Interview: How a Poem Happens

I had the honor recently of being interviewed on How a Poem Happens, a blog run by the poet Brian Brodeur. I'm joining excellent company: Stephen Dunn, Marilyn Hacker, Donald Hall, Robert Hass, Maxine Kumin, Dorianne Laux, Richard Wilbur, and many other renowned poets. As well as several equally renowned Filipino American poets: Rick Barot, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, and Oliver de la Paz. The interview centers on my poem "Newly Released, Papa Tells Me What It's Like Inside," which was also featured in this blog. Please check out my "How a Poem Happens" interview and leave a comment there. Brian and I would love to hear what you think. Take care. Ingat.

Poetry Reading at Indiana University

Friends, I'd like to invite you to my poetry reading at Indiana University tomorrow evening (Thursday, 4 February). This event is cosponsored by IU's Creative Writing Program, Asian American Studies, the Asian Cultural Center, and the Filipino Student Organization. The trouble begins at 8:00 P.M. at Collins Living Learning Center, in the Edmondson Formal Lounge. See you there? Before the reading, there will be a poetry workshop for residents of the Collins dorm. That trouble begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Ed basement classroom. (Interested students should sign up in the Collins duty office.) For more info, visit the Facebook event page or the Collins Living Learning Center's Facebook page. Many thanks to Sarah Eaton, Assistant Director at Collins LLC, for your tireless work on this event.

My Poetry Reading at the Library of Congress: A Video

The Library of Congress has put up videos of Unsung Heroes: Asian Pacific American Heroism in WWII, the 26 October 2009 symposium in which I gave a poetry reading. Click on this web address: http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=4808. You'll go to a webpage at the Library of Congress with a small video screen. Click on Launch in a new window below the screen. You can then enlarge the Real Player window that will open. Also, you'll need to close the webpage with the small screen, because the video will start in both windows. I certainly recommend you watch the entire program, but it's quite long (over two hours). To see only my section, go to the 36:26 mark for the gracious introduction by Ms. Reme Grefalda, Reference Librarian in the Asian Division of the Library of Congress and a fine poet herself. My actual reading runs from 38:08 to 54:38 (16 minutes and change). Enjoy! And please leave a comment below. I would love to hear what you think. Thanks.