Author: playhaus2015

Flashback: Two poems in TAPJoE

That time The Anaprocrustean Poetry Journal of Enumclaw (TAPJoE) published two of my poems in their Spring 1988 issue. “Tshotsholoza Kylezondawo, Vyabaleka” is an isiZulu phrase meaning “Work steady, the train is coming,” as mentioned in Athol Fugard’s play Siswe Banzi is Dead. I wrote this poem while attending a performance of the play back in the 80’s at Virginia Tech. Double flashback! The other poem they published is “Seed” (below). These were the first of my poems accepted for publication outside Tech’s student lit rag, Silhouette.

Three poems in Otoliths 43

Otoliths 43, the Southern Spring issue for 2016, just went live on October 30. A great ezine based in Australia with lots of visual poetry, asemic poetry, and plenty interesting textual stuff. I’m particularly inspired by the visual work of John Bennett (and his collaborators), Jim Leftwich, Texas Fontanella, and differx.

I love reading this journal. So I feel very honored to have three poems appear in the e-pages of this issue: “Checklist for the Next Whatever,” “Seasons of Flight,” and “Springtime Effigies.” You can read them here.

Also, the print version of Otoliths 42, which contains two of my poems, just went live in two parts: a black and white half and a color half. They’re available here.

Flashback: One poem in Exquisite Corpse

That time my poem “Christmas is Over” was published in Andrei Codrescu’s Exquisite Corpse, No. 50 1994/95. This was my second appearance in the journal. Very bummed it doesn’t exist anymore. I love the closing image of Santa Claus jumping up and down in a chimney on fire. That’s what happens when you’re in the zone.

Flashback: One poem in Chiron Review

That time Chiron Review published one of my poems, “Thought He Had the Skinny,” in Issue #46-47, Spring/Summer 1996. Looking at this now, it’s funny how it has that Bukowski type horse racing thing going on, which is possibly why it got accepted. I definitely was reading a lot of Bukowski back then, but I’ve never been to a horse track. Ridiculously amazing issue, though (see cover below).

Two poems in Zoomoozophone Review

Zoomoozophone Review released its eleventh issue today, which includes two of my poems, “Ampersand Abracadabra” and “A Nickel in the Sun.” The whole issue of the online magazine can be viewed here.

Flashback: Two poems in Paper Salad

That time Paper Salad Poetry Journal published two of my poems, “One-a-Day’s Revenge” and “Fast Pace of USA.” Issue #6, 1996.

Flashback: One poem in Washington Review

That time my poem “Reclaim the Streets” was published in the Washington Review, Volume 26, Number 1, from June/July 2000.

My bookshelf between Artaud and Ball

I was pretty stoked when I realized that my books come between those of Antonin Artaud and Hugo Ball on my bookshelf. Yes, that’s J. G. Ballard on the far right. Good company, if not necessarily an endorsement of the quality of my work. LOL

Flashback: Five poems in Articulate

That time Articulate published a big two page spread with all five of my “circus poems” in Vol. 2, Issue 1, March 1996: “The Last Scarecrow,” “Fall of the House of Usher,” “Under the Big Top,” “Neomi Said ‘Love, Who Are You” (the correct title), and “Operation Clean Sweep.” The journal must have retyped my original manuscript, introducing the errors in the title and body of the fourth poem. I’d have to check my originals to see who misspelled “you’re” in the last poem.

All the poems were based on my experiences as an usher for the Cirque de Soleil’s run of Saltimbanco at the mall parking lot in Tyson’s Corner, VA. This was their Washington, DC, performance, running from Oct 14, 1993 to Nov 7, 1993. David Craig and I signed up together; I’m not sure I would have stuck it out if it wasn’t for him. As I recall, the best part was the free meals, which were actually very good.