Poem in Slant: A Journal of Poetry

Another recent poem of mine has recently appeared in Slant: A Journal of Poetry. My poem, "Living Within Its Shadow," can be found at the following link: https://slantpoetryjournal.wordpress.com/james-p-cooper/?fbclid=IwAR1OlLMCS84nvzsB2wTXggZn-FhEAtBkv4bB3LWhCC-jN5nRbpyTDX00Kuw

Autumn, 2023

Because of the lengthy drought that we have been having in northeast Kansas, autumn has not been as colorful this year as it had been in previous years. I am adding a few of my pictures, nonetheless.

I might have taken more pictures if I had not fallen while taking pictures one Sunday afternoon. I was walking backwards down a hill, lost my footing, and did a complete flip. I ended up having to go the ER to have a gash on my arm stitched up. My jaw started swelling afterwards as well because I cracked a tooth and ended up having to have it removed. I have since resolved to stay on pavement when I am walking or taking pictures.

Poem in Evening Street Review

One of my newer poems recently appeared in Number 39, Autumn 2023, of the Evening Street Review. My poem is partly based on William Wordsworth "Ode: Intimations of Immortality" and a jazz song by Matthew Halsall, "I Have Been Here Before," which appears on his album Colour Yes.

https://eveningstreetpress.com/product/evening-street-review-number-39-autumn-2023/

 

Manhappiness

My friend Derick Burleson, the poet who died in 2016, used to refer to Manhattan, Kansas as "Manhappiness" when we were graduate students at Kansas State University. It seemed at the time that he had coined the word. 

I was surprised recently to see a building in Aggieville, the entertainment district near the campus, with the word Manhappiness above its doors. I didn't go inside the building. From what I noticed when walking by, it contained apparel for Kansas State fans. The previous building used to house Varney's bookstore when I was a student.

I am sure that Derick would have loved to see his word being used to describe Manhattan and one building in particular.