University of Texas Press
2024
daydreaming w/ Bob Arnold
If I must die,
you must live
to tell my story
to sell my things
to buy a piece of cloth
and some strings,
(make it white with a long tail)
so that a child, somewhere in Gaza
while looking heaven in the eye
awaiting his dad who left in a blaze —
and bid no one farewell
not even to his flesh
not even to himself —
sees the kite, my kite you made, flying up above,
and thinks for a moment an angel is there
bringing back love.
If I must die
let it bring hope,
let it be a story.
OR Books, 2024
Tikkun
The horror
the calamity
the disgrace,
the rubble of folly
and religion's stupidities,
the dimness of vision
and violence of despair
won't be repaired by an officer,
a bomb or a plane,
and not by still more blood.
Only wisdom of the heart could mend it
only the surgeon, the doctor,
the good teacher, the teachers
the medic — an Arab, a Jew —
only the quiet traveler
riding a bicycle,
someone carrying a sandwich
and walking along a street,
someone opening their eyes,
someone who speaks with compassion,
someone listening
someone learning and wise
someone waiting and thinking
someone guiding someone
down a path of kindness, affection,
the painter, the poet,
disciples of peace —
only the gardeners of peace.
October 10, 2023
_________________________________
Aharon Shabtai
Requiem
translated by Peter Cole
New Directions, 2025
Kong Nay teaching the chapei dang veng, a long-necked lute, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 2003.Credit...
Purchase MUSEUM
~ Update ~
BTW, Birthday wishes for Bob with all love, Sweetheart!
Stone work by Bob Arnold, Summer Flowers 2025 |
The birth of the radical environmental movement is captured in the short, poetic film on Earth First’s legendary direct action at Glen Canyon Dam in March of 1981. The film contains one of the only interviews ever given by the late, great, Monkey Wrench Gang author Edward Abbey along with his classic speech from the back of a pick-up truck. Produced by Christopher (Toby) McLeod, Glen Switkes and Randy Hayes.
from Photo Studies
AUGUST STUDY
august the heat of a scorching pot
roofs and portals yellow flashing
a book carelessly flipped through
suddenly dazzlingly blooming like heat
august is a river unspeakably mellow
the old secession buildings flow
a clean thin membrane of light
covers the noon processions of trees
august my relentless idyll
the oily state of warm wax
a street violin sonata sunday
sharp as a sting
anxious
dense
____________________
YURI ANDRUKHOVYCH
Set Change
translated John Hennessy & Ostap Kin
New York Review of Books, 2024
Tanam Press
First Third Woman Press
University of California Press
1982, 1995, 2001, 2009, 2022