Monday, June 21, 2010

VGP Chapbook Anthology: America Remembered Due Out June 22

Sharing some good news! I just found out from Michael Aaron Casares, Editor/Publisher of Virgogray Press that my poem "The Wright Brother" will be included in a new VGP chapbook anthology AMERICA REMEMBERED, due out June 22, 2010.  Michael describes the poem as  "a quaint expression of American history" and thought it would "work nicely in the text."

The poem was inspired by Wilbur Wright's letter to Octave Chanute, dated May 13, 1900. “For some years I have been afflicted with the belief that flight is possible by man.” is the first sentence Wright's letter. In the second paragraph of the same letter, Wilbur Wright explains how “knowledge and skill” are critical to man’s flight. The incidents mentioned are documented in Wikipedia and other sources.

Here's the poem with a sound clip. Enjoy!


THE WRIGHT BROTHERS
by Roxanne Hoffman


Given to mischief, Orville was once expelled,
but could his father have predicted
his older son Wilbur would be so compelled?
“For some years I have been afflicted

with the belief that flight is possible by man.”
What most men only dared dream, his boys would plan.
Was it the hockey stick that struck Will’s face at 8?
Or the toy brought back from France propelling fate?

Made of bamboo, cork and paper with a rubber band,
flown and flown until it could fly no more,
then they made their own inventions soar!
As men they would glide over dunes of sand,

expanding their knowledge, honing their skill.
To unlock the secret of flight, their thrill.

“For some years I have been afflicted with the belief that flight is possible by man.” is the first sentence of Wilbur Wright's letter to Octave Chanute, dated May 13, 1900. In the second paragraph of the same letter, Wilbur Wright explains how “knowledge and skill” are critical to man’s flight.

Last year,  my poem "Ash Wednesday" was published in another chapbook anthology from Virgogray Press, SO IT GOES, on the theme of death.

To find out more about Virgogray Press, their publication, and how to submit your own work, please visit Michael Aaron Casares at http://virgograypress.wordpress.com/.

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