November 8, 2006 ·

Election Day Follow Up - Dicks For Tacoma?

Here’s a little post election day political question – With the Democrats apparently assuming control of the House, and our very own Norm Dicks as one of the ranking Democratic members of the Appropriations Committee, will this translate into increased federal spending in the greater Tacoma area?  Does anybody want to speculate?  (Thanks, Erik)

9 comments

  • Thorax O'Tool March 13, 2009

    I’m afraid I don’t have what it takes. I’m more of a novel writer, not a poet (though I do immensely enjoy Pablo Neruda).

    Why isn’t the position of Poet Laureate more known? I’d wager that of the 203,000 people in our Fair City, about 200,000 of them don’t even know we have a Poet Laureate.

    The city and local arts people/organizations as well as the media, businesses and the like should be promoting this to the moon and back. The Poet Laureate should be treated like a celebrity. Now that’s the kind of city I want to live in: where the arts and the people who create are as popular, respected treated as good as (or better than) pro athletes.

    You know, in ancient Greece (notably Athens), philosophers, sculptors and poets were on even par with athletes, the mental and creative endeavors were regarded as highly as the physical. We need that again.

  • RR Anderson March 13, 2009

    The Night was Dark

    The Sky was Blue

    And through the sky TACOMA flew,

    A Scream was heard,

    A man was Hit!

    Tacoma died from too much grit.

    AMEN

  • Thorax O'Tool March 14, 2009

    Out from the Abyss, I creep at night
    alone in this world I tread;
    finding no one who shares my plight.
    The air is awash with cold drafts,
    shadows linger in the gray moonlight.
    I walk these empty streets beneath sullen trees;
    the darkness hides their color from my sight.
    My few poems litter my path where I once passed;
    my own self-misgivings I have to fight.
    The broken emotions I try to express have no meaning.
    I cannot write.

  • Thorax O'Tool March 14, 2009

    it sounded so good
    she said she loved me
    like how I loved her

    we talked like lovers
    we kissed like lovers
    we loved like lovers

    things change
    people change
    she changed or I did

    she tore my heart out
    in one swift moment
    I didn’t feel it

    I already had bled to death

  • altered Chords March 14, 2009

    C’mon guys. I need better lyrics than that for my new hit album.

    RR – too Tacoma specific.
    Thorax – I need a love song not a “somebody done somebody wrong” song.

    And don’t say “I’m not gonna write you a love song. Because you need one”

    Somebody already did that.

    You 2 need to come over and have a glass of whiskey. Turn into raging alcoholics, go to rehab etc.

    That’s just poem writing 101.

    No, I’m not going to post a poem.

    I’m not a poet and I know it.

  • Thorax O'Tool March 14, 2009

    unfortunately, the second one was about my ex fiancée. Luckily my dislike of alcohol is what kept me from becoming an alcoholic during that time.

    It still hurts sometimes and I was feeling it late last night. Sorry, AC, but painful memories and thoughts of the darkness often pollute my imagination; you’ll need to look elsewhere for a love song.

  • altered Chords March 14, 2009

    Don’t be sorry. I think we all have that. Writing lyrics has been extremely therepeutic for me over the past few monts as well. I can relate to what you went through last night. Sometimes it seems like we’re past it and there it is again. Please keep writing and channeling your pain into your art.

    If we ever meet, I’ll lock up the whiskey and serve coffee.

    Maybe even and alteredchordsachino. D

  • altered Chords March 14, 2009

    None of the lyrics I’ve written qualify me to be Tacoma’s Poet Laureate.

    PS – the ending letter “D” in my prior post has no significance and is not to be miscontrued as “poetry”

    (random fat finger syndrome)

  • Adam Ydstie March 16, 2009

    Last years Poet Laureate competition was widely covered by local news sources and the mayor of the city announced the winner at the Billy Collins’ reading at the Pantages.

    I agree with you though TO’T… I wish that it would grow into more of a prestigious award. Although Kupinse has done a wonderful job of creating some very large shoes for the next Poet Laureate to fill.

    You may as well enter the running…