Wednesday, August 17, 2022
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Monday, August 15, 2022
BARRY LOPEZ ~
There is in Lopez's "Sliver of Sky" —
a tragic portrait of his early childhood years of
sexual predatory abuse by a family friend —
which may be his truest wildlife essay.
Random House, 2022
Sunday, August 14, 2022
Saturday, August 13, 2022
Friday, August 12, 2022
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
Tuesday, August 9, 2022
Monday, August 8, 2022
ON THE MESA ~
It's a shame, the re-issue of this anthology is almost batting .1000 —
it has a lush cover photograph of the poet Bobbie Louise Hawkins
by Gerard Malanga, who not only captures the time element of the late 1960s,
but Malanga has always had an affectionate eye for cats.
This anthology was first published by City Lights in 1971
and this expanded edition draws in an aura of American poetry
including Black Mountain poets, San Francisco Renaissance, Beat,
and the NewYork School of poets, and for a change digs into
the ground and finds at least one half of Coyote's Journal poetry (Bill Brown)
but badly misses James Koller — a close friend with many in this
anthology and a sure hand of the California poem.
As they say in that funny world: it's the only reason why I
can't give this book 5 Stars.
A thorough biographical index of each poet would have
also been a treat and finished off a sterling package.
Nonetheless, the new anthology is beautifully edited —
you can sense certain poets touching certain poets —
for instance Joanne Kyger touching Tom Clark
touching Jim Carroll touching Bill Berkson.
The Song Cave makes terrific books, each title comes off the block
similar but unique, much as New Directions used to make them and
how we used to go hunting for them. Black spine, same square size,
cool and fashionable, neat typeface, and an exciting range
of poets. You absolutely can't go wrong.
Just not perfect, yet.
[ BA ]
Sunday, August 7, 2022
STEVE REICH ~
Quite an interesting book and format of "interviews" —
really sharp and informative conversations
and you can see the names here listed,
a great crew.
Reich is generous with his time and knowledge
and quite kind and appealing between the lines.
Don't hesitate.
_______________
Hanover Square Books
2022
Saturday, August 6, 2022
Friday, August 5, 2022
WENDELL BERRY ~
Stay Home
I will wait here in the fields
to see how well the rain
brings on the grass.
In the labor of the fields
longer than a man's life
I am home. Don't come with me.
You stay home too.
I will be standing in the woods
where the old trees
move only with the wind
and then with gravity.
In the stillness of the trees
I am at home. Don't come with me.
You stay home too.
_______________
Wendell Berry
New Collected Poems
Counterpoint Press, 1980
Thursday, August 4, 2022
GRZEGORZ WROBLEWSKI ~
Isn't It Strange
Acid rain . . . On the wall
a picture of your long-deceased
cat.
Isn't it strange that every day
I pray to her
to return you to me.
Twin
He resembled me.
I held him up to my lips,
then threw him into the salty
water. He sank to the bottom.
I heard a giggle.
An invitation to play
together.
You and Me
It couldn't have worked out better.
I am with you without you.
I draw figures on the sand.
I breathe.
I wait.
I decay.
Boeing 737
We watched as it disappeared inside a gray cloud.
(We all would like to do something similar.)
Osaka
an eye.
Keep it,
just in
case.
______________________
Grzegorz Wroblewski
Zero Visibility
Phoneme Media, 2017
translated from the Polish by Piotr Gwiazda