National Park Service’s Post

Poetry in evaluation? Yes, please! Check out these resources and how poetry can show up to make space for learning, conversations, and insights. #poetry #evaluation #insights

Back in October, when we had our last conference (how have 3 months passed already!?), a unique session explored the use of poetry for evaluation and reflexive practice. Jennica Nichols and Maya Lefkowich of AND Implementation guided the group through actually penning some poetry (image below)! Many were surprised that poetry – and especially haikus – could be an effective tool for: - Reflecting on evaluation findings - Busting through blockages - Obtaining feedback that wouldn’t have arisen through traditional methods - Getting to know the participants of an evaluation project - Cutting the tension - Sometimes our experiences are hard to put into words, so poetry can help! But, we need to remember that arts based reflexive practice can’t be a shortcut to more ethical practice. We still need to pay attention to our relationships and methods. For those interested in how to use poetry and other arts-based methods in evaluation practices, check out this upcoming online course offered by AND Implementation: https://buff.ly/3H06UAd #Evaluation #CES-ON #ANDImplementation #Poetry

Poems are our thoughts distilled and perfected. In today's (and yesterday's) world, Poetry is used in countless applications where poems continue to inspire, shape us, our thinking and our actions. Here is a great opinion piece from the Epoch Times by Jeff Minick on inspiring Victorian Poetry for modern boys and men. https://lnkd.in/dfnw9meR

My latest blog post, full links in comments

I recently did a poll on what type of audio rooms folks would like to see this upcoming year. Out of the 5 possible options, the option of Open Mic Poetry Night (virtual) on Saturday received 50% of the vote! I'm in the planning stages and I am searching for 20 interested poets who would like to present their Poetry. PARTICIPATION IS NOT GUARANTEED. Here are the criteria: 1. The event will be called A Night with Living Poets or similar to showcase PUBLISHED poets. 2. The poems presented must be available and previously published as a book format through Amazon/Ingram Sparks/Lulu/Kobo etc. 3. The theme will be focused around faith, Mother Nature and the universe and all poems should reflect the theme. 4. The format will be 5 minutes per PUBLISHED poet and/or 2 pieces minimum. 5. The time/date will a Saturday evening in March 2024 around 8 PM EST. To participate, send a DM to Dwight Thompson with the title Open Mic Poetry Night participant, include your book tile and author name and tag me here in a comment also. Thank you. Poetry is Living and reading, reciting, listening and writing poetry is how you keep on living.   ✒️   D.T. #openmic #poetryslam #coffeehouse #booklovers

Each year, the Independent Book Publishers Association hosts their annual book awards, known as "The Franklin Awards". I have been one of their judges for the past two years. This year, they were gracious enough to send me this lovely certificate of appreciation. Being a judge for IBPA is not an easy task. Not only do we read a large number of books and judge them on a prescribed set of points, but each judge writes a 500 word or more critique of the book which is sent back to the author. The critique is part of the service the award system offers. This year, I read around 27 poetry books. The judging started in November of 2023 and I was given until the end of February to read, write the critiques and then enter them into their online system. Basically, it is my source of reading matter over the holiday season! Why do I take on the task of being a judge? I enjoy seeing what my contemporary poets are up to and what they consider an award winning book. I've seen books on a myriad of topics, formatted in many ways, and traditionally and independently published. It gives me ideas of what I would do for my own books in the future when it comes time to publish them and submit for awards myself. I look forward judging again. Although if I get my next poetry collection done, I will probably submit it and recluse myself from judging poetry that year. Time will tell! #ibpa #poetryjudge #poetry #literarypoetry #franklinawards #poetrycommunity #writingcommunity

Sharing a slightly different post today, around poetry. Can we use systems thinking to inspire poetry and arts? Yes we can: "A City" Sharing a poem by Siddhesh Wagle who uses systems thinking to inspire his poetry around climate topics. Find more of his poems here: https://lnkd.in/dSZRjSd6 Join our City Hub to connect with other system thinkers: #climatepoetry #systemsthinkingpoetry #poetry 

My second Swedish poetry anthology, published back in 2012, is translated and has gotten the english title "The Steps". The eBook is now available as an exclusive eBook for the first time ever. https://lnkd.in/diCuGHyR #lithner #ebook #author #translation #100pages #poetry #prose #philosophical #metaphysics

In "Poetry Unveiled," unlock the secrets of poetry reading with essential skills in structure, rhythm, and word choice. Explore the history of poetry from Old English epics to Shakespearean sonnets, providing examples to inspire various poetic styles. In this practical guide, you'll: *Gain tips on reading poetry and understanding themes from famous poets. *Develop knowledge and appreciation of the poem's historical context. *Learn to feel and savour a poem, letting it speak through images and emotions. *Master poetic structuring, including punctuation, rhythm, and spacing. *Gain valuable insight into subject, tone, imagery, and poetic devices. "Poetry Unveiled" shows you how to appreciate poetry's impact through the ages and gives you the means and inspiration to create fulfilling and inspirational verses. for yourself. Order now: https://wix.to/KkvVV8W #PoetryAppreciation #WritingSkills #LiteraryInspiration #UnderstandingPoetry #PoetryHistory #CreativeExpression #PoeticDevices #ArtisticInspiration #Mangotiger #PoetryBooks #VictorHugo #OrderNow

November 7 in my calendar – Eugène Lemercier (7 November 1886 – 6 April 1915) was a French artist and soldier in World War I. His letters to his mother are a first-hand account of the war, and are preserved in the National Library of Ireland. He is believed to be the subject of Wallace Stevens' poem "The Death of a Soldier" - a poem from Wallace Stevens' first book of poetry, Harmonium. The poem is often seen as using free verse to describe the death of a soldier.??? neither Odysseus nor Homer wrote - so perhaps we should often ask ourselves - why write at all? would the 'can' in can we write rather refer to canned writing or uncanny writing or the subtext of whether we are allowed to or whether we would rather self-censor ... perhaps poetry can always be framed as if an act of revolt ... I read in a letter that 'today many people in their 60s write or behave in ways that writers and composers in earlier centuries would have achieved in their 20s' #touchingtherealinfrastructure perhaps in unbroken response to Homer's Ulysses, we are misreading or 'correcting' our antecedents so as to almost clear the way for freedom of knowledge? and yet not in the way of the metaphysical rebels Goethe, Byron and Nietzsche. how lucky are we, or can we, in November 2023, in a valid way, re-frame ourselves in terms of a or the freedom(s) of knowledge and the free use of knowledge? and yet let us perhaps playfully explore ways to #resist_smarter reading Stevens has almost always invited and inspired my #touchingtherealinfrastructure as well as renewed questions about the real, media artefacts and possibilities to expand our expression through music ... #do #you #sea #what #I #am #trying #to #say? and please do not forget: #resist_smarter #recharge #refresh #reflect - why don't more of us cut a few cords?... enjoy some exercise, otium and stay safe