Paul E Nelson presenting at Cascadia Poetry Festival 8, photo by Leszek Chudzinski
“Paul formally received the Mahayana precepts of Zen Buddhism in 2023, becoming a lay practitioner within the tradition, but I believe he had long lived in accord with them. His poetry, in its sensitivity, its humility, and its deep listening, embodies practice-realization — the understanding that practice and awakening are not separate. His writing was his zazen. This collection, FLEXIBLE MIND, is more than a book. It is a continuation of that practice. A testament to a man who lives by attention, who bows to language but does not cling to it, who seeks what lays beyond words by walking straight into them.”– Kosho Itagaki, Soto Zen Priest
421. to Jenifer Browne Lawrence, Poulsbo, WA – The Turning Floor
420. to Lynne Shapiro, Hoboken, NJ – No Solo Ex Nihilo
CONVERGENCE ON POETICS
I am delighted to be a part of this Conference at UW-Bothell this weekend. I present Sunday at 12N on "Organic in Cascadia: A Sequence of Energies." WITH Charles Altieri Marie Annharte Charles...
419. to Morgan Harlow, Barneveld, WI – Vole in the Past Hole
418. to Susan Tkach, Rochester, NY – Squirrel in the Buddha Pore
Interview with Nate Mackey
Ominous Animacy: Notes on an interview with Nate Mackey Interviewing Allen Ginsberg in 1994 introduced me to a deeper sense of Open Form. Interviewing Michael McClure in 1995 introduced me to...
417. to Teresa Jarmick, Kenmore, WA – Climate Refugee Secession
416. to Brendan McBreen, Auburn, WA – Mood Indigo, Mexican Blues
415. to Kay Kinghammer, Seattle, WA – The Awakening of Any Individual…
414. to Sharmagne Leland-St. John, Arlington, WA – Percussion Painting
One Year After Sam Hamill’s Death
Sam Hamill left this earthly plane on April 14, 2018, and plans are underway to recognize that anniversary in a private and low-key ceremony, along with sushi and saké after, just as Sam would have...
Zen, Bioregionalism & Poetry
Upcoming poetry events are for people who are interested in the intersection of poetry and Zen and poetry and bioregionalism. April 11, at 7:30pm, the Seattle University Eco-Sangha presents Norman...
Interview on Spokane Public Radio
I had the good fortune of being interviewed in Spokane on my way to gigs in Billings, Montana. Chris Maccini of Spokane Public Radio did his homework and asked me about American Prophets, my poetry...
The interview I conducted with Sam O’Hana, a Ph.D. student at CUNY, is immensely critical and immensely validating for the work we do at the Cascadia Poetics Lab. At its core, the discussion is about whether writing is for people of means, or if it can be people who have skill and something to say. It means the literary gatekeepers have failed us and have a role in perpetuating neoliberalism in North America which has paved the way for authoritarianism. The interview is available as a podcast here and as a YouTube video here. Below, I have pasted in the transcript and here is my introduction to Sam O’Hana and his topic.