Dead Poets Society of America

The Afterlife of Poe

The Afterlife of Poe from ChiefFallingLeaf on Vimeo.

"In A Rose Garden"

In A Rose Garden from ChiefFallingLeaf on Vimeo.

Dead Poets Remembrance Day a Winner

The eleven celebrations (that I'm aware of) of the first Dead Poets Remembrance Day marked a very successful launch of the literary holiday.

More photos and posts will be added in the days to come. The Great Boston Poetry Marathon was a great day of sunshine and poetry and the Remembering the Poets of the Granite State event was also a smash! Many thanks to all who particicpated. See -- and Hear You -- next year!

National Press Release Issued for Holiday

A National Press Release has been issued by the Dead Poets Society of America to announce the celebration of the 1st Dead Poets Remembrance Day.

So far there are 10 "official" literary celebrations led by State Poets Laureate, and hopefully more impromptu and "unoffical" gatherings will happen as word of the holiday spreads. So pick up your shovels and head to the graves, folks! (Figuratively speaking: the shovel representing your heart, your imagination, your books of poetry and your friends! )

Alfred Campbell's "Ode to Death"

Abolitionist and poet, Alfred Gibbs Campbell, wrote one of the most-unique and enjoyable poems on death I have read (and trust me, I have read a LOT)

Ode To Death

Blessed Death! thou op'st the door

To the Grand Forevermore!
Unto thee the task is given
To unbar the gates of Heaven!
Thou alone dost hold the keys
Of eternal harmonies!
Thou the secrets dost rehearse
Of the wondrous universe!
Thou art God's interpreter
Of the mysteries which stir
To its depths the human soul
Longing for its final goal!
Universal friend thou art,
Healing every broken heart!
Ultra Abolitionist,
Breaking chains as thou dost list!
Stern emancipator, thou
Layest petty despots low;
Breakest every captive's chain;

Soothest every sufferer's pain;

Driest every mourner's tears;
Quellest all our timorous fears;
Thou shalt fold the human race
In thy loving, dear embrace,
Opening to our failing eyes
Panoramas of the skies.
Fear shall not our bosoms stir,
Welcome! God's kind messenger!

Historic Grand Tour Report Now Online

The initial report of the historic Dead Poets Grand Tour 2010 is now online.

It chronicles all the places visited and the names of the poets read. From the Report: 

"We started on Shakespeare’s birthday, in Portland, Maine, the 23^rd of April, and we ended with a bang 6,500 miles later at the first Boston Poetry Marathon, May 25th. During those 34 days, and with the cooperation of 13 current and former State Poets Laureate, we held a Dead Poets Bash in 19 different States and visited 43 cemeteries!

The Grand Tour map can be accessed at the top left corner of the Dead Poets Society of America blog:  http://deadpoets.typepad.com/dpsablog/  

The other readings and interviews we held at poets’ graves and houses were really great as well, including the Lorine Niedecker home, the Carl Sandburg home, the E.L. Masters home, the Sidney Lanier house, The Virginia Military Institute, The Poe Museum, the Longfellow House and the Woodberry Poetry Room, at Harvard.

All totaled we visited the graves of 75 American poets, and heard the amazing poetry of over 100 American poets read. Dedgar and the crew kept up a pace of just over 191.18 miles per day and 2 poets’ graves per day!

Home, Sweet Home

Dedgar is parked under a pine tree, wondering where the next big Dead Poets Bash is going to be....I have enjoyed the breezes on the Maine coast and sight of the tides and gulls and lobster boats bobbing up and down. I've almost had three relatively good nights sleep in a row. Not plotting a course for the next cemetery when I get in the car is weird. It feels good to rest my bones, but I am not that eager for rest that I wish to rest my bones as much as the dead poets whose graves we have visited in the last 34 days!

Dedgar & Crew Break World Literary Land Speed Record!

At 5:30 PM, at the grave of James Russell Lowell, in Mt. Auburn Cemetery, the crew of the USS Starship DEDGAR smashed the world literary land speed record by visiting the graves of 26 poets within 12 hours!

This epic journey, which had  a sunrise start at the grave of Stanley Kunitz, in Provincetown, MA, was traveling at an average speed of 52 GPD (Graves Per Day), or, more than 2 GPH (Graves Per Hour).

Along the way we managed to visit two poetry landmarks: the Longfellow House and the Woodberry Poetry Room, both in Cambridge, MA. It was a truly phenomenal way to go out with a BANG on the Great Grand Tour 2010.

Ending with a Bang; not a Whimper

Staring in 1 hour, at sunrise, the Dead Poets Grand Tour will end on a great Big Bang! The Great Boston Poetry Marathon is about to begin.

See the updated schedule at the link above. This will be so MINT.  Forty-Three Poets' Graves in 1 Day

Halleck's Grave

We arrived at the memorial to Halleck raised at his gravesite by the citizens of Guilford. Nearly 3,000 people attended his funeral. The marker has a wonderful relief of Apollo's harp, the orpheus of the Muses. Pictures to be formatted after the tour. Only have three hours to sleep so g'night.