New Poetry

A collection of new and selected poems from Phibby Venable.

Jay Parini's readings are always an event but too rare. For the first time, Parini has recorded his best known and most recent poems in an audiobook that welcomes the listener to enter his universe, which revolves around his deep connection to nature and underlines his concerns about the impacts of pollution and climate change. The audiobook follows the pattern of his popular readings, with the poet introducing each poem with context and comments, invariably revealing and often amusing.

What if you went to the mailbox one day and received a letter from God asking you to host a dinner - in God's honor? Award-winning author, composer, and lyricist Rayme Sciaroni shares the irresistible story of Jenny, a woman in her early 50s who receives such an invitation. Jenny is requested to invite anyone she chooses as well as a person she doesn't know very well to the momentous event. The guests are urged to each bring a dish they would like for God to taste and to wear clothing they would like for God to see them in.

"I have lost my new blue socks. Did I put them in my box?" Simple rhymes - including "socks", "box", "fox, " and "ox"! - spin the tale of a small duck who waddles through the countryside, forlornly searching for his blue socks. "I'm trying not to be depressed. / Without my socks I feel undressed." Finally, a sharp-eyed peacock sees a bit of blue peeking out of duck's lace-up shoes and the mini-mystery is solved! This winsome story shares the familiar experience of not really losing something after all.