Poetry

Abstract poem in Brave New Word’s “Blank Verse” Hemingway tribute

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Online Experimental poetry journal Brave New Word‘s Issue 12 is a tribute to Ernest Hemingway’s experimental, pre-Dada poem “Blank Verse.” You’ve probably seen it somewhere. BNW editor Volodymyr Bilyk describes it this way:

“Blank Verse” is a five line poem that consists solely of punctuation marks divided by extensive spaces to resemble a legitimate text object. The poem consists of: 
  • a pair of quotation marks; an exclamation mark, colon, coma, dot; coma, coma, coma, dot; coma, semicolon, exclamation mark and another coma.
As you can see – it is obviously a throwaway joke. But in the same time it manages to go far beyond its original intent. 

You can read his full examination of the piece (and view Hemingway’s original) on Volodymyr’s personal blog here.

All the pieces in BNW #12 are responses in some way to Papa Hemingway’s piece. There are contributions from many artists in the international experimental poetry scene, including Mark Young, John M. Bennett, Sacha Archer, Andriy Antonovskiy, and many more. Lots of amusing remixes, re-dos, and re-visionings. Who knew one could do so much with punctuation! If you like your poetry concrete and a little silly, this issue is for you.

My own response is a concrete poem called “Grawlix Grid,” an 8×10 construction of various punctuation marks. You can view it online here.

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“Bleeding in the Cracks” in Slipstream; print issue 38 out now

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Slipstream literary magazine’s print version for Issue #38, the one with the Water Theme, has been released and is ready for purchase from their website. I know this, because my contributor’s copy arrived in the mail last week. This issue contains one of my poems, “Bleeding in the Cracks.” Very exciting to see my work in an actual printed journal, a real rarity these days. Slipstream exclusively releases printed copies.

You can read more samples from #38, view the list of contributing authors, and order copies from this webpage.

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“Rabbit Makes His Living” in EZ P-Zine

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EZ P-Zine Issue #4 was recently released; the theme is “resolve,” and covers “closure, epiphanies, personal solutions, contentment, and new paths.” My poem “Rabbit Makes His Living” is included; it’s one of a few pieces following the rabbit character in his mischievous antics. You can check out EZ P-Zine in a number of formats, both print and digital. You could order from the Pyre Publishing website, or using the links on the Goodreads page. A print copy costs $5, while the digital version is free. You decide!

Here’s a taste of my piece below; the full version is in the zine.

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Slipstream #38 out now

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Slipstream literary magazine just released Issue #38, the Water themed issue. It includes one of my poems–alongside a large roster listed in the notice above. This is a print-only magazine, so an issue costs $10–but it is a major outpost of “outlaw” poetry (for lack of a better term). You can check out some sample pieces and place an order here.

Waiting for my author copies to arrive, at which point, more on this publication.

“This Drifting Into Air, Alive,” and 3 other poems in Outlaw Poetry

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Online journal Outlaw Poetry is something of an encyclopedia for what it says on the tin: outlaw poetry in all forms. Today four of my poems appeared in the journal: “This Drifting Into Air, Alive,” “Winnemucca, Nevada, 9 a.m.,” “Summer Movie,” and “Get Off the Stick and Rest.” You can read them here.

Flashback: Christmas poetry jam at 15 Minutes club

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That time I read at the Christmas Poetry Jam at 15 Minutes club in DC on December 27, 1993. Looks like Silvanna Straw, Edgar Silex, and John Potash were also featured readers. And some guy named “Jeff Bogato,” which is actually me when people can’t spell my last name. Then there was an open mike, poetry games and a special guest. Of course, I don’t remember any of this, so it’s a good thing I saved these Washington City Paper advertisements.

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