Awesome Machine Press: Say, Poem by Adam Robinson

How can poetry compete with error, in this economy of attention?
—Adam Robinson, from SAY, POEM

Say, Poem by Adam Robinson

Say, Poem is divided into two sections– the first, Say, Poem, is a larger, sort of stream of consciousness patter-type poem constructed around a series of other poems/prose pieces. The second section, Say, Joke, is a series of smaller poems in the form of ironic, off-center jokes.

The patter-type poem in Say, Poem takes the form of a poet’s monologue at a poetry reading– both interior and exterior, it seems, as in Say, Thank you–/Thank you–/Then say,/I’m not reading a single line/until I know how much/this is going to get me.

It’s an interesting concept, and got me thinking about context regarding poetry– how differently we see it depending on presentation, as at poetry readings, or what we may have heard beforehand about the poem or the poet. For instance, our appreciation of this particular poem can’t not be affected when it’s presented to us this way:

Not NPM

These are the titles I won’t be posting about for National Poetry Month last April, but instead will be doing daily in September. I’m pulling them at random from a suitcase right next to me to determine the order. There aren’t quite enough for an entire month, so if anybody has a poetry book they’d like me to talk about this month, feel free to comment, or e-mail me at oddcitrusdotcamiatgmaildotcom and we can figure it out. Any leftover days will be for poetry publications and anthologies, I think.

Sept. 1 – Personationskin, by Karl Parker
Sept. 2 – Cadaver Dogs, by Rebecca Loudon
Sept. 3 – God Damsel, by Reb Livingston
Sept. 4 – We Were Eternal and Gigantic, by Evelyn Hampton
Sept. 5 – A Conventional Weather, by John Pursley III
Sept. 6 – Say, Poem, by Adam Robinson
Sept. 7 – In Another Castle, by Matthew Shindell
Sept. 8 – Feign, by Kristy Bowen
Sept. 9 –   MC Oroville’s Answering Machine, by Mike Young
Sept. 10 – In the Particular Particular, by Stephanie Anderson
Sept. 11 – The Forgiveness Parade, by Jeffrey McDaniel
Sept. 12 – Lamu, by Steve Timm
Sept. 13 – Arbor, by Melissa Ginsburg
Sept. 14 – Exit Interview, by Paul Guest
Sept. 15 – Radish King, by Rebecca Loudon
Sept. 16 – The Emperor’s Sofa, by Greg Santos
Sept. 17 – make-believe love-making, by Ana Carrete

Robin Camille Davis

And fill up the tank

I’ve lost interest in poetry-related blog projects for now. Which is not to say that nothing will happen, only that I am unreliable, as usual.

The most revolutionary thing I could think of to do today was to buy a shovel.

Somewhere between

Caleb Charland, 15 Hours

Wonder is a state of mind somewhere between knowledge and uncertainty. —Caleb Charland

They control me

Extraordinary poem by Ana Carrete posted at her place the other day. This Ana is really something, she is a force.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

“cut an orange“, by ana carrete

Mike’s

Vodpod videos no longer available.plus bonus cereal flow chart

Bad day Monday

What are you gonna do?

John Boultbee

Dzanc all* Best of the Web in one place nominees

*most**

Annalemma Magazine
“I may not know how I want my hair cut, or how I want Matt Mitcham to get me off, but I sure as hell know what I don’t want to be, and generally that’s whatever you tell me I am.”

Sam Nam, If I Could Lend Him My Words
Meg Pokrass, The Big Dipper
Tim Jones-Yelvington, Seducing Matt Mitcham

Bartleby Snopes
“I’ll pass through small towns God has abandoned, where the stoplights work, but traffic is frozen.”

Richard Santos, Membrane
Richard Osgood, Slow Motion Riders
Howie Good, Ghosts of Breath

Everyday Genius
“Certain prayers are designed specifically for the drunk on the street.”

Cindy Loehr, Shrub Prayer
Laura Ellen Scott, The Temple Dog
Joseph Young, Galaxy

Flutter
“My bones hollow/for the sight of another woman.”

Laura L. Snyder, The Telling Signs
Paula Ray, Where Wild Poisonous Mushrooms Grow
Mary Belardi Erickson, Blossoms & Jam, Maybe Wine

mud luscious
“There is nothing more lonely than to have a person inside you.”

Mike Meginnis, Brother
Molly Gaudry, The Dead Cells of the Day
Sean Lovelace, Meaning of Life #35

No Posit
“our captain/is of pegged leg, parroted shoulder and strong will”

Jeff Crouch, Paper Clips
Joseph Goosey, A Free Over the Phone Consultation
Jason Bredle, Moby Dick

No Tell Motel
“Come home, round corner.”

Elizabeth Hildreth, Eating the Future
Jenn Koiter, Ghazal, with Accessories
Joanna Ruocco, When I Worked for Madonna

Pangur Ban Party
“Toes in my hands, my mean face stops.”

Adam Moorad, The Nurse And The Patient
J. A. Tyler, When We Take Off Our Heads
Sam Pink, Bernhard Goetz

Smokelong Quarterly
“I found his room I said his name, Doctor.”

Z.Z. Boone, Rats
Mary Hamilton, Me and Theodore Are Trapped in the Trunk of the Car with Rags in Our Mouths and Tape Around Our Wrists and Ankles, Please Let Us Out.
Sam Nam, I Use Commas Like Ninja Stars

Terrain.org
“Stones and people do what they must to find repose.”

Pamela Uschuk, A Short History of Falling
J. David Bell, Positioning
Ben Quick, Lee’s Ferry

Toasted Cheese
“My family was like a kelp bed in which things get trapped but never grow.”

Alan Averill, Things Difficult to Say
Kimberley Idol, Painting Naked
Frank O’Connor, Foolish Creatures

Valparaiso Poetry Review
“And why not, this world has been good to us”

Cornelius Eady, Aretha Franklin’s Inauguration Hat
Claudia Emerson, Ground Truth
Charles Wright, I’ve Been Sitting Here Thinking Back over My Life…

Writers’ Bloc
“Poetry makes me feel like a stunned sea bass.”

Sean Lovelace, Writing, about writing
Jimmy Chen, Check, please?
Thomas Sullivan, Pity Party

YB
“I’m 35 now, and what debt. What debt.”

Rob Woodard, Orange Crush
Sean Patrick Hill, Self-Portrait as George Gisze, Merchant
Molly Gaudry, Gratitude

**to be cont’d

Maybe crying

Sam Taylor-Wood

Maybe crying is childish but in a good way.

Maybe crying isn’t everything.

If you were standing next to someone who was visibly upset, maybe crying?

Maybe crying after orgasm is a result of pain or of hurt feelings.

Other times I dream that, after a few drinks, we find ourselves in the sauna at YMCA talking about the old times, laughing, maybe crying.

i understand maybe crying for an oscar or a grammy, but a kids choice award?

Maybe crying is an exception.

On the other hand, maybe crying is a functionless byproduct of increased autonomic activity in distressed individuals.

Pay Raises — Maybe Crying To The Mayor Will Get Results From City.

Maybe crying is something you should try more often.

I was rubbing her back and it seems like she was sad and maybe crying, I’m not sure.

You’re thinking: Maybe crying‘s not such a bad idea…. Whoa. Hold it right there.

Not shrieking, necessarily, but maybe crying and acting cranky.

BRAND: And maybe crying a little bit on the outside.

The speed of light is the right speed