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Michael O'Keefe
At Large, USA
Not what I appear to be nor am I otherwise.
Recent Activity
As always, Winch hits the mark. Seamus Heaney once said, "We're all just working with what Kavanagh started." Merry Christmas poetry lovers. Night, night. M. O'K.
Paddy Kavanagh's "A Christmas Childhood" (by Terence Winch)
Patrick Kavanagh (1904–1967) continues to inspire conflicting feelings and opinions. John Nemo, writing in The Dictionary of Irish Literature, puts it this way: “His followers, a varied but vocal group, speak of him admiringly as an important force in Irish letters, second only to Yeats. His d...
Thanks, Jerry. Sadly, it's the way of the business for most actors these days. But that's another story.
On Young Actors, The Collector and How We Treat Ourselves by Michael O’Keefe
Last night I was fortunate enough to see a production of an adaptation of John Fowles’ novel, The Collector at the Ruskin Theater Group in Santa Monica, CA. (In the interest of full disclosure I should note that the director, Edward Edwards and I have been friends for over thirty-five years.)...
Thanks, Saul. And give your daughters my best wishes.
On Young Actors, The Collector and How We Treat Ourselves by Michael O’Keefe
Last night I was fortunate enough to see a production of an adaptation of John Fowles’ novel, The Collector at the Ruskin Theater Group in Santa Monica, CA. (In the interest of full disclosure I should note that the director, Edward Edwards and I have been friends for over thirty-five years.)...
That's right, Terence. Not to mention the fee I recieve from BAP for each comment made. Keep 'em coming. Or you can contribute directly to the O'Keefe Relief Fund. Call 1-800-SUMMERHOMEINTHEHAMPTONS for more info on my dire state.
On Young Actors, The Collector and How We Treat Ourselves by Michael O’Keefe
Last night I was fortunate enough to see a production of an adaptation of John Fowles’ novel, The Collector at the Ruskin Theater Group in Santa Monica, CA. (In the interest of full disclosure I should note that the director, Edward Edwards and I have been friends for over thirty-five years.)...
On Young Actors, The Collector and How We Treat Ourselves by Michael O’Keefe
Posted Jan 30, 2010 at The Best American Poetry
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7
In Dreams by Michael O'Keefe
Posted Jan 29, 2010 at The Best American Poetry
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Up After Three Months in My Bed Last Night by Michael O'Keefe
Posted Jan 28, 2010 at The Best American Poetry
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I'm not surprised to hear about Pat's connection with David's mom regarding her survivor story. He's gracious with each and every person who approaches him. And to answer your question about how actors deal with the inevitable loss of daily contact with our colleagues when we return to our daily lives, we stay in touch with those we can and miss those we no longer see daily. But when we reunite it's like it was and we love each other for it.
Pat Conroy, Blythe Danner and the Beaufort International Film Festival by Michael O'Keefe
On February 18, 2010 I am flying to Savannah, GA and driving an hour north to Beaufort, SC for the Beaufort International Film Festival. Pat Conroy, novelist and author of The Prince of Tides and The Great Santini, among many others, will receive the Excellence in Writing Award and Blythe D...
Pat Conroy, Blythe Danner and the Beaufort International Film Festival by Michael O'Keefe
Posted Jan 27, 2010 at The Best American Poetry
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Thanks for your comment, Ed. If you want to e-mail me about model/interventions I am: OKMail4u@aol.com. Yrs, M. O'K.
On the Efficacy of Prayer or My Friend Seamus Has Cancer [by Michael O'Keefe]
In May of 2009 my ten-year old friend Seamus Morrison was diagnosed with a medulla blastoma on his cerebellum. They are a poorly differentiated malignant neoplasm composed of tightly packed cells of spongioblastic and neuroblastic lineage. Or to put it another way: they are not go...
Thanks, Ann Marie.
On the Efficacy of Prayer or My Friend Seamus Has Cancer [by Michael O'Keefe]
In May of 2009 my ten-year old friend Seamus Morrison was diagnosed with a medulla blastoma on his cerebellum. They are a poorly differentiated malignant neoplasm composed of tightly packed cells of spongioblastic and neuroblastic lineage. Or to put it another way: they are not go...
On the Efficacy of Prayer or My Friend Seamus Has Cancer [by Michael O'Keefe]
Posted Jan 26, 2010 at The Best American Poetry
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5
Hi Eric: The poem is from Jason's last chapbook called, Arrow Breaking Apart from Arrowsmith Books.
On Jason Shinder and Why I Love Him on the Day My Father Died [by Michael O'Keefe]
photo by Bill Hayward Jason Shinder (left) died on April 25, 2008 after a prolonged period of living with cancer and leukemia. Those of us who knew him valued his humor, buoyancy and dedication to poetry. He edited several anthologies and I had the privilege of working on his last, The Po...
Thanks, Laura. Any friend of Jason's is a friend of mine. M. O'K.
On Jason Shinder and Why I Love Him on the Day My Father Died [by Michael O'Keefe]
photo by Bill Hayward Jason Shinder (left) died on April 25, 2008 after a prolonged period of living with cancer and leukemia. Those of us who knew him valued his humor, buoyancy and dedication to poetry. He edited several anthologies and I had the privilege of working on his last, The Po...
On Jason Shinder and Why I Love Him on the Day My Father Died [by Michael O'Keefe]
photo by Bill Hayward Jason Shinder (left) died on April 25, 2008 after a prolonged period of living with cancer and leukemia. Those of us who knew him valued his humor, buoyancy and dedication to poetry. He edited several anthologies and I had the privilege of working on his last, The Poem I Turn To, a collection of favorite poems from people in show business. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Mary Louise Parker and a slew of others contributed two poems, commentary and then read the poems onto a CD. What impressed me most about Jason was his ability to live the conviction that Wallace Stevens posited about poetry’s capacity to serve the same function as religion. As William Carlos Williams said, “While it is difficult to get the news from poetry men die miserable deaths everyday from lack of what is found in its pages.” Jason Shinder’s death, as tragic as it may have been, was not miserable. Until the day he died he worked tirelessly on the anthology. I learned as much from him as disciples learned from Jesus. When Death slapped him around he turned the other cheek and recited a poem like this one: Rescue When the doctor inserts his two fingers into my mother’s rectum, the pupils of her eyes move like blue-fish under the ice in a bucket before they are carried away. I am climbing out of a well and offering her some water. I am picking up her body which weighs less than her clothes, when the doctor rubs his fingers against the swollen tissue of her small intestine like the torn blouse of a lover. Already the air on her lips is like bread crumbs. Already the white bones of her skull soften. Already the moon is sticking out of her left eye. I am hiding in the right ear of my mother. I am running like a criminal through the streets of her body trying to return everything I ever stole. What I love about this poem, besides its transparency and sentiment, is Jason’s ability to enter into his mother’s body in an effort to convey his love for her. “I am hiding in the right ear of my mother…trying to return everything I ever stole.” He honors two commandments in one poem. He honors his parents and returns the goods he stole from them, another example of the efficacy of poetry to serve as religion. Four years ago today my father passed away. He was a great man, larger than I’ll ever be even though he stood four inches shorter than me. It was Jason’s poem that inspired me to write the poems in my book, Swimming From Under My Father. And so today, I was reflecting on them both and wondering when they’d visit my dreams again as they often do. When they do I pray I’ll have the wherewithal to enter their dream bodies, return the things I stole and share a line or two of poetry. I owe... Continue reading
Posted Jan 25, 2010 at The Best American Poetry
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That bit is genius. Thanks, M. O'K.
Michael O'Keefe interviews actor Michael O'Keefe.
In a narcissistic slight of hand actor Michael O’Keefe interviews himself about his poems, Christmas and other matters significant to him and him alone. Q.: Michael, nice to have you here. A.: Pleasure to be had and here. Q.: You’ve published a book of poems recently. A.: You’re quite right abou...
Amy, you are clearly a woman of discerning taste. Thanks, M. O'K.
Michael O'Keefe interviews actor Michael O'Keefe.
In a narcissistic slight of hand actor Michael O’Keefe interviews himself about his poems, Christmas and other matters significant to him and him alone. Q.: Michael, nice to have you here. A.: Pleasure to be had and here. Q.: You’ve published a book of poems recently. A.: You’re quite right abou...
You're not alone, Christopher.
On Christmas, Barbara Stanwyck and the Singular Life [by Michael O'Keefe]
For some A Christmas Carol, (Alistair Sim’s version please) is the definitive Christmas film. For others It’s A Wonderful Life holds the honor of best film to watch during the holidays. “Marry Christmas Bedford Falls! Marry Christmas, Mr. Potter!” James Stewart bellows returning from a paral...
Michael O'Keefe interviews actor Michael O'Keefe.
In a narcissistic slight of hand actor Michael O’Keefe interviews himself about his poems, Christmas and other matters significant to him and him alone. Q.: Michael, nice to have you here. A.: Pleasure to be had and here. Q.: You’ve published a book of poems recently. A.: You’re quite right about that. Q.: But enough about poetry tell me about the meaning of life. A.: Hey, let’s get back to poetry, Interlocutor. Unemployed actors know very little about the meaning of life. They can’t even hold a job in the real world. That’s why they became actors in the first place. Q.: How did you become an actor? A.: I was dropped as a child. Q: And why publish a book of poems? A.: I thought you’d never ask. Q.: Oh, I wouldn’t leave you hanging. A.: No, but you sure can’t interrupt a guy who’s trying his best to say something about poetry. Q.: Sorry. I’m all ears. Tell us about your poems. A.: The book is called “Swimming From Under My Father,” and… Q.: Why not just “Swimming Under,” or “Swimming From?” Why “Swimming From Under…?” A.: Oh for Christ’s sake. Can’t you keep quiet? Q.: I hardly think using Christ’s name in vain on Christmas Eve is an appropriate way to celebrate the holiday. A.: And I don’t badgering me with interruptions is the way to interview me about my writing. Q.: I’ll be the judge of that. Your first blog for BAP was about Christmas and Barbara Stanwyck. Do you think the reason you’re single at your advanced age has anything to do with an inability to connect with someone in the real world? And isn’t that why you hold Ms. Stanwyck in such high esteem? She is, after all, only an illusory presence for you. A.: Advanced age? Have you ever been knocked cold by an interviewee? Because, Brother, I am about to sock you in the jaw. Q.: Whatsa matter? Did that hit close to the bone? A significant pause ensues as Mr. O’Keefe waits for Mr. O’Keefe to collect his thoughts and regain his composure. A.: William Carlos Williams once said that while it is difficult to get the news from poetry men die miserable deaths every day from lack of what is found in its pages. Q.: (In an Irish brogue) Did he now? A.: When you did become Irish? Q.: (Continuing the Irish brogue through out the rest) Ach, get away. Sure, I’ve been this way all along. A.: Look, I only have so much time. Can we please just settle into a conversation about my poems? Q.: I’ll not be badgered by ye, ye unemployed actor with yer high falutin’ book a poems. Poems is it? What’s next? Philosophy? From an actor yet. Bollocks! A.: God, you’re a nuisance. What does “Bollocks” mean anyway? I hear Irish and English people use it frequently but no one’s ever made clear what it means. Q.: It means, “testicles” ya ignorant git. A.:... Continue reading
Posted Dec 24, 2009 at The Best American Poetry
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On Christmas, Barbara Stanwyck and the Singular Life [by Michael O'Keefe]
Posted Dec 21, 2009 at The Best American Poetry
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11
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