Deer Hunter and White Corn Maiden is a Tewa myth about the most beautiful and talented youths in the village who fell so deeply in love with each other that they refused do anything but be together. Deer Hunter no longer hunted even though the tribe needed food and White Corn Maiden no longer worked her pottery. On top of that, they ignored the tribe's traditions and avoided special ceremonies to protect the tribe from angry gods. Because they wouldn't listen, the gods turned them into stars in the night sky; one chasing the other, forever together and forever apart.

My favorite part of the Deer Hunter myth is the image of the dead White Corn Maiden chasing her husband around the village because he didn't want to be near her smelly, decaying body anymore! I also like how the spirits have such an interest in the tribe's everyday life; so much so that they come down and talk to them.

Last year, the literary world lost a great and profound writer. When Kurt Vonnegut passed away in April of 2007, my first thought was that we would never again be let into his weirdly beautiful disjointed worlds that mirror ours with broken images. But then, after some silent mourning, I began to realize... if any writer still exists post-mortem, it is Kurt Vonnegut. He is, in his own words, "unstuck in time".

READ magazine published a time travelling issue last year in which we adapted Vonnegut's classic novel, Slaughterhouse Five, into a Readers' Theater play. That was one of my favorite READ plays to work on. Besides that, I've read a lot of Vonnegut's novels but still have at least half of his library to enjoy. I'm very glad for that.

Happy Birthday to you, Kurt. I miss you now. But I will read you soon.

You are not a bug stuck in amber. :)

Editor's note: WORD is thrilled to welcome our new blogger, Jennifer Hickey! Jenn is an adjunct professor at Mercy College in New York City. Although Jenn teaches writing and literature to college students, she is very excited to be speaking to readers of READ! Click on Jenn's image to read her profile.

Have you ever been somewhere like a train or the dentist's office ... or maybe at your very old, very eccentric Great Aunt Tilda's musty house ... and then suddenly became inspired to write about something unusual or ironic? But all you had to write with was a napkin or a field trip permission slip and not much time? Well, I have the perfect poetry form for you!

Back in the day, poets created gnomic verses or small poems that had some sort of riddle or proverb within the lines. These ancient Greek poets referred to these poems as simply, gnomes, meaning "an opinion". Gnomic poetry was also popular in Medieval times. Medieval poets considered gnomic poetry to be an excellent tool for commenting on the world and expressing truths. Sound difficult? It's easier than you think. Check this out:

Great Aunt Tilda's

So many things
that were once new now
permeated by moth balls and
her age old recipe for matzo ball soup.

Tada!

Here's how I did it... I'm at Great Aunt Tilda's apartment and the whole place just reeks of moth balls because for some reason she thinks it's much better to have a smelly apartment than the possibility of a few holes in her sweaters. As for the soup, well, she loves it and I always think of her when I see matzo ball soup, so, I added that into the poem. The word permeated is both literal and figurative because it refers to the smelly moth balls and the idea of Aunt Tilda's soup.

What does my gnomic verse say about Aunt Tilda's? I believe it's a commentary about who she is! A matzo loving lady who fears moths enough to endure stink! And that's quirky and funny, which is a huge part of being old.

Here's a few gnomic verses by the poet Robert Creeley:

Toffee
Little bit patted pulled
Stretched set let cool.

Here
You have to reach
Out more it's
Farther away from
You it's here

Winter
Season's upon us
Weather alarms us
Snow riot peace
Leaves struck fist.

Poetic inspiration is everywhere and autumn is filled with stimulating events for you to create some gnomic witty banter. You too can follow Robert Creeley's example.  Write a verse or two about your favorite presidential candidate. Oh wait... the election is over. Well then write a gnome to President Elect Obama! Possibilities are endless!

Editor's Postnote: Have a question for Jenn or want to leave a comment... or a gnome? Feel free to do so in the comments section below.

Today, we received the unexpected news that author Michael Crichton has died of cancer. In his 66 years, Crichton was a best-selling author, a filmmaker, and the creator of the TV show "ER."

Most of us best know him for the book Jurassic Park and its subsequent movies based on the novel. It is a sad day to get such news. And all we can do here at READ, is to thank Crichton for his fertile mind and wicked imagination that kept so many of us riveted to the page and screen. You did what authors should do--you brought great stories to life. We'll miss you.