day, when I've read too much, and all the poets start turning into each other, I like to think about Carol Muske, who only turns into more wonderful versions of herself. Her dazzle and virtuosity are one of a kind: Mozartean. That's as high as I know how to go." - Carolyn Kizer




Fiction

DEAR DIGBY, Viking Press, 1989

"Once you've opened Dear Digby, it has to be sandblasted out of your hands." - Washington Post

"Dear Digby is a blend of social satire, war between the sexes and mystery thriller... full of sharp insights and surprising images." - The New York Times Book Review

SAVING ST. GERM, Penguin Book, 1993
New York Times Notable Book

"Accomplishes just what art is supposed to accomplish: It makes the world new." - The New Yorker

"A truly original work of fiction" - The New York Times Book Review

"A beautifully written full-blown 1990's portrait of a rare type: a woman and a mother." - The Boston Globe

CHANNELING MARK TWAIN, Random House, 2007
Best Books of the Year, San Francisco Chronicle

"Effortlessly, the narrator's story becomes one with the stories of the women in prison. Rarely do we encounter a perspective clear as glass, through which the characters look back at the narrator without mirror or microscope, false hierarchy or romanticizing.. Brava!" - Toni Morrison

"Muske-Dukes shows us there is something magical and mighty in the connections that art can forge among human beings." - Los Angeles Times Book Review

"Muske-Dukes takes vast chances with both her voice and her subject matter and ends with a work strongly based on reality but unquestionably elevated into the wondrous realm of art." - San Francisco Chronicle

LIFE AFTER DEATH, Random House, 2001

"... her latest work of fiction is filled with lyric and graceful moments." - The New York Times Book Review

"An exquisitely-written tale with raw emotional appeal, a deeply humanistic story of death, grief and survival." - Publishers Weekly

"An aching awareness of mortality ... suffuses every scene in Carol Muske-Dukes' luminous new novel, which turns a tale of sudden loss into an astonishing meditation on love and bereavement." - Newsday

People & the date





Essays

WOMEN & POETRY: Truth, Autobiography, and the Shape of the Self, University of Michigan Press, 1997

MARRIED TO THE ICEPICK KILLER: A POET IN HOLLYWOOD, Random House, 2002, a collection of essays reprinted from the NY Times (Book Review Book Ends, Op Ed & Magazine) + the LA Times Book Review, etc.)

 

Carol Muske-Dukes was poetry columnist ("Poets Corner") for several years for the L.A. Times.

"Ah, that wonderful rare thing: a poet who has the ability to deepen the secrets of experience even while revealing them." - Los Angeles Times Book Review




Anthologies (co-edited)

CROSSING STATE LINES: An American Renga (54 American poets in poetry-conversation) was published by Farrar, Strauss & Giroux in 2011 with co-editors, Carol Muske-Dukes & Bob Holman

As Poet Laureate of California (2008-2011), Carol Muske-Dukes edited:

THE MAGIC POETRY BLIMP PILOT'S GUIDE, a handbook to
reading, writing & learning poetry by heart - published in two volumes, in 2011 and 2013.




Carol Muske-Dukes  has also been a judge for the National Book Award, for the National Endowment for the Arts, for the Kingsley-Tufts Poetry Prize(s), for the Y Discovery Award and numerous other award-granting entities, including Gold Line Press, at USC.

Besides being included regularly in Best American Poetry & Pushcart Press Prize volumes - she has been the subject of many interviews, from Terry Gross on NPR (twice) to Publisher's Weekly to Michael Silverblatt's "Bookworm" to Renee Montagne's NPR "Morning Edition" to "On Point".

Published widely (New Yorker to APR) and has given readings all over the U.S. - represented by Molly Friedrich Agency, NYC.

Besides founding "Art Without Walls/Free Space" - a statewide writing program in NY State prisons, she has also founded the PhD Program in Creative Writing & Literature at USC.

She has been a professor of English/CW at USC for many years - but has been visiting writer at Columbia University's MFA Program, the Iowa Writers Workshop, the Univ. of Calif. at Irvine MFA program and the University of Virginia's masters program.

www.carolmuskedukes.com




Two scary Halloween monsters, "dressed" by my dog wrangler, Dawn Abrams!





I'M WITH HER





FORECLOSING ON TRUMP

New Huffington Post blog >>




This meme has deservedly gone viral - check it out!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/9/29/1576005/-Best-political-meme-of-the-week-no-month-maybe-year




My daughter Annie & me, prior to being eaten by a raptor at Universal





Rain Room exhibit at Los Angeles County Museum - Bill Handley took this picture of me in the "rain"





A beautiful thank you from a dear friend - heavenly flowers!





HAPPY 33RD BIRTHDAY (August 19th!) TO MY BRILLIANT SCIENTIST-DAUGHTER, ANNIE!





A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: ART & POETRY COMBINE AT THE NEW BROAD

http://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/2354/a-tour-of-the-imagination-art-inspires-graduate-poetry-at-the-br




Thanking Laura Sillerman for this long ago post - about poetry & activism - VOTE HILLARY!!

http://womensvoicesforchange.org/tag/outside-santa-fe










My new book of poems, (either to be called A Former Love, a Lover of Form OR Blue Rose -- votes?) was just accepted for publication by my editor at Penguin - great news!




What a brilliant night in NYC - hosting at the Academy of American Poets gala, with amazing poet-friends - listening to great readers, including Paul Simon, reading & singing!






DON'T FEEL THE BERN UNTIL YOU READ THIS

https://medium.com/@robinalperstein/on-becoming-anti-bernie-ee87943ae699#.no72h7q8j




New York Times "T" Magazine: An Artist and a Poet Capture Death in a Hospice Room

My new poem with artist's image by Nari Ward in this Sunday's New York Times' T Magazine >>




Early Bird Books: April 11th Deal of the Day for Saving St. Germ


Today's Early Bird Books features Saving St. Germ. Saving St. Germ will be down priced at $2.99 for today (4/11) only. >>






INVITE-ONLY READING AT THE NEW BROAD MUSEUM IN APRIL

Carol Muske-Dukes will be presenting her amazing USC graduate students (PhD) in an art-inspired ekphrastic reading at the new Broad Museum in L.A. in April (Carol reading one poem as well). This is an invitation-only event. TBA




POETRY MONTH CELEBRATION WITH CHOO-CHOO'S! (UNION STATION)!

Metro Art Poetry Month Event:

In collaboration with the Poetry Society of America, Metro Art presents local poets in a poetry reading at Union Station in L.A.

Carol will join Dana Goodyear and Amy Uyematsu, who will give readings on April 21st from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM in the East Portal of the station.

For more information, visit Metro.net and the Metro Art Presents: Rush Hour Readings' Facebook event page.




NATIONAL POETRY MONTH: ACADEMY OF AMERICAN POETS' GALA - APRIL 27th, NYC, ALICE TULLY HALL, 7 pm

On April 27th, Carol Muske-Dukes will be one of the Honorary Hosts at the Poetry & the Creative Mind VIP reception, which supports educational programs, and this year marks the 20th anniversary of National Poetry Month.

Honorary Hosts: Poets Catherine Barnett, Sophie Cabot Black, Mahogany L. Browne, Mark Doty, Jorie Graham, Rachel Eliza Griffiths, Kimiko Hahn, Marie Howe, Saeed Jones, Yusef Komunyakaa, Deborah Landau, Joseph Legaspi, Carol Muske-Dukes, Alicia Ostriker, Ron Padgett, Gregory Pardlo, Sonia Sanchez, Vijay Seshadri, Susan Stewart, Craig Morgan Teicher, and Anne Waldman. >>




Carol's Schedule at AWP (Associated Writing Programs National Conference)

Sneak Peek: A Late Style of Fire - the Larry Levis Documentary
Room 411, LA Convention Center, Meeting Room Level
Friday, April 1, 2016
1:30 pm to 2:45 pm

This panel provides a "sneak peek" screening and discussion by the filmmaker and participants of A Late Style of Fire, the revealing, unconventional feature-length documentary film about Larry Levis. The film explores his life and work through narration unveiled in words from his own poems as well as photos, videos, and artful visual explorations, and featuring interviews with Philip Levine, Charles Wright, Carolyn Forché, David St. John, Carol Muske-Dukes, Norman Dubie, family members, lovers, friends, and more. Music by Iron & Wine. >>

USC Creative Writing Faculty Reading
Room 515 A, LA Convention Center, Meeting Room Level
Friday, April 1, 2016
4:30 pm to 5:45 pm

This is a reading by USC creative writing faculty, in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, all of whom teach in the PhD in Creative Writing & Literature Program. >>




FORMER USC PRESIDENT, STEVE SAMPLE: In Memoriam

LA Times: Feminist, poet and a good neighbor: Spielberg, others, remember former USC President Steven Sample by Zahira Torres, Jason Song and Matt Hamilton >>

California's former poet laureate and USC professor Carol Muske-Dukes recalled how she met Sample: through an exchange of correspondence.

Muske-Dukes had read a story about a cheer squad at USC, and she wrote a note to Sample telling him that she thought the way the group was presented did not provide a positive image of women.

Sample disagreed -- his wife, Kathryn Brunkow Sample, had participated in cheer squads when she was younger.

Their conversation, in a series of handwritten letters, quickly expanded into a discussion of feminism. Sample, the father of two daughters, considered himself a feminist, she said.

"We got to know each other through my big mouth basically," Muske-Dukes said. "He was a friend. I really liked him as not only a man who spoke his mind very directly, but also he was a closet poet."

Muske-Dukes said they often talked about poetry. Robert Frost's "Birches" was among his favorites. She recalled how happy Sample was when she was named poet laureate for the state. He even had a copy of one of her poems in his office.

When her husband died more than 15 years ago, Sample drove from his home in San Marino to Hancock Park to be with her and her daughter. They all held hands as he said a prayer, then a poem.

"It was so touching and so typical at the same time," Muske-Dukes said, adding: "It's an indescribable loss of a secret poet as well as a great president of a university."




Friends, don't make me beg. Just send $ -- every little bit helps -- to this funding platform & if you want a part in a cool film - give a lot!



http://www.gofundme.com/sapphothefilm



FRIDAY NIGHT! "I Married the Icepick Killer" by Carol Muske-Dukes at GUILD HALL, EAST HAMPTON! 7:30






I MARRIED THE ICEPICK KILLER, A New Play by Carol Muske-Dukes, at Guild Hall

March 11th - Guild Hall
Please come if you're anywhere near EHampton - I'll be in the City before & after -

Cheers & thanks,
cmd



For more information, visit guildhall.org.



John Cleese on (Fox News) stupidity


DailyKos.com >>




New Huffington Post Blog Post - "Hillary: True Story"


Hillary: True Story by Carol Muske-Dukes (Feb. 9, 2016) >>







Happy Thanksgiving with daughter Annie (& Johnny & pups Rhombus & Lana) in very snowy Bend, Oregon!






Elsie K. (Kuchera) Muske Obituary | Star Tribune






Early this morning (September 24, 2015), my mother, Elsie Muske, passed away in her sleep in St. Paul, Minnesota. She was a poet at heart, and as her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren knew, she had countless poems by heart and could recite them all. "Sunset and evening star and one clear call for me / May there be no moaning of the bar when I put out to sea." She was 99 years old.




Huffington Post Blog Piece - "Gale Force"

Gale Force by Carol Muske-Dukes (Posted on Sept. 8, 2015 | Updated on Sept. 14, 2015) >>




Hi,

Republican leaders are threatening to shut down the entire federal government for the second time in three years unless Congress cuts funding for Planned Parenthood. We cannot let them get away with it!

Planned Parenthood is a lifeline for millions of women, providing cancer screenings, contraception, and basic preventive health care to women across the country.

That's why I signed a petition to The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate, which says:

"STOP the war on women and Planned Parenthood. Don't cut a dime in federal funding for Planned Parenthood."

Will you sign the petition too? Click here to add your name:

http://pac.petitions.moveon.org/sign/stop-the-war-on-women-8?source=s.fwd&r_by=1300090

Thanks!
Carol




Happy Birthday, Annie!





Annie celebrates her birthday with me on a fun run in Bend!





"I Married the Ice-pick Killer"

Praise for "Married to the Icepick Killer: A Poet in Hollywood" in the Los Angeles Times http://articles.latimes.com/2002/dec/15/books/bk-klapwald15...

See the play, I Married the Ice-Pick Killer, on Sept. 11 at 7pm at #HowlHappening. Tickets available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2105772 ... all proceeds to benefit The Actors Fund.



Staged Reading of "I Married the Ice-pick Killer"


To purchase tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com.



CAROL'S PLAY, "I MARRIED THE ICEPICK KILLER" : READINGS!

Two staged readings in Manhattan coming up! On September 11, 2015, the play will be read at the HOWL HAPPENING Gallery/Theater Space at 6 East 1st St. -- at 7 PM as part of the New Play Festival, benefiting the Actors' Fund. There is an admission charge - less if done on-line - $8. (Suggested donation) Directed by Christopher Grabowski, with actors Caroline Kinsolving, David Joseph, Ann Pellegrini and others.

The second staged reading will be at the Stella Adler Studio Center (affiliated, NYU TIsch) on December 17th, 2015, time TBA.

Please plan to attend if you're in the City!



Extra! Extra! Read All About It: It's a Way of Looking at the World!

The Virginia Quarterly Review (Summer 2015): Carol Muske-Dukes and the Art of Empathy by Debra Nystrom >>



Recent Reviews of New Poetry Books!

Huffington Post Blog (June 1, 2015) >>



Life and Work



• Carol Muske-Dukes, USC Professor of English and Creative Writing, talks about how poetry is part of her life — and her work. >>

Video by Mira Zimet & USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences



Is Your Vet Your Pet's (& Your) Best Friend? (Part 2)

Huffington Post Blog Entry (April 28, 2015) >>



Huffington Post Blog (March 15, 2015)

Are Veterinarians Your Dog (and Your) Best Friends? >>



My Annie & little Flossie!





Annie & Mr. Coleman





On the Record - Past Reading (University of North Dakota Writers Conference)

March 26, 2015

12:00 p.m. Panel: "In the Heart of the Country" (Carol Muske-Dukes, Gish Jen, Bonnie Jo Campbell, and Roxane Gay)
Moderator: Melissa Gjellstad

2:00 p.m. Community Workshop : Fiction
Film: A Little Romance (Dir. George Roy Hill, 1979, 108 min.), selected by Carol Muske-Dukes
Lecture Bowl

4:00 p.m. Reading: Carol Muske-Dukes >>



Mom Holding On at 98 - with me, in Minnesota





Los Angeles Times: How Tom Sleigh, Marilyn Hacker, Deborah Landau, Cecilia Woloch bear witness

by Carol Muske-Dukes (March 6, 2015) >>



Christmas at Annie's






Early Bird Books Newsletter

I Married the Icepick Killer ebook on sale this December: shttp://link.openroadmedia.com/public/3429879




Mark Strand, a revelatory poet of love and death

LA Times - Poet Mark Strand wrote for the ages, his voice unparalleled: Carol Muske-Dukes pays tribute >>



Check out my Annie's beautiful new blue hair!




Those Who Hope Not To Be Erased: Paris Review Interview -- CMD

http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2014/07/08/those-who-hope-not-to-be-erased-an-interview-with-carol-muske-dukes/


"A writer and poet whose verse recently appeared in the Spring issue of The Paris Review-Carol Muske-Dukes has long been interested and active in presenting a public face of poetry. A former poet laureate of California and a teacher for many years, she founded the Ph.D. program in Creative Writing at the University of Southern California and began a writing program, in 1972, at the Women's House of Detention on Rikers Island in New York. On the heels of National Poetry Month, I spoke with Muske-Dukes at her home in Southern California about the many contemporary approaches to reading, writing, and thinking about the art of poetry, from hip-hop to "unoriginal genius" and how language matters."



Open Letter Poem: Huffington Post - November 14, 2014

by Carol Muske-Dukes >>

A single fact to start: Nicholas Kristof (and others) have reported that more women were killed in the last 50 years just for being women than all of the men in all of the wars of the 20th century! Come again? It's a fact. The men bought it in World Wars or regional wars or battles sanctioned by the State -- the women all died because they had female body parts! 

Do we all know that a 27-year-old, critically ill woman (26 weeks pregnant) died recently while undergoing a Cesarean section ordered by a judge in Washington, D.C., in his attempt to save the fetus? (The judge, by the way, was aware of the great risk to the young woman's life.)

The world was outraged by the YouTube beheadings of journalists by ISIS, but, folks, women are beheaded (or stoned to death) with appalling regularity in countries like Saudi Arabia. Just for "being women" -- or for acting on human desire, for having an opinion, for seeking to be educated.

Sixteen-year-old Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai is shot in the head by the Taliban for standing up, in Pakistan, for the rights of young women to go to school. (You know the saying: The Taliban doesn't fear bombs or drones -- they fear a young woman with a book.)

From deadly gang-rapes in India, to rapes in the U.S. (and the billing of rape victims for rape kits!) to sexual harassment in the military to sexual violence on campuses across the U.S. -- hey, sisters, look around? Former President Jimmy Carter says in his book, A Call to Action, "The world's discrimination and violence against women and girls is the most serious, pervasive and ignored violation of basic human rights."

What will it take for our feminist leaders to speak out? What will it take for our politicians (both parties) to finally admit that this assault on every aspect of a woman's existence has gone far enough?

I'm a poet. Who listens to poets? Nobody! But since it seems to me that very few other women (with some exceptions) are pushing back against this ongoing and universal assault on our sex, I've (yes!) written a poem of protest. Laughable? I intend to write more about this gender war. But for now, here is a poem about birth control. Yes, a poem.

When it is said that the tea party fundamentalists (like all fundamentalists, in whatever religion) are obsessed with "lady parts" -- and their critics charge that they are condemning us to the "dark ages" -- I offer this poem in response.

If the "dark ages" are understood to be any century prior to the one in which we (briefly) live -- then surely, if we go back to 6th and 5th centuries, B.C.E., to huge Cyrene ship trade from North Africa to Rome and beyond, we find that the biggest "seller" was a plant called Silphium, whose resin was a highly effective form of birth control. So effective and so wildly popular was this plant that a whole economy was built around it, and a currency -- a silver coin depicting a woman bowing to Silphium was as common as quarters are now. 

But there's more. The symbol of this "safe sex" plant (or its seedpod, which resembled a woman's private parts) became the shape of what we call the "heart," the romantic sign of love.

It's obvious that our heart muscle doesn't look like the Valentine cartoon that fuels are image of romance and affection. The Silphium plant, however, and its curvy "pod" was painted on signs in the ancient world advertising safe sex and gave us that symbol. Which our ancestors were smart enough to know was necessary, fair and respectful of women. And men.

So next time you see a Valentine, think of birth control. That's where that sweet red symbol came from.

SILPHIUM

The missing history of the heart is here
Where the shape of Love originated -
Double lobe of an ancient seedpod.

Senator, our universal symbol of Love, the heart,
did not come from a pumping lump, but from
this pharma sign in ancient doorways, on walls,

meant to mimic a woman's intimate parts.
The good plant's ovary: an ad for safe sex,
Love without fear, when one sipped its elixir.

Look! Here is my sister, a talking vagina, re-
Minding you that a woman's sex is not a draw-
bridge, though girls can learn to crank a chain.

Would that it grew again, Senator, recultivated
Centuries after it was harvested to extinction.
Would that we could rocket back to that one

Shimmering patch of North African till-able.
The only place on earth it consented to grow.
Call up the cargo ships again, the winged vessels.

Women waited in the world's harbors, they wait still. 
Not for "I want you", but for "I want you in small doses". 
Paid for in coins from the temple of Silphium: mint image,

a woman, bowing to a plant between her legs. We pay in hearts now, 
fake shapes of romance, boxed Valentines from your Church of Holy Come, becoming an eyelash of cells you won't be Daddy to, yet stamp your face

on the Mommy coin. Babies & guns, Senator: the heart of America!
But the smiley faces are frowning now: they "heart" the Right.
The drawbridge draws in. My sister, the talking vagina, remains silent.




Mark Strand & Carol Muske-Dukes at a Poetry Society event




THE WAR ON WOMEN WIDENS ITS BATTLEGROUND TO GAMING

NYTimes: Feminist Critics of Video Games Facing Threats in 'GamerGate' Campaign >>



Petition: Revoke the Tax-Exempt Status of the National Football League

I just signed the petition "Congress: Revoke the Tax-Exempt Status of the National Football League" and wanted to see if you could help by adding your name.

Our goal is to reach 500,000 signatures and we need more support. You can read more and sign the petition here:

https://www.change.org/p/congress-revoke-the-tax-exempt-status-of-the-national-football-league








Boston Review Interview with Nola Gignere by Carol Muske-Dukes

September 10, 2014 >>



Get Lit - Classic Slam




My niece Molly's beautiful new daughter, McCartney Catherine!





Here is my new dog, Joan Rivers Floribunda, adopted from the South LA animal shelter on Sept. 6 - joining Coleman & me!




Coleman & Flossie: Getting Along





Academy of American Poets "Poem-a-Day" - August 7, 2014

"Failure to Thrive" >>



THE VOICE OF WOMEN IN AMERICAN POETRY: with Cyrus Cassells, Carol Muske-Dukes, and Maggie Nelson

Thursday, Sep 18, 7:00pm
Pasadena Central Library Auditorium
285 E. Walnut St.
Pasadena, CA

The PSA's 2014 National Series pays tribute to the immense achievement of a wide range of poets, from Emily Dickinson and Emma Lazarus to Sylvia Plath, Gwendolyn Brooks, Adrienne Rich, and Wanda Coleman. In this Pasadena installment, distinguished contemporary poets will celebrate the lives and poetry of three 20th century figures, discussing their influence and reading poems of their own in tribute:

Cyrus Cassells on Ai
Carol Muske-Dukes on Ina Coolbrith
Maggie Nelson on on Eileen Myles

Co-sponsored by the Pasadena Central Library. For more information, visit PoetrySociety.Org.



A Tribute to Mark Strand (Thursday, Oct 9, 7:00pm)

The New School
The Auditorium at 66 West 12th Street
66 West 12th Street
New York, NY

Please join us as we celebrate the 80th birthday of legendary poet Mark Strand. With readings and tribute by Jonathan Aaron, John Beer, Peg Boyers, Timothy Donnelly, Jorie Graham, Edward Hirsch, John Koethe, David Lehman, Honor Moore, Carol Muske-Dukes, Jacqueline Osherow, Mary Jo Salter, Alan Shapiro, Vijay Seshadri, Charles Simic, Tom Sleigh, Susan Stewart, Rosanna Warren, Charles Wright, and Andrew Zawacki.

Co-sponsored by the Academy of American Poets, the New School Writing Program, and the Poetry Foundation

Admission is free. For more information, please visit PoetrySociety.org.



Mom at 98 with daughter (me) & great-grandaughter Louisa





At the Guthrie Theatre - in the "amber box" overview - with my sister Michele Mueller & sis-in-law Jane Pates Muske, August 21: Minnesota





Ebola Research Slow-Down by Big Pharmaceutical Companies: Meanwhile we look at our navels through big-sell "reality"

August 5, 2014 - Huffington Post - Augmented Reality >>



Order Poetry, Fiction & Essays by Carol Muske-Dukes from OPEN ROAD MEDIA — re-published as E-BOOKS!

OPEN ROAD INTEGRATED MEDIA LAUNCHES EBOOKS BY FORMER
CALIFORNIA POET LAUREATE CAROL MUSKE-DUKES


Muske-Dukes was hailed by Donald Justice as "One of the best poets of her generation."

"Accomplishes just what art is supposed to accomplish: it makes the world new." —The New Yorker

"The linkage of blood and blood; the hummingbird, symbol of all that is luminous, swift, and ephemeral; the light, sure touch-these are characteristic of [Muske-Dukes'] art." —The New York Times Book Review


(New York, NY—June 10, 2014)—Open Road Integrated Media, a digital publisher and multimedia content company, announced today that it will release and market seven works by Carol Muske-Dukes on June 10:

· Applause
· Camouflage
· Dear Digby
· I Married the Icepick Killer
· Saving St. Germ
· Skylight
· Wyndmere

Carol Muske-Dukes is the author of eight books of poems, four novels, and two essay collections, and is an editor of two anthologies, including Crossing State Lines: An American Renga, which she coedited with Bob Holman. Many of her books have been New York Times Notable selections. Muske-Dukes is a professor of English and creative writing at the University of Southern California, where she founded the PhD program in creative writing and literature, and she recently fulfilled her appointment as poet laureate of California, appointed by the governor's office. Her poetry collection Sparrow was a National Book Award finalist and she is a six-time Pushcart Prize winner. She writes for the New York Times Book Review and the New York Times op-ed page, the Los Angeles Times, the Huffington Post, and the New Yorker's Page-Turner blog. Her poems have been published and anthologized widely, including in several editions of Best American Poetry. Muske-Dukes has been the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts grant, a Library of Congress award, Barnes & Noble's Writer for Writers Award, and many other honors. She lives in Southern California and New York.

Visit www.openroadmedia.com/carol-muske-dukes for more information.

About Open Road Integrated Media: Open Road Integrated Media is a digital publisher and multimedia content company that creates connections between authors and their audiences. Open Road has published ebooks from legendary authors including William Styron, Pat Conroy, Alice Walker, James Jones and Virginia Hamilton.




The Voices and Faces of Palestine - Summer, 2014

POETRY & PHOTOGRAPHY - Confessions at Midrange by Nathalie Handal >>



Carol Muske-Dukes visited Hotchkiss on September 25, 2013




Recent Poems in The Paris Review & Smithsonian Magazine

Click here to read "Mark Twain's Dream", a new poem published in Smithsonian Magazine. Another recent poem, "No Hands", is in the current issue of The Paris Review (No. 208, Spring 2014).



Women's Wear Daily
Feting The Paris Review >>




LA Times Op-Ed: Welcome, Professor Bieber — by Carol Muske-Dukes

Here's a modest proposal: Why not ask one of our major universities to step up and hire him? >>



NEW BOOKS OF POEMS: LA Times Roundup Review, March 15, 2014 — Carol Muske-Dukes

Poetry shelf: Jane Mead, Maxine Kumin, Kevin Young, J.D. McClatchy >>



Book Signing at Hudson News, United Terminal @ LAX


Source: [Instagram]

Carol Muske-Dukes will have a book signing at Hudson News (United Terminal, Los Angeles International Airport) on April 17, 2014 for National Poetry Month.



Carol's 97 year old mother, Elsie Kuchera Muske, publishes an extraordinary book of vignettes about growing up in North Dakota during the Great Drought and Depression - available on Amazon!



Wyndmere Wind-Rows: Memories of Growing up on the Dakota Plains by Elsie Kuchera Muske




Annie & Mom make traditional candy cane cookies for Christmas - Annie's house - Oregon





Please use the following high-quality resolution photos for all press and articles:

Carol Muske-Dukes Carol Muske-Dukes Carol Muske-Dukes Carol Muske-Dukes

The second photo is by Carlos Puma.
The third photo is by Micah Baird (Women's Wear Daily).



Yale AIDS Memorial Project

"Paul Monette and his friend Carol Muske-Dukes exchanged poems during difficult periods of their lives. The poems and their correspondance is featured in the following slideshow link, along with Carol's reflection on these exchanges." >>



Huffington Post — MS. Havisham

Reintroducing Myself — on Fire >>



CBS - Best Local Poets In Los Angeles

Latest Best of LA >>



Timothy Steele and Carol Muske-Dukes talk about Robert Frost on A&E BIOGRAPHY Channel

Robert Frost - Mini Biography >>



LA TIMES Book Review (August 15, 2013): David Rakoff reviewed in verse

'Love, Dishonor, Marry, Die, Cherish, Perish' by David Rakoff rhymes, as does this review. Don't be afraid of either. Review by Carol Muske-Dukes. >>



The Top 200 Advocates for American Poetry (2013)

Carol Muske-Dukes is included in this list by Seth Abramson >>



The New Yorker - John Cheever At Sing Sing

by Carol Muske-Dukes >>



The Magical Poetry Blimp Pilot's Guide #2

The Magical Poetry Blimp Pilot's Guide #2 is now available at Amazon. >>





2011 National Book Festival




Academy of American Poets — Poem-A-Day

Carol Muske-Dukes' After Skate is featured as the Poem-A-Day for May 20, 2013. >>




The Best American Poetry 2012 is available at Amazon and other bookstores. This anthology includes a poem by Carol Muske Dukes. For more information, visit the book's website.




Slouching Toward a Brief Literary History of Southern California

Read this essay by Carol Muske-Dukes, originally published on October 19, 1997 in the Los Angeles Times Book Review. >>



Carol Muske-Dukes: A Partial New York Times Archive

• Past New York Times articles by Carol Muske-Dukes >>



Note from Carol Muske-Dukes

Though I've stepped down as California Poet Laureate - I am still committed to The Magical Poetry Blimp (and GET LIT/Words Ignite)! Please help The Blimp fly high with our continuing projects -- provide a tax-deductible donation:

Click on http://getlit.org/support-us/ in order to donate to the Blimp (Magical Poetry Blimp is found under the "Organization" drop-down menu) --

You may download The Magical Poetry Blimp Pilot's Guide for FREE at magicalpoetryblimp.org.

Thanks - and we'll keep you posted (re: our upcoming projects)!

- Carol Muske-Dukes, Former CA. Poet Laureate



LA Times - Muske-Dukes on her post
Official Press Release from Governor Schwarzenegger
AlYoung.org - Meet California's Poet Laureate
AlYoung.org - The Magic Poetry Bus Driver's Guide: A message from the poet laureate of California



REST IN PEACE, DEAR FAMILY DOG LULU - MAY YOUR SWEET SOUL FROLIC IN YOUR "HAPPINESS ROLL" FOREVER!

 




List of Works & Publications [Buy at Amazon or Barnes & Noble]
Poetry
• TWIN CITIES, Penguin Poets Series, 2011
• Sparrow, 2003
• An Octave Above Thunder, 1997
• Red Trousseau, 1993
• Applause, 1989
• Wyndmere, 1985
• Skylight, 1981
• Camouflage, 1975

Novels
• Channeling Mark Twain, 2007
• Life AFter Death, 2000
• Saving St. Germ, Viking, 1993
• Dear Digby, 1989

Essays
• Married to the Icepick Killer: A Poet in Hollywood, 2002
• Women & Poetry, 1997

Anthologies
• Crossing State Lines: An American Renga, co-edited: Carol Muske-Dukes & Bob Holman, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2011
• The Magical Poetry Blimp Pilot's Guide, editor: Carol Muske-Dukes, with Diana Arterian, Figueroa Press, 2011

Many of these collections were New York Times Most Notable Books.                                                                         



Twin Cities is now available for sale at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.



Los Angeles Review of Books - A Rave for Twin Cities

Find Yourself A City To Live In by Peter Campion >>



Twin Cities

By Carol Muske-Dukes
Order at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

A sophisticated and lyrical new collection from one of today's finest living poets

Carol Muske-Dukes is an acclaimed novelist and poet whose latest collection, Sparrow, a haunting elegy for her late husband, was a finalist for the National Book Award. Twin Cities is an emotionally rich book of poems about how things double - by reflection, by reproduction, by severance. The poems embark from the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, divided by a legendary river, and then move on to the parallel histories of a life lived and a life imagined - and the random intersection of the two. Lit by loss, these moving poems navigate between the poles of love and grief, curse and blessing, abandonment and rescue - they are two, and they are one.

Praise for Twin Cities:

"Exploding with capacity and ambition, Carol Muske-Dukes' new poems are the strongest yet from a poet whose work has long been essential reading. Twin Cities formal and architectural intelligence is stunning, as well as heart-stopping in its insight into 'how damage is made.' The richness of the language is made to carry the maximum bearable amount of emotion - political, spiritual, social, familial, erotic - via brightly-lit imagery which astounds with its originality, felicity, and honesty."

- Jorie Graham

Poet, essayist, and novelist Muske-Dukes discerns metaphorical resonance in her birthplace, St. Paul, Minnesota, and its twin city, Minneapolis. The symbiosis between the twin cities with a river between them inspires reflections on various forms of doubleness in poems as beautifully contoured and polished as river stones turned and lathed and buffed by deep currents. Muske-Dukes' language is earthy and unadorned, and yet, within her gleaming lines, common words shape-shift and morph into fresh and disarming imagery and realizations. In vibrant tableaus, wrenching stories, portraits, elegies, social objections, and metaphysical equations, the poet--lyrical, mournful, and funny-considers such "twins" as life and death, past and present, war and peace, men and women, art and life, yes and no. Ice-skaters do the whip; two kids labor over a condolence note; a mirror frames the essence of a relationship. The poet, Muske-Dukes muses, is a "go-between," a "double emissary," and she nimbly and exquisitely performs the poet's spirit-sustaining art of observation, remembrance, protest, connection, and drollery in a lucid, involving, and deeply gratifying collection.

- Donna Seaman (from BOOKLIST)





Nora Ephron

• Note from Carol on Nora's passing >>
• Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien! - Nora >>


Huffington Post Blog

SOLDIER TO POET: An Exchange >>
• Soldier to Poet (Part II) >>
• Soldier to Poet: Naming of Parts (Part III) >>


• Singing School: A Chorus >>
• Diving Into the Wreck: Reviewing the Reviewer >>
• Patt in the Hat: Not Coming Back?? >>
• Wizard of OZ - Romney >>
• Nowhere Man >>
• Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien! - Nora >>
• Obama + Shelley Get it Right: Poets ARE the Unacknowledged Legislators of the World! (An OMNIBUS Book Review) >>

You may find more past blog entries here.
LA Times: Obama's inauguration poet is a fresh burst of firsts

"Cuban American Richard Blanco will not only be the first Latino poet to be so honored, but the first openly gay man to be selected as well." This article includes quotes from Carol Muske-Dukes. >>
White Key to Have West Coast Premiere at VOLTI in San Francisco

• The poem by USC Dornsife's Carol Muske-Dukes about "leaning up into love" will be performed in a musical composition by Reena Esmail. >>

Interview on KPCC with Patt Morrison

• Carol Muske-Dukes discussed the value of memorizing poetry on Southern California Public Radio. To listen to this interview, go here.

The Wall Street Journal - Word Craft

How Memorization Makes Words Live >>

From Zócalo Public Square - The Voyage Home

Cold and Divided: How Did the Minnesota of My Parents Become Like the America of Today? >>

Women's Voices For Change: 'Twin Cities' Re-visited

• Poetry Friday: 'Twin Cities' Re-visited - More From Carol Muske-Dukes' New Collection. >>


June Midwest Connections Pick: Twin Cities

• The Midwest Booksellers Association has selected Twin Cities as one of their June Midwest Connections picks. >>


NPR Interviews

• On April 22, 2011, Carol was interviewed on NPR's Morning Edition and On Point. Visit both links to listen to the interviews.


2011 Scarriet 2nd Annual March Madness Tournament

• Carol's poem "A Former Love, a Lover of Form" advanced to the Elite Eight in the March Madness tournament. >>


Oprah Magazine

• Famous Poets Reveal How They Found Their Calling >>


Quick Take With Carol on MariaShriver.Com

• What is the best advice Carol Muske-Dukes has ever received? Visit Maria Shriver's website to find out.


"San Clemente"

• Carol Muske-Dukes' "San Clemente" is a 2010 Favorite of VerseDaily. It was the featured poem for May 3, 2010. >>


"To A Soldier"

• Carol Muske-Dukes' "To a Soldier" is the featured Monday poem for October 25, 2010 on The Chronicle of Higher Education's website. >>


Poetry Daily

• Carol Muske-Dukes is Poetry Daily's Featured Poet for Tuesday, October 12, 2010. "Condolence Note: Los Angeles" is the poem of the day. >>

• Carol Muske-Dukes is Poetry Daily's Featured Poet for Monday, June 14, 2010. "Twin Tree" is the poem of the day. >>


Q&A w/ Carol Muske-Dukes at Smartish Pace

• Carol answered questions at SmartishPace.com.


Maria Shriver's
Poetry Month Blog

• April is National Poetry Month. The Women's Conference and California's First Lady Maria Shriver want to honor the importance of art, creativity and poetry in our lives. During April, they'll be sharing some of their favorite poems. They have chosen to feature two of Carol Muske-Dukes' poems (Twin Cities and Boy) here.


Articles

Voice of America -
US National Poetry Month Encourages Reading, Writing Verse >>

Santa Monica Mirror -
Samohi Poetry Slam >>

USC College Magazine - Elegant Elocution >>

The New York Times Archive of Articles by Carol Muske-Dukes >>

Santa Cruz Sentinel - State Poet Laureate Carol Muske-Dukes comes to town with a mission >>

BOMB Magazine - Carol interviews poet Tom Healy >>

Poetry Foundation - Carol Muske-Dukes & Bob Holman Start a Neo-Con Convo on Poetry and Empire with American Renga >>


Poems

Boy on The Atlantic >>
Podcast of Carol reading "Boy" >>

Twin Cities: Poem in The New Yorker >>

Suttee at Slate.com. You can also listen to a podcast of Carol reading this poem. >>


Multimedia

Video clips of The Creative Community and Poetry Readings >>

• Podcast of Carol's 2007 interview on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross >>

• Poets Rita Dove, Carol Muske-Dukes, Marilyn Nelson and Lisa Russ Spaar perform as "The Pink Tuxedos" at the 2001 conference of the Associated Writing Programs (AWP) in Palm Springs, CA. [Watch video clip]








Crossing State Lines:
An American Renga

Edited by Bob Holman and Carol Muske-Dukes
Order at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

A collaborative poem about America, from fifty-four of our best poets

Crossing State Lines: An American Renga is a poetic relay race across the continent: fifty-four poets responding to ideas of America-and to each other. This is a collaborative journey of impressions-from the election and inauguration of President Obama, through foreclosures, job losses, chords of country music, and bombs in Baghdad, to a poet-soldier's rifle-sight in Afghanistan.

The renga itself, in the ancient tradition of Japanese linked verse, provides the form of this historic conversation among the poets, as they meditate, within ten lines, on a moment in America. Crossing State Lines begins with Robert Pinsky's recounting of a line of poetry by Lincoln as fall deepens and "maples / kindle in the East," and ends some five hundred lines later, with Robert Hass's "greeny April" on the Pacific coast.

All proceeds from sales go to America: Now + Here.


• Sotheby's Benefit Auction for America: Now & Here in New York on June 23, 2010. From left to right: actress Swoosie Kurtz, playwright Marsha Norman, poet Carol Muske-Dukes, and poet Bob Holman.






The Magical Poetry Blimp Pilot's Guide is available at Amazon. The Magical Poetry Blimp Pilot's Guide #2 has also been released recently. >>







• Hop on the Magic Poetry Bus >>


USC College News & Events: All Were Aboard on the Magic Poetry Bus >>



Annie Muske-Dukes Weds Johnny Driggs
March 13, 2010 - San Diego








You may find all past blog entries here.

SOLDIER TO POET: An Exchange

Soldier to Poet (Part II)

Soldier to Poet: Naming of Parts (Part III)
Singing School: A Chorus
May 19, 2013

Diving Into the Wreck: Reviewing the Reviewer
February 25, 2013

Patt in the Hat: Not Coming Back??
October 31, 2012

Wizard of OZ - Romney
October 8, 2012

Nowhere Man
August 22, 2012

Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien! - Nora
July 1, 2012

Obama + Shelley Get it Right: Poets ARE the Unacknowledged Legislators of the World! (An OMNIBUS Book Review)
June 23, 2012

Vatican: Vatican't! (Newsflash to Rome From Joan of Arc)
May 27, 2012

Don't Bank on Banks -- Except for One!
December 5, 2011

Scattershot Poetry Reviews -- Three Books
August 21, 2011

More Response to Westen's "Story" Theory for Obama
June 6, 2011