SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND DESPOTS ~

 

R E A D   M E

University of Chicago Press

2024

N.H. PRITCHARD ( THE MUNDUS ) ~

 

 R E A D   M E

  M U C H   M O R E

Primary Information

2024

JULIEN GRACQ ~

 

Rainfall

Here in the world cocooned beneath the rain, the moist warmth,

the roof of droplets and twigs, the soft blankets of air with a

thousand splashing stings. Here is beauty on her bed of water,

awakened by the sudden fresh transparency, attuned to a pure

idea of herself, drawn like water by glass. In the air where

the water's babbling above fragrant with grass, and suspends from

the tieback of lianas pearl-studded canopies and the crackling

arithmetic of a crystal abacus.

_____________________

Julien Gracq

Abounding Freedom

translated by Alice Yang

World Poetry, 2024

THE GARDEN OF IAN HAMILTON FINLAY ~

 

J E S S I E   S H E E L E R

I H F

LEON REDBONE ~

 

PAUL McDONOUGH ~

 

Blow Back

once

upon a time

a boat due

for wetdock

maintenance

and repairs

officers

enlisted men

headed to port

...

...

waste

dumped

fore not aft

in briny deep

by mistake

boat sailed

through a cloud

of trash

what was nuclear

gave the hull

a radioactive

veneer

...

...

atomic footprints

of one hundred men

headed for shore

leave

across the deck

of the submarine

tracked

hither and yon

through the night

to

bars

brothels

trailer parks

families and friends

crew pulled back

for safety checks

...

...

but also

running silent

running deep

to keep it

from the press

________________________

Paul McDonough

Electric Boat

Bullhead Books 2024

THE REST IS MEMORY ~

 

R E A D   M E

       Liveright 2025

ALWAYS MICHAEL HURLEY ~

 

M I C H A E L   H U R L E Y

1941 ~ 2025

M O R E

   M O R E   M O R E

  he lived in his songs

APRIL 5 IS NOW ~

 

       Clifford Burke / Virginia Mudd

FORREST GANDER'S MOJAVE GHOST ~

from Mojave Ghost

In the city, a weather of zeros-and-ones

cascades through rising static, while here

in this xeric topography, we fold ourselves

into the circumstances of desert foothills

chewed away by leprosies, toothed winds, and

sudden rains. Will you let me

approach you? Bend forward

and touch consequences, tenderness, leave

the trace of my fingertips

on your throat's dimple, your

clavicle, nipple? Lean in. In

my mouth, the sound of

your name has changed.

___________________

Forrest Gander

Mojave Ghost

New Directions 2024

LISTEN TO BERNIE ~

 

     U.S. Senator, Vermont

GILLIAN WELCH & DAVID RAWLINGS ~

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwUoej-nm6I

LINTON KWESI JOHNSON ~

L I N T O N   K W E S I   J O H N S O N

 

JOHN MILTON ~

R E A D   M E

 

      Gustave Dore

JOHN BRADLEY'S SPELLS ~

 

Stopping By Words Spell

Whose words these are I think I know.

Who can really own them, though.

No one will see me stealing here

To watch these words become my own.

My sturdy tongue must think it weird

To mouth such blather far and near

Between your ears, that lovely space

Where song makes clatter something dear.

You give each word a goodly shake

And ask if this is some mistake.

This tune, so familiar, must leak

From the pillow used by Willy Blake.

These words are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have syllables to keep,

And text to eat before I sleep,

And text to eat before I sleep.

________________

John Bradley

As Blood is the Fruit of the Heart

Dos Madres 2025

NATURAL MAGIC ~

 

R E A D   M E

     Princeton, 2024

BIRDS THROUGH INDIGENOUS EYES ~

 

R E A D   M E

      Princeton 2024

MAKING THEATRE IN KYIV, SPRING 2024 ~

 

R E A D   M E

      Wordville, 2024

JOHNNY ACE ~

 

PICTURES BY J.R.R. TOLKIEN ~

 

R E A D   M E

A N D

      Houghton 2021