Archive - The Sharpener

Writing Problems: Mixed Metaphors

One of the best areas to expand the meaning and beauty of a poem is getting to the right metaphor.

Nov 23 •

"Until tomorrow"

Southwick, Holub, Siken, Issa, Herbert, Kunitz

Nov 22 •

"The genuine thing."

Buson, Dickinson, Brooks, Hass, Justice

Nov 20 •

"the way bee-fingered"

Phillips, Jarrell, Matthews, Pavlova, Wright

Nov 18 •

Craft: Virginia Hamilton Adair

Though she spent a lifetime practicing her craft (she started writing poems when she was 6), Virginia Hamilton Adair (1913-2004) did not publish her…

Nov 16 •

"pressing against the rail"

Shumaker, Mantel, Kunitz, Clifton, Seidman

Nov 15 •

"righting themselves with a thirst"

Williams, Poch, Niedecker, Tanikawa, Stanford

Nov 13 •

"No shadow as it goes"

Bly, Merwin, Wagoner, Davis, Zajc

Nov 11 •

Writing Problems: Beauty

This essay was written in collaboration with Arden Levine.

Nov 9 •

"the price of glass"

Corso, Jauss, O'Hara, Cortez, Kelly

Nov 8 •

"we learn how to adjust the adjuster"

Knott, Senghor, Stafford, Warsh, Mueller, Ignatow

Nov 6 •

"with icecream spoons for feet"

Teasdale, Patchen, Ferlinghetti, Brehm, Merwin

Nov 4 •

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