Meet “Bro,” My Blues Baby-to-Be

Talk about forward thinking: In April 2023, I will be delivered a custom-built classic blues guitar whom I’ve already named Bro—my fourth sweetie who will join Boner, my Martin 000GT16; Bhalz, the electric AVA Guitars Bloody Pearl; and Boy, a Fender Stratocaster. Yes, a long two-year wait for Bro to be sure, but one that

Three Flash Book Reviews: Words from the Unflinching

What I Don’t Remember I Invent Everyone who knows me knows I adore Miriam Sagan who somehow manages to be both a fine and prolific writer. Bluebeard’s Castle is no exception. In this 2019 collection of essays and poems heaped in wisdom, Miriam explores her father’s life and her life growing up with him and

“All I Want for Christmas…” – A Musical Antidote for the Holidays

If you’re like me, your ears have had enough of treacly holiday music being piped in throughout the mall, in the grocery store, at the gas pump—everywhere! So here’s an eclectic playlist to counter the nausea that sweeps over you upon the assault of yet another rendering of “Jingle Bell Rock” or “Frosty the Snowman”

Love People. Cook Them Tasty Food.

I don’t cook that much that often anymore, a habit I’ve lost more or less since my Roger died and cooking lost its lustre. Now, I mostly just throw something together. I count on eggs, keep handy fruits ’n vegs, some bread units. Peanut butter! And dinners out and Door Dash! I get by. But!

A Small Cornucopia for Thanksgiving

My Body the Guitar Poems on guitars and guitarists by Karla Linn Merrifield Coming soon! My newest book, My Body the Guitar, will be arriving in early December from Before Your Quiet Eyes Publications Holograph Series (Rochester, NY). “My Body the Guitar is a poetry book inspired by guitars, guitarists, and their music. In “Part

Of Mr. Rogers and Venus Fly Traps—an Interview with Scott Ferry

Scott, welcome to The Muses’ Refugia. Thanks for joining with me to share with readers a taste of your life in poetry. First the basics: How’d you get into the poetry game? Thank you for having me! I am honored. I have been writing poetry ever since high school (which seems like a really long

Fifty-six Years in the Making

Shortly before I spread my wings and migrated to Florida for the winter on the tails of Canada geese heading to these mild climes where I am now ensconced in my condo aerie, I had a special visitor to Hollybrook House—my oldest friend on the planet. We began a playlist in anticipation of the occasion,

“Funky country blues fusion”— An Interview with Guitarist George Ott

George Ott bills himself as a “long-suffering, underappreciated Jersey Shore musician.” At least that’s how he “signed” the blurb he wrote for my forthcoming book, My Body the Guitar (see previous post). As a thank you to George for writing the blub—and to amp up appreciation for him and his remarkable talents, I interviewed him

My Body the Guitar

Coming soon! My newest book, My Body the Guitar, will be arriving December 1 from Before Your Quiet Eyes Publications Holograph Series (Rochester, NY). Sample Poem Jimi Redux I summon Hendrix the flames of his immolated guitar him crouching on stage in my imagination as he did with a can of lighter fluid squirting            

“Last chances to experience joy”

This is a book about dying and death. This is a remarkably uplifting book. That consummate novelist Laury A. Egan is able to achieve such a balance of emotional response among readers shouldn’t have come as a surprise to me. I’ve followed her career since her first major publication, Jenny Kidd (2012), but this book