Vox Populi
A curated webspace for Poetry, Politics, and Nature. Over 18,800 daily subscribers. Over 7,000 archived posts.
Michael Simms: Dear Vox Populi subscribers
I need to take a break from posting for a few days. I have contract work to complete for the Ohio Arts Council, and then I need to drive to Princeton, New Jersey to see friends and do a reading with the talented poet Shannon K. Winston. The next VP posts will go live on Tuesday, December 14, with a meditative poem about light and dark by Baron Wormser and a passionate essay about violence against women by Sarah Lahm. You don’t want to miss the work of these two gifted writers.
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Thank you for your ongoing support. VP now has over 12,000 email subscribers and thousands more visit the site every day. We average over 400,000 users per month. You may know that Vox Populi began in April 2014 as a newsletter for anti-fracking activists in Western Pennsylvania. I started adding poetry, film, art and humor to prevent the newsletter from being too wonky. Tragically, we lost the battle against the frackers, but readers seemed to like the newsletter, so I continued publishing it daily. The only gap occurred during four days in April 2020 when I was rushed to the hospital with a case of Covid.
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As a holiday gift to you, here’s a photograph by philosopher, teacher and artist Eva-Maria Simms called “Sidewalk Drain with Moss and String.” Happy holidays, my friends.
Sincerely,
Mike
Vox Populi 
Attachment available until Jan 8, 2022 I forgot the attachment! here it is: Laure-Anne Click to Download IMG_0159 2.MOV 72.3 MB Laure-Anne Bosselaar https://laureanne.net https://poets.org/poet/laure-anne-bosselaar https://fourwaybooks.com/site/laure-anne-bosselaar/
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Mike, my dearest friend,
May the holiday season and your drive to Princeton and your reading all go splendidly — thank you for so, so much, for your passion, loyalty, kindness, political engagement — thank you for your own fabulous poems, and for posting such good and necessary poems by others! I start the day with Vox Populi, and always smile at you, way over there to the North of where I am. May you and your Eva be well and healthy and happy and joyful and enjoy the affection and kindness of those who love you (like moi!), and are thankful for everything you do and are… And for the rest? Screw the rest. Screw’em!
I don’t know Eva — but give her a hug for me anyway! And here’s a fun video of my Luna trying to climb a tree after a squirrel, my Luna who looks so much like your sweetie (is Josie her name?)
Warmly, Laure-Anne
Laure-Anne Bosselaar https://laureanne.net https://poets.org/poet/laure-anne-bosselaar https://fourwaybooks.com/site/laure-anne-bosselaar/
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Thank you so very much for all you do: introducing a positive note into my day, encouraging my writing by reading the excellent selections of each day, and reminding me that the present is the only thing we really have! Enjoy your brief “working vacation” and have a wonderful reading–let us know if it is accessible via zoom or you tube.
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Thanks, Daniell
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Have a wonderful reading! Thanks for all you do. Christine
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Thanks, Christine! Love your poems!
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Happy Holidays, Michael. Have a great trip and reading! xo
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Thank you! Happy Holidays to you as well!
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We all need breaks so long as they aren’t bones. Vox Populi has been a positive I look forward to in my day since I discovered you, as well as a help in connecting with other writers and poets and like minded lefties. I will look forward to your revving back up again. Thank you
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Thanks, Barb! You are a valuable member of the community!
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I’ll miss your presence in my inbox and thank you for making a positive difference in so many lives! Wow!
Take care, be well and happy! Carrie
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Thanks, Carrie!
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Have a nice time, Michael. You deserve some time away from the screen once in a while!
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And you as well, Kim! Have a happy holiday season! And send pictures of your family. And dogs. We love dogs, don’t we?
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Thank you for everything and I hope to read you and your articles soon. Good luck,
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Thank you!
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And it’s a well deserved break from the work you do that we value so much. Enjoy.
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Thanks for all you do and have done, Mel!
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Eva-Marie Simms’ work is gorgeous and through-provoking. Brilliant! Thank you!
Michael, I hope that some days away to do other work will allow you to offer a briliant reading and, crucially, to relax.
We’re all looking forward to more great work in *Vox Populi,* of course, but only when you can do it. *VP( a life line, and we’re so deeply grateful for your dedication to and enduring understand of and love for art, justice, life, and all that is sacred and right. We’re more than happy “to allow” you a few days away–at least! 😉
Thank you, and enjoy your reading in Princeton!
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Thank you, Billy. It’s so nice to hear from you! When you dropped out of Facebook, I was worried I would lose contact with you. Thank you for your kind remarks now and in the past. Stay in touch!
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Enjoy your break, Michael. I will use the time normally given over to Vox Populi to read your new book! I look forward to the return of Vox’s thoughtful mix of poetry, politics and video, leavened with life-saving humor. Safe travels.
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Thanks, Roberta! I’ve always loved your warm presence and sly wit. Stay in touch!
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Thanks, Michael! Have a safe trip and “break-a-leg” with the Princeton reading. It sounds to be a wonderful experience. I, for one, will look forward to the next edition of VP! Take care for now, stay well, and have Peace.
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Thanks, Gene! I appreciate your ongoing support. It means a great deal to me.
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Safe travels Michael. Vox Populi, and your dear selves, are forces of nature that I’m grateful for, on a daily basis. Onward! Adrian
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Thanks, Adrian! I enjoy your poetry as well. So glad you are part of the team.
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Beautiful, Michael! Thank you for all you do with Vox Populi and safe travels. I hope you holidays are full and warm!
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Thanks, Sally! Love your work! xxxxx Mike
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God speed Michael!
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Thanks, Sean!
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it is a good thing that you can secure income from Ohio Arts Center ….and speaking engagements …it is a positive development that organizations like Patreon and Bandcamp can out- flank gatekeepers and provide income for all kinds of people .. god jul..
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Thank you! It is actually a tiny bit of money, but still the encouragement helps!
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Bravo to you and Vox Populi!
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Thanks, Jackie, for all you do.
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Merecido descanso Michael! Felicidades!
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¡Gracias! ¡Feliz Navidad!
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Enjoy your trip Michael, look forward to hearing from you again,
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Thanks, Noel!
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