Life of a Poet - Eric Alder

Time to feature one of our menfolk, kids, so I cast my eye around and who should pop into my field of vision but Eric, of Bubba’s Place. He was willing to Tell All, so pour yourself something delicious, toss in several ice cubes, and let’s get to know Eric better.

 Poets United: Eric, it is so nice of you to speak with us.  Tell us, is there a story behind when and why you started your blog?  A reason you call it Bubba’s Place?

Eric: I started off with a Windows Live Space a few years ago.  I got an e-mail telling me all about it and thought it sounded fun, since I’d been looking for a creative outlet.  I already had a photo account at deviantArt (http://buddharocks.deviantart.com/gallery) but I wanted to explore my writing more.  I’d done some writing in college and had recently gotten into poetry, so I was feeling inspired to write.

After posting to my Live Space for awhile, it started to feel like I was just talking to myself.  So I started looking for a more ‘social’ blogging experience, and that’s when I discovered Blogger.

I have three blogs there:

*         My ‘main’ blog:  http://thisisbubbasplace.blogspot.com/

*         My haiku blog:  http://haiku-koo-koo.blogspot.com/

*         My photo blog:  http://bifocalunivision.blogspot.com/

“Bubba” is a family nick-name of mine, so I thought “Bubba’s Place” was a good name for my blog.  I also liked the juxtaposition of poetry (often regarded as an artistic and cultured art form) with my ‘low-brow’ nick-name. (Basically, you wouldn’t expect a guy called Bubba to be poetically-inclined)

Poetry Blog of the Week - Catnip (10 Jan 2010)

At poets united we are all about our community so please take the time support your fellow poets by visiting our blog of the week.

This week our bog of the week is:
Selected by Eric Alder

Catnip penned by Timoteo

We Suggest the following poems for your reading pleasure:

American Dream (30 Nov 2009)

Reality Check (11 June 2010)

Romance In All Its's Glory (10 December 2010)

Every week at Poets United we try to introduce our members and readers to a poet and poetry blog found here in our community. Poets United is about reading, writing and enjoying one another’s poetry and this just one more way to show our support for one another.We would love to hear your comments on this poet’s blog and poetry so please come back after visiting the blog of the week and let us know your thoughts.

We hope you enjoy visiting the highlighted blogs. Thank you for supporting your fellow poets and I am sure we will soon see your blog highlighted here.

Poets United

Poem of the Week - Ode To A Wrecking Ball 7/Dec/2010

Selected by Pamela Sayers
This poem can be found at:

Bubba's Place

Ode To A Wrecking Ball


Some people decry letting old places die.
Cringing at the thought when bulldozers are brought
to knock down the walls of decrepit dance halls.

With their voices raised and eyes wet and glazed
they bemoan this ‘great loss’ like it’s Jesus on the cross.
They simply cannot see that all stories are History.

Sentiment for old shelves is us trying to save ourselves
trying not to be forgotten when our children plant new cotton.
New buildings and new dreams replace those old, dry-rotted beams.

These vast empty shells where dust and ghosts dwell
do no good for the living and that’s their misgiving.
Heart-felt, emotional pleas against hard financial realities.

Stuck in once-upon-a-time, aging starlet past her prime
once glorious and new, now forgotten like an old shoe.
Better to remember May and forget November.

Turn-of-the-century wonder will soon be torn asunder
as its Art Deco charm falls without much alarm.
Architecture is divine when the taxes are not mine.

Buildings aren’t meant for the dead, but for those left in their stead
to use as long as they’re needed, ‘til the usefulness is exceeded.
Then best that they be replaced than just left there to go to waste.

~ Eric Adler