I am thrilled tonight to see The Creativity Webzine in Germany publish my poem “Roanoke Summer Midnight.”
The theme of the May issue is “History,” and my poem is meant as an homage to the spiritual, natural and architectural history of my adopted home, rural Southwest Virginia. You can find it at the link below:
The Arts Section of The Creativity Webzine
Thanks to Editor-in-Chief Charles E. J. Moulton for allowing me to see my work showcased within this wonderful creative community.
This is probably the most visually interesting building I’ve found here in Roanoke, Virginia — the Roanoke Typewriter Sales Company on Campbell Avenue. It’s just past the east edge of downtown, on the other side of the tracks, in the shadow of the overpass. It has a quasi-wedge shape that’s hemmed in closely at the rear by adjacent train tracks, and at its top is a billboard like a great, garish tiara.
If this isn’t the setting for a short story, I don’t know what is.
(May 2025.)
Actually, it’s been out for a while now. It again makes use of Rudyard Kipling’s “Boots.” (I do mean the poem by that title; none of the actors are wearing the man’s actual boots.)
Thanks to AluMeredith for the image. 🙂
People are funny. This is admittedly a terrible picture, but what you see is a nocturnal lone trombone player tonight in the parking level of Virginia Tech School of Medicine building (by Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital).
Hey, man — more power to you. Practice your art wherever you can.
Suffolk County, New York, late 1980’s.
I had Ms. Hateau in the 10th grade, Mr. Bigham in 11th and Mr. Anderson in the 12th.
These pictures come courtesy of my great old friend, Carrie Schor (who was Carrie Harbach, back in the day).
[Update — my alumni who do NOT have dementia have reminded me that I had Bigham in the 10th grade, and Hateau in 11th.]
Hey, gang — you can order Local Gems Press’ newest poetry anthology from Amazon; see the link below. Its title is Empire Poetry Verse: A New York State Poetry Anthology, and it features poems from nearly 200 poets who have ties to New York. (I am one of them; if you happen to order the book, please check out my love poem, “Like White Plumeria Petal.”)
“A Bridge Too Far” (1977) was one of those war movies that my Dad enjoyed; it would have appeared on television a couple of years after its theatrical release (1979? 1980?). Back then, I thought of it as a “really old movie” — which was understandable, because my father liked some truly old movies, even by 1980’s standards. But “A Bridge Too Far” actually hit the screens at roughly the same time as the original “Star Wars,” which most kids in my neighborhood had seen in the theater.
I found it online and finally watched it in its entirety — it’s actually a really good film. (Adapted from its eponymous 1974 novel by Cornelius Ryan, it’s a three-hour, meticulous depiction of Operation Market Garden — the Allies’ 1944 invasion of German-occupied Holland.)
The cast list is astounding — it’s basically a lengthy “Who’s Who” of 1970’s cinema. (Seriously, look at it.) If you enjoy period war films, I recommend this.
I’m honored today to see Lothlorien Poetry Journal publish three of my poems. The first is “Confession,” and the latter two are haiku.
You can find all three right here.
Lothlorien Poetry Journal is a truly superlative independent literature magazine, at which I am always proud to see my work accepted. Thanks once again to Editor Strider Marcus Jones for allowing me to be a part of this community.
And, hey — Lothlorien even ran one of my favorite paintings to accompany the poems! It’s Caspar David Friedrich’s “Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog.” I’m not sure if the editor knew that (I’ve posted it on Facebook), or if it’s just serendipity.
Eric Robert Nolan, Author 