Poetry Friday: Postcards in Fashion

Dear Poetry Friday fans and readers, the theme for today's post is fashion.

Army green is so last year,
but Poetry Friday is always in style.

I have recently connected with an old friend (we met in 7th grade) who loves hats as much as I do, but is much more facionable than I. Check out her blog-with-an-attitude, Pretty Cripple.

I should have realized when I learned about Museum of Fine Arts, Boston's current vintage postcard exhibit, "The Postcard Age," that postcards are on-trend. Since I began the 44 Postcard Project, I've heard about postcard websites (Post Secret) and literary postcard contests (Geist).

But it wasn't until last night that I realized: Postcards are the new Black, this season's height of literary and artistic fashion.

Last night, the Academy of American Poets posted this:

The 2013 National Poetry Month Poster
I spy postcards!

You can order your *free* poster at Poets.org. Every year, I order one for myself and one for each of the schools where I have residencies.

In keeping with our fashion theme, Postcard 21 is the height of vintage fashion. When I spotted this postcard in a local antique store, I knew I had to have it for the project. It has just the right blend of haute couture and hairball. This postcard puts the "kit" in kitschy.

"Glamour Puss"

On the day that I wrote the accompanying poem for this card, Baltimore was suffering from a long week of gray, January days. I was still suffering from mid-project brain mush. Please forgive the light verse.

The Weather of Late is Gray

There's nothing
like a pair of
ladies' gloves
to lend
a certain vigor
to the hands.
I roll pink satin
over fingers,
arms
and feel
less angry
at umbrella stands. 

by Laura Shovan

Postcard Information: "GLAMOUR PUSS"
"Plastichrome"®by Colourpicture, Boston 15, Mass., U.S.A.

I happen to own a very elegant pair of vintage ladies gloves. They are perfect for the symphony.

From Retropolitan in Old Ellicott City.

Unfortunately, I could not get Sam the Schnauzer to pose like the kitten on the postcard. Heck, he won't even wear his Ravens jersey for Superbowl week.

Who needs accessories when you've got these eyebrows?

Let's take this poetry party over to Teaching Authors. They are hosting this week's Poetry Friday soiree.

National Poetry Month 50 State Tour: Wall of Shame

It's Tax Day.

If you pay taxes, and I know you do, demand your poetic rights!

If you live in a Wall of Shame state, wouldn't today be the *perfect* day to tell your governor you want a poet laureate of your very own?

Here it is...your poetic Wall of Shame. These are the 10 states who do not have a poet laureate. (Notice the bench in front of the Wall of Shame is empty. Vacant. No one is in the bench position. Kind of like these states and poetry.)

National Poetry Month 50 State Tour

Wall of Shame

1. Poo on Pennsylvania! You have great gifts in Gerald Stern and Sonia Sanchez, but no poet laureate. That's just plain lazy.

2. Naughty New Jersey your poetry community is thriving and you're home to the largest poetry festival in the country. So, you were burned by a bad poet laureate experience. Get over it.

3. Cankerous Connecticut, saying your poet laureate position is vacant makes it sound about as appealing as an airplane toilet.

4. Miserly Massachusetts lists its poet laureate as: Position does not exist. Like, "We can't be bothered."

5. Oh, no! Ohio, like Mass, just can't be bothered to have an official state poet.

6. Mad-brained Michigan has had one poet laureate in its history. Edgar Guest was the only worthy poet your state has ever produced? Seriously?

7. No way, Nevada. You haven't had a poet laureate since 2007. What gives?

8. Noisome New Mexico. I'm getting tired of these states with "Position does not exist." Actually, poet laureates do exist. In 40 other states. What's your problem?

9. Artless Arizona -- artless is a good word for a state that doesn't honor poetry through a poet laureate position.

10. Hapless Hawaii, just because you were the last state on board, I'm not forgiving you. Joy Harjo is a resident of your state. Give her a call, would ya?!

Thanks to Pete Levin's page for some of these great, Shakespeare inspired insults.

As long as I'm venting, I'd like to have a word with the Poetry Foundation and the Academy of American Poets.

You'd be shocked at how many state poets laureate are not represented on these important websites. I, for one, was flabbergasted

If a poet has been deemed worthy by an entire state, that person deserves a bio on your venerated site. Discuss amongst yourselves while we get back on the road. Our National Poetry Month 50 State Tour continues.