“life is very easy / you just have to memorize it / in advance” – Heather Christle, “I HIGHLIGHTED YOUR PARTS”
It’s poetry week. In the interest of economy of language, let’s get started.
What I’ve Been Reading This Week:
Poetry! Having gone kinda wild at AWP a few months back, I made time for three books this week. There’s so much to read! All three are very different books, which is one of the great things about poetry. This week, I readThe Trees The Trees by Heather Christle, Brazos by Justin Carter, and Blood Wolf Moon by Elise Paschen.
The Trees The Trees by Heather Christle: I have been wanting to read this book since it came out in 2011. I couldn’t afford it for whatever reason then, and then kinda forgot about it. Adrian’s book reminded me of it again, and the homie Ben Neispodziany hosting Heather at a recent Neon Mic Night reminded me of it again, and then finding it at Uncharted Books in Andersonville on Independent Bookstore Day cemented it. I had to read this book, as soon as possible. All of that anticipation was richly rewarded. This book is so fun, surprising, wonderfully compact. I didn’t want the book to end, yet each poem was like eating what you claim will be your second-to-last chip. Unlike chips, though, these poems are very nutrient-dense.
Brazos by Justin Carter: one cool side effect of supporting small press poetry is you get cool stuff in your library. We had Justin on a The Line Break episode, and shortly thereafter, he was hawking author copies of Brazos online. I electronically shot him some dollars, and received in return a signed copy with a drawing of a basketball court/drawing of a jersey with my name. I’m glad to have done so, because this book rocks. It’s a phenomenal portrait of small-town South. There’s some elegiac and yearning father-son stuff, but it’s never cliche or sentimental. There is a lot in here about the power of the river, and the way settlers in Texas’s relationship to nature is often more exploitative than honorary. There’s also Dale Earnhardt. Praise Dale.
Blood Wolf Moon by Elise Paschen: another of the famed Red Hen Five, the group of books I bought at AWP after I was “done buying books,” because someone handed me a $5 voucher and then books were four for $20. I bought this not knowing the author, simply because I always feel like I should always be reading more Indigenous poets. I’m so glad I did. Something I love about AWP is I can just casually learn about a poet who’s a relative big deal. This is Elise Paschen’s sixth collection, her grandmother’s blankets are in Killers Of The Flower Moon, and I was totally unaware of her. I am glad to know her work, though, and will be seeking out other collections. These poems are moving, they’re exciting, and, with Ankle Deep In Pacific Water, feature a mother being less than an ideal mothers. I’ll definitely be looking for more Elise Paschen.
LINKS!
Something to listen to while you browse? It’s a lot of podcasts this week, so let’s keep it short and browsing-friendly. Here’s a cover of the Wii Party main menu screen from Dani Nooijen:
- All of the links this week are poetry podcasts. I’ve been really, really enjoying the new BLK LIT podcast, hosted by Jacquees Thomas. I heard about it because I follow producer Jabari Ali Davis, thanks to his work on The Daily Zeitgeist, Miles and Jack Got Mad Boosties, and his generally unimpeachable NBA takes. Imagine my happiness to learn the dude gets down with poetry, too. Jacquees is a wonderful and thoughtful host, and the show gets excellent guests. Start with the Langston Hughes episode, it rocks.
- Absolutely listen to the Phyllis Wheatley episodes of BLK LIT
- One more BLK LIT (I’m still working my way through the show), here’s the episode “Prose To The People” with Katie Mitchell about the history and significance of Black-owned bookstores in this country.
- Hey, speaking of Black-owned bookstores, check out the Of Poetry podcast episode with upfromsumdirt. You want to hear from someone who thinks about Afrofuturism, someone who walks the walk of living a radical lifestyle? You want to hear from brother dirt.
- Let’s do one more Of Poetry, because Han rules! Here’s an interview with Karl Knights about the music of ordinary language and writing disability poetics.
What are you still doing here? Don’t you know that Micah and Brendan have a show?
If you work in the service industry, may you clean up in tips this weekend. Hey, I’m traveling to see some friends this weekend in Missouri. It’s good to nourish friendships, and to have fun. I hope you can get some of that this weekend.
Sorry you got an email,
Chris