Joe Weil
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Joe Weil (born March 24, 1958) is an American poet renowned for his humor, story telling and eloquence. He currently teaches undergraduate and graduate creative writing classes at Binghamton University.[1]
Weil grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey[2] and was described by The New York Times as personifying that town: "working-class, irreverent, modest, but open to the world and filled with a wealth of possibilities."[3]
Weil's mother died of cancer when he was 17. Weil dropped out of Rutgers University to care for his ill father, a former boxer and glue-factory worker who became alcoholic. After his father's death, Weil became homeless. He found work in factories, and eventually found long-term work at National Tool.[4]
Weil was a pivotal character at the Fringe Gallery and Performance Space in Newark NJ from 1996 until the Fringe closed its doors in 2003. His gritty realism and vision of blue collar existence combined with an edgy humor has made him a major contributor to the Fringe, the Newark Arts Community and the accessibility of poetry to all listeners. His influence will be felt in future generations of poets.
Contents |
[edit] Works
- 15 Cinquains for a Rainy Day
- I've Seen the Duck
- Ode to Baldness & Other Poems
- In Praise We Enter
- A Portable Potty
- The Pursuit of Happiness
[edit] Bibliography
- Paterson Literary Review
- Black Swan Review
- Big Hammer
- Arbella
- Ball Peen
- Stelton Review
- Palanquin Press
- Red Brick Review
- Identity Lessons
- Body Parts
- The Cartographer Electric!
[edit] References
- ^ "Ex-poetry slam champ to give free reading", The Post-Standard, October 18, 2006, p. B1.
- ^ James, George. "In a Lodge by a Lake, Friends Celebrate a Poet's Soul", The New York Times, April 20, 1997. Accessed May 28, 2008.
- ^ Wind, Barbara. "IN PERSON; The Poet as Working Stiff", The New York Times, December 6, 1998. Accessed February 28, 2008. "Joe Weil is Elizabeth: working-class, irreverent, modest, but open to the world and filled with a wealth of possibilities."
- ^ Allee, Rod. "A working man's poet spots the inner beauty", The Record, April 1, 1998, p. I01.
