Hungry for the Power of Language
It’s rare that I encounter a word in the English language that I have never seen before. But this week, as I was planning my lecture for a first-year composition …
The Strange Poetry of Being Obsolete
On top of what is proving to be one of the most challenging fall semesters in recent memory, I just learned that Windows 10–my current operating system–is no longer being …
Sexism Wrapped in a Bad Joke
Donald Trump Jr. recently posted a doctored image of his dad throwing a sex toy from atop the White House down to a likeness of a WNBA court on the …
Reflections on discrimination and respect
The other day, I overheard a group of people discussing the presidential election. One of them, in a rather dismissive tone, said, “America will never elect a Black woman.” I …
In picking a president, ageism is a mistake
I was confused when I read David Ignatius’ column in The Washington Post on September 12. I thought perhaps the editors made a mistake when they titled it, “President Biden …
Old Ask a Poet Column
I hate living in Los Angeles, but I’ve been told that my film career will be best nurtured here. Another place calls me home, where I might suffer for my …
Chat GPT could be more useful than you think
Just for kicks, I asked Chat GPT to write an argument in favor of using Chat GPT to write papers. What followed was an itemized list, bookended by an introduction …
Ask a Poet
What do you tell parents of would-be poets who worry about their children’s ability to make a living writing sonnets?— Your father, Sierra Vista, ArizonaP.S. Do you want me to …
The Impracticality of Poets
I identify myself as a poet because I can’t do anything else. Really, I’ve tried. My journey to find a marketable skill took me all the way to Uzbekistan with …
CRT and the Buffalo Murders
The other day a relative of mine who lives in another city saw a woman outside the local school district office holding a sign saying, “No CRT.” My relative considered …