HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[Click on image to enlarge and salivate]

A TIP FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA

would be: the next time you have another poetry reading at the White House and are thinking (yet again) of inviting Billy Collins, invite this dude named George Bilgere instead. He’s so good he’s better than Billy in writing those Billy Collins poems. His bio, albeit from a 2010 book, states he teaches at John Carroll University in Cleveland.

And here’s the latest update of my Recently Relished W(h)ine List below. Just blog-filing a quick one in preparation for my Poetry-Read-In-2012 List (I know you’re all agog with anticipation). As ever, please note that in the Publications section, if you see an asterisk before the title, that means a review copy is available for Galatea Resurrects! More info on that HERE.


PUBLICATIONS
THE WHITE MUSEUM, poems by George Bilgere (see above. Except that he’s good enough so that he ends up writing George Bilgere poems)

AN INVOCATION FOR NEW WINTER IN THE YEAR TWENTY-THIRTEEN, poem viz card-broadside by Sheila E. Murphy (lovely annual)

HOMEMADE POEMS by Lorine Niedecker (charming, particularly as reproduced handwritten chap originally made by poet for Cid Corman)

ROUNDING THE HUMAN CORNERS, poems by Linda Hogan (a rewarding read)

* DIADEM: SELECTED POEMS by Marosa Di Giorgio, Trans. by Adam Giannelli

* THUNDERBIRD, poems by Dorothea Lasky

SCARED TEXT, poems by Eric Baus

THE LOST COUNTRY OF SIGHT, poems by Neil Aitken

LANGSTON HUGHES, NANCY CUNARD & LOUSIE THOMPSON: POETRY, POLITICS & FRIENDSHIP IN THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR, correspondence and poetry edited by Anne Donlon

“THE SEA UNDER THE HOUSE” THE SELECTED CORRESPONDENCE OF JOHN WIENERS AND CHARLES OLSON, PART I, correspondence and poetry edited by Michael Seth Stewart

“THE SEA UNDER THE HOUSE” THE SELECTED CORRESPONDENCE OF JOHN WIENERS AND CHARLES OLSON, PART II, correspondence and poetry edited by Michael Seth Stewart

* THE STORY OF MY ACCIDENT IS OURS, novella by Rachel Levitsky (interesting to read this right after THE BUDDHIST—see below. The coincidence resulted in me wishing there was a little of Levitsky’s in THE BUDDHIST and little more of Bellamy’s in THE STORY …)

THE BUDDHIST, memoir/poetry by Dodie Bellamy (see above comment)

EVERYTHING FLOWERS, art monograph by Clare Rojas


WINES
1998 Fox Creek McLaren Vale

CHILLIN' ON CHAIRS

Trying to recover from the year.  Which is to say, jest hangin' out with a book, trying one chair after another.

(Part of Miniature Chair Collection)

BECAUSE I AM PRO-JOY

I like the Holiday season.  It makes me feel, uh, festive.  And what makes me feel particularly festive are Christmas tree ornaments.  Since we already have a lot acquired over the years, we only get a few new ornaments each year.  This year, here's what we got:

A soccer ball  from the son's stocking:

A hummingbird banner the son brought back from his Nicaragua summer internship -- we have the fattest hummingbirds on Galatea's mountain because the hubby religiously subsidizes their diet with sugared water:

A rabbit corkscrew for the wine-loving hubby:

Because we're all Star Trek fans, a U.S.S. Enterprise spaceship with an audio of Star Trek's unforgettable theme song:

And the above were augmented by a Madonna and Child discovered in Mom's room:

and a number of bells like the one below from Lorma--thanks cousin!

Hope you enjoyed this mini-tour, which began and ends now with moi beloved son's soccer:

Cheers!

POETRY = GIFT

I understand why folks rarely gift me poetry -- coals to Newcastle and all that.  But, this year, I wanted poetry books under the tree and so prompted the hubby on what to get for said purpose.  Entonces, I received two items: the marvelous LOST AND FOUND: THE CUNY POETICS DOCUMENT INITIATIVE SERIES III and Dodie Bellamy's THE BUDDHIST which I've desired for a while:

With the above, it seems a timely time to post what's likely to be my last 2012 update to my Bought Poetry List (poetry books or books in other genres by poets):

LOST AND FOUND: THE CUNY POETICS DOCUMENT INITIATIVE SERIES III—comprised of

DIANE DI PRIMA: THE OLSON MEMORIAL LECTURE, Edited by Ammiel Alcalay & Ana Bozicevic

EDWARD DORN: THE OLSON MEMORIAL LECTURE, Edited by Lindsey Freer

LANGSTON HUGHES, NANCY CUNARD & LOUSIE THOMPSON: POETRY, POLITICS & FRIENDSHIP IN THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR, Edited by Anne Donlon

JOANNE KYGER: LETTERS TO & FROM, Edited by Ammiel Alcalay & Joanne Kyger

LORINE NIEDECKER: HOMEMADE POEMS, Edited by John Harkey

MICHAEL RUMAKER: SELECTED LETTERS, Edited by Megan Paslawski

JOHN WIENERS & CHARLES OLSON: SELECTED CORRESPONDENCE, Edited by Michael Seth Stewart

THE BUDDHIST by Dodie Bellamy

LARYNX GALAXY: PROSE POEMS by John Olson

NEW & SELECTED POEMS (1995) by Ron Padgett

CITY OF CORNERS by John Godfrey (I already own it! Another case of buying books I couldn’t remember I already owned. So, this “spare” copy is placed on moi Community Book Shelf in case you want to trade!)

WHAT THE STONES REMEMBER: A LIFE REDISCOVERED, memoir by Patrick Lane

PUTI/WHITE by Patria Rivera

LOVE POEMS by Rene Ricard

5 SHADES OF GRAY by Eileen R. Tabios

***

Before we opened presents, of course, the hubby had to gift us breakfast -- David Eyre's pancakes!  Thanks Tom!

Served with Galatea honey reflecting the terrain of the mountain.  So ... sweet!

YOUR HOLIDAY GREETINGS

are so appreciated I want to mirror them right back atcha!

CREATE MEMORIES BY ENGAGING POETRY!

And off we go, or I go! I just released Galatea Resurrects #19 but I’ve just now writ my first review for the next issue! That’s how compelling I found Memory Cards by Susan M. Schultz. Has to be compelling because as I’ve said before, I don’t assign myself books to review. I just try to read widely and then whatever inspires me to review end up being the books I will have reviewed.

And here’s the latest update of my Recently Relished W(h)ine List below. Also, please note that in the Publications section, if you see an asterisk before the title, that means a review copy is available for Galatea Resurrects! More info on that HERE.  Do check out this review copy list -- I update it frequently as I receive many lovelies...


PUBLICATIONS
NEW & SELECTED POEMS by Ron Padgett (I’m late to the party—but with this book, I officially become a Ron Padgett fan. This is the 1995 book published by Godine)

MEMORY CARDS by Susan M. Schultz (fabulously wide-ranging in scope, despite diminutive size)

CUTTING TIME WITH A KNIFE, poems by Michael Leong (cheerfully imaginative!)

* HOOFS, poems by Holly Pester (love its energy!)

* SEVEN CONTROLLED VOCABULARIES AND OBITUARY 2004. THE JOY OF COOKING (AIRPORT NOVEL MUSICAL POEM PAINTING THEORY FILM PHOTO HALLUCINATION LANDSCAPE], poetry by Tan Lin (love how Tan Lin’s works make moi slow-think)

* A MARZIPAN FACTORY by Grzegorz Wroblewski, Trans. from the Polish by Adam Zdrodowski (glad to have this book out there)

* DRAFT 108: BALLAD AND GLOSS, poems by Rachel Blau DuPlessis

* NOTWITHSTANDING SHORING, FLUMMOX, poems by Emily Abendroth

* LAST EDITED [INSERT TIME HERE], poems byYa-Wen Ho

* APHORIA, poems by Jackie Clark

* ELSEPLACE, poems by Laurie Filipelli

* ENOUGH, poems by Chris Martin

* 20 LOVE POEMS FOR 10 MONTHS by Mary Austin Speaker

* HERE AND NOW, poems by Stephen Dunn

* EARLIER LIVES, poems by Sara Daile

* PLAGIARIST, poems by Pamela L. Laskin

* DIORAMA OF A PEOPLE BURNING, poems by Bradley Harrison

* EDOM, poems by Christopher William Purdom

LOST BODY, poems by Terry Ehret

* HOUSE ORGAN, No. 81, Winter 2013, literary journal edited by Kenneth Warren (brilliant!)

CHAIRMANIA: FANTASTIC MINIATURES by George M. Beylerian

THE HISTORY OF FURNITURE: TWENTY-FIVE CENTURIES OF STYLE AND DESIGN IN THE WESTERN TRADITION by John Morley

OBJECTS OF DESIRE: THE LIVES OF ANTIQUES AND THOSE WHO PURSUE THEM, journalism by Thatcher Freund

AMERICAN FURNITURE: UNDERSTANDING STYLES, CONSTRUCTION AND QUALITY by John T. Kirk

INFLUENTIAL STYLES: FROM BAROQUE TO BAUHAUS AND BEYOND – INSPIRATION FOR TODAY’S INTERIORS by Judith Miller and photos by Simon Upton

INSIDE ARCHITECTURE: INTERIORS BY ARCHITECTS by Susan Zevon with photographs by Judith Watts

THE PERFECT $100,000 HOUSE: A TRIP ACROSS AMERICA AND BACK IN PURSUIT OF A PLACE TO CALL HOME, memoir/journalism by Karrie Jacobs with illustrations by Gary Panter

THE LAST VICTIM, novel by Karen Robards

SHIVER, novel by Karen Robards


WINES
2002 Hutton Vale Grenache Mataro Eden Valley
2007 Serra Barbaresco
2006 Dutch Henry merlot Yountville
2004 Samuel’s Gorge shiraz McLaren Vale
2007 Cayuse Vineyards “Camaspelo” Walla Walla
2005 Trevor Jones shiraz Barossa Valley

SON = HEART

If you come sit with me for a bit, I can tell you how to make a fullsome heart!

Speaking of El Hijo, I haven't bragged about him in a while.  Let Moi remedy such.  Here are images from his biology project this semester, a site survey of our very own Galatea! He surveyed the terrain, the deer, the rabbits, the foxes, the roads, the culverts, the trees, the flowers, the sunsets and sunrises...

(Click on images to enlarge)

He's spending the holiday break hanging out with friends, watching TV, doing more FBs than normally allowed, watching movies (we just saw "The Hobbit" -- that ending was cheesy!), and so on.  But he's also spending 4-5 hours a day everyday reviewing World History, from about 1400 to 1800, or from the Renaissance to Napoleon's time.  Yes, he's doing that voluntarily because he didn't take World History last semester and, I suspect, doesn't want to be behind when he picks it up next semester.  Being competitive has its advantages beyond the soccer field!  Love Moi Boy!  I'm sure you can tell!

THIS GIRL IS SINGING!

So, here's more for the "Thank you, Universe" file. 

Everyday, I spend time clearing through, cleaning up, re-organizing or otherwise going through Mom's stuff.  She left behind a lot of stuff and the process is weighty (as it forces me to remember various aspects of her life when I'm in mourning that she's gone).  But, this morning, I came across a book -- a book that she'd put on her shelves of Bibles and various Biblical studies, which is to say, a treasured space to Mom -- this book:

I hadn't looked at this particular book, this MARVELOUS BLESSING, in a while (it was released in 2009).  It's a book curated/edited by John Bloomberg-Rissman; that is, John focused on a poem I wrote "Girl Singing" and then put out a call for poets and artists to respond to it.  The result became a book.  And as I looked at the copy that Mom gave, I remembered that I had given it to her as a gift (was it for Christmas that year?).  I opened it, and saw this:

So, ONCE MORE and FOREVER MORE, thank you to editor John Bloomberg-Rissman and the forty-ish poets and visual artists around the world who generously responded to my poem to give a "thousand views."  You didn't just make me happy, but you gave so much pleasure to my Mom.

THANK YOU, UNIVERSE!

3Ms = MADE MOI MORNING = CHOCOLATE!

First email read this morning from poet-professor(-scholar-critic-gentleman etc) Burt Kimmelman.  He's grading student papers and shared with me an excerpt from one paper quoting me on poetry and ekphrasis.  You mean someone takes moi blather seriously?  3Ms!!  Thank you, Universe!  Now I gotta go reward me with at least three M&Ms!

COME, SIT ... MULTIPLY!

with the chatty Moi, S.S. Prasad and Ana Maria Uribe!

GALATEA RESURRECTS FOR THE 19TH TIME!

And, dear Peeps, a Holiday Gift for you!  Sixty-eight (68!) new reviews in the newly-released

Galatea Resurrects #19 (A Poetry Engagement)

Please click on above link to go direct to the issue, but here below (for my Blog-As-File porpoise) is its Table of Contents:

EDITOR’S INTRODUCTION
Eileen Tabios


NEW REVIEWS
John Herbert Cunningham reviews Four Books by Clarice Lispector: NEAR TO THE WILD HEART (Perto de selvage), translated by Alison Entrekin; THE PASSION ACCORDING TO G.H. (A Paixăo segundo G.H.), translated by Idra Novey; AQUA VIVA (Áqua Viva), translated by Stefan Tobler; A BREATH OF LIFE (Um sopro de vida; pulsações), translated by Johnny Lorenz

Ed Zahniser reviews WILLIAM BRONK: BURSTS OF LIGHT THE COLLECTED LATER POEMS, edited by David Clippinger

Eileen Tabios engages THE COLLECTED POEMS OF LUCILLE CLIFTON 1965-2010, edited by Kevin Young and Michael S. Glaser

Sunnylynn Thibodeaux reviews FAULT TREE by kathryn l. pringle

Judith Goldman reviews FAULT TREE by kathryn l. pringle

Micah Cavaleri reviews STILL: OF THE EARTH AS THE ARK WHICH DOES NOT MOVE by Matthew Cooperman

Guillermo Parra reviews UNCERTAIN TIME by Richard Caddel, with an introduction by Aaron Tieger

Jeff Harrison engages LETTERS TO MADELEINE: TENDER AS MEMORY by Guillaume Apollinaire, edited by Lawrence Campa, translated by Donald Nicholson-Smith

Bill Scalia reviews MAYBE A PAINTER by Christina Fisher

Jean Vengua reviews RING OF BONE: LEW WELCH COLLECTED POEMS, edited by Donald Allen

Burt Kimmelman reviews DIVINE MADNESS by Paul Pines

Lucy Biederman reviews RE- by Kristi Maxwell

Eileen Tabios engages MAY APPLE DEEP by Michael Sikkema

jim mccrary reviews CAPTAIN POETRY’S SUCKER PUNCH: A GUIDE TO THE HOMERIC PUNKHOLE, 1980-2012 by Kenneth Warren

Lucy Biederman reviews NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL by Harmony Holiday

Garrett J. Brown reviews MAP OF THE HYDROGEN WORLD by Steve Halle

Jaime Townsend reviews HART ISLAND by Stacy Szymaszek

Tom Hibbard reviews FOUR PAINTINGS by Guy Beining

Bill Scalia reviews BODY OF WATER by Erin M. Bertram

Eileen Tabios engages ANGLES OF INCIDENTS by Jon Curley

Tom Beckett reviews DECK OF DEEDS by Rodrigo Toscano

Allen Strous reviews IT CAN BE SOLVED BY WALKING by Jennifer Wallace

Patrick James Dunagan reviews BEYOND THE CHAMELEON’S SKILL by Darius Cooper

Eileen Tabios engages BENDING AT THE ELBOW by Matyei Yankelevich

Jeannine Hall Gailey reviews EVERY DRESS A DECISION by Elizabeth Austen

Edric Mesmer reviews publications by, or edited by, BRIAN ANG, RAE ARMANTROUT, G.N. GABBARD, YVONNE REDDICK, BUCKY FLEUR, ROBERT DUNCAN, rob mclennan, VINCENT CERVONE, JOHN CUTTITO, PAIGE MELIN, ALBERT GLOVER, JOHN C. CLARKE, and j/j hastain

Bill Scalia reviews ABSOLUTE ELSEWHERE by James Davies and Simon Taylor

Gayle Romasanta reviews FOR THE CITY THAT NEARLY BROKE ME by Barbara Jane Reyes

Bill Scalia reviews THE SILVER BOOK by Jen Bervin

Eileen Tabios engages COMMON TIME by Chris Pusateri

Tom Beckett reviews PORTRAIT AND DREAM: NEW AND SELECTED POEMS by Bill Berkson

Bill Scalia reviews RUST OR GO MISSING by Lily Brown

Eileen Tabios engages ARDOR: POEMS OF LIFE by Janine Canan

Henry W. Leung reviews PHYLA OF JOY by Karen An-hwei Lee

Neil Leadbeater reviews SLEEPING WITH YOU AND OTHER NIGHT-TIME ADVENTURES by Geoff Stevens

Neil Leadbeater reviews ISLANDS IN THE BLOOD by Geoff Stevens

Mirna Perrin-Louis reviews “Heart as Arena” from THE FEELING IS ACTUAL by Paolo Javier

Eileen Tabios engages CLOUDFANG :: CAKEDIRT by Daniela Olszewska

John Bloomberg-Rissman engages BAN by Bhanu Kapil

Jon Curley reviews USELYSSES by Noel Black

Nicholas T. Spatafora reviews THE SHEPHERD’S ELEGY by John C. Goodman

Patrick James Dunagan reviews ON THE PLANET WITHOUT VISA: SELECTED POEMS AND OTHER WRITINGS AD 1960-2012 by Sotére Torregian

rob mclennan reviews AS LONG AS TREES LAST by Hoa Nguyen

Neil Leadbeater reviews A PARTIAL VIEW TOWARD NAZARETH by Kathryn Rantala

rob mclennan reviews THUNDERBIRD by Dorothea Lasky

Neil Leadbeater reviews THE WHITE CALF KICKS by Deborah Slicer

Jeffery Beam reviews APPROXIMATING DIAPASON by j/j hastain and tod thilleman

Eileen Tabios engages CUTTING TIME WITH A KNIFE by Michael Leong

NEW REVIEWS VIZ “RANDOM DIPTYCH”
Patrick James Dunagan reviews, viz “Random Diptych,” MATCHING SKIN by Shirlette Ammons, A COINCIDENCE OF WANTS by Michelle Detorie, THRONE by Michael Cross and MAJAKOVSKIJ EN TRAGEDY by Johannes Göransson

Genevieve Kaplan reviews, viz “Random Diptych” EARTHQUAKE CAME TO HARLEM by Jackie Sheeler and GLASS IS REALLY A LIQUID by Bruce Covey

Lucy Biederman engages, viz “Random Diptych,” PARTYKNIFE by Dan Mager and AUTOPSY TURVY by Thomas Fink & Maya Diablo Mason


ESSAYS
“Remembering Paul Blackburn” by jim mccrary

“VISUAL WRITING:
LANGUAGE AND EXISTENCE
THE IMAGE OF MATTER” by Tom Hibbard

“Engaging My Trans” by j/j hastain


FEATURED POET
Micah Cavaleri

THE CRITIC WRITES POEMS
Genevieve Kaplan

FROM OFFLINE TO ONLINE
Edric Mesmer and Matthew Hall review DESIRING MAP by Megan Kaminski, FLASH BANG by James Cummins, GLOSS TO CARRIERS by Ian Heames, HGFED.JANVr; SOME STARSs by Jo Cook, THE KATECHON: LINES 101-200 by Michael Cross, PEACHES AND BATS, Issue 9, Spring 2012 edited by Sam Lohmann, THE RELATIONAL ELATIONS of ORPHANED ALGEBRA by Eileen R. Tabios & j/j hastain, SORRY YOU’RE OCCUPIED: SPONTANEOUS ORDER, edited by James Louden, WHEREIN? HE ASKS OF MEMORY by Jeremy Balius, WORDS ON EDGE by Michael Leong

John Olson reviews WHERE SHADOWS WILL: SELECTED POEMS 1988-2008 by Norma Cole


BACK COVER
A POETICS LESSON: THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT CLOSE-UP!

IMAGINE RADICALLY!

Yes, I'm sitting but also working on releasing the next issue of Galatea Resurrects!  Whilst on coffee-break, I thought I'd give you a preview of an item from my "Editor's Introduction," to wit:

Some Thoughts For Future Issues: While the core of Galatea Resurrects is likely to remain poetry book reviews, GR’s vision is not so much book reviews but offering new ways and opportunities to engage with poetry.  So please consider this a reminder that you need not write a book review to be published in GR.  For example, you can do a close reading of a single poem from a poetry book.  You might even discuss a poetry reading rather than a poetry publication.  Or review a visual art exhibition, videos, etc. that has some link(s) to poetry. You might even round up a pal or several pals to discuss a poem or book or other poetry project.  In this issue, we—rather, John Bloomberg-Rissman—even review a manuscript-in-progress, BAN by Bhanu Kapil, since the in-progress manuscript is publicly available (in this case, through the author’s blog).  And Tom Hibbard engages with four paintings by a poet—Guy Beining—because GR is open to "reviewing" any output in any genre by a poet.  So please feel free to think of different ways with which one might engage in poetry!

That's right: release your imagination!

A logistical note--there are tons of you out there holding on to GR's review copies.  If you are pressed for time in writing that "book review," note what I say above: you can earn that review copy by just doing a read of one poem!  Have at it!

The next review deadline is April 10, 2013.  Please do go peruse the list of available review copies--I update it weekly, almost daily, as I keep receiving many lovely books!

YOU MAY WANT TO GO PARK

your lovely tushes over HERE, which is fresh, if you want to

          "enhance your life"

          "inspire great ideas"

          "enhance your relationship with the great beyond"

Who knew sitting would accomplish so much?!

SIT WITH MOI!

Because I'm not busy (hah), I came up yesterday with a new project -- a new way to invite you to poetry:

SIT WITH MOI!

The blog was intended to focus on my modest but growing miniature chair collection, but it ended up also being an attempt to generate new poems.  So, from miniature chairs to poetry -- why not?  But the leap was unexpected: looking at the image of my miniature chairs -- where no one is sitting on them -- it occurred to me that the image of an empty chair is poignant.  So alone.  Unless, one pulls up a chair to someone and commences a conversation.  Hence, "Sit with Moi!"

For poets, I also have a request.  As I begin detailing the etymologies (hah) of my miniature chairs, I'd like to expand the collection to include other poets.  So if you are a poet with a miniature chair you'd like to send my way (gratis or in exchange for a poetry book or for some other arrangement we can discuss), please contact me at GalateaTen@aol.com  Your miniature chair could be a former toy, a spare tiny chair, a dust collector now, etc.  But I promise it a new life within the company of my chairs!  I'd like to present "my" collection in the manner I've presented several of my poetry books (e.g. HERE): as not just authored by me but by others as well.

Interestingly, when I put out the Call for Chairs to the wonderful Pussipo Listserve, I didn't get a chair but did get a chair-photograph by Mel Nichols which already ended up generating a new poem.  So, if you want to be creative in responding to my Call, feel free!

Here I am seated.  Come SIT WITH MOI!

NICE, UH, TORSO...

Ever since I released 5 Shades of Gray, I do occasionally get, uh, certain comments. The latest comes from Edric Mesmer, master collator of Yellow Eden literary journal out of Buffalo. He wanted me to see THIS (posted by faboo poet Nate Dorward).  I think you should see it, too...on your way, of course, to checking out MINE.

GALATEA WORKS!

Yes, yes I'm workin' hard to put out the next issue of Galatea Resurrects!  It'll be another faboo issue!  On a wine-break here, just want to note that I'm so pleased that the next issue will expand our new-review coverage to 1,200 books and other poetry projects!  Covering 460 publishers in 17 countries so far! 

To date, here's the Top Ten of publishers who've received GR review coverage (which is significant partly if one knows that the distinct majority of GR reviewers choose which books they wish to review):

Meritage Press (San Francisco & St. Helena) -- 55 reviews
Dusie (Switzerland) -- 49 reviews
Ugly Duckling Presse (Brooklyn) -- 45 reviews
Coffee House Press (Minneapolis) -- 37 reviews
BlazeVOX Books (New York) -- 35 reviews
Marsh Hawk Press (New York) -- 32 reviews
Otoliths (Australia) -- 30 reviews
Ahsahta Press (Boise, Idaho) -- 21 reviews
Belladonna (Brooklyn) -- 19 reviews
No Tell Books (Virginia) -- 18 reviews

And here's one of the reasons why the above list is possible: jim mccrary, one of Galatea Resurrects' more popular reviewers with his kitty kat Abby and Xmas tree.  For such information and images, you love to come to Moi Blog:

Hm. Moithinks that Abbicat is like my white cat, Artemis -- a little diet couldn't hurt...

SLIPPERY POETRY

The word, as description, is a snapshot.  The problem is Poetry is a film.

So, as regards my referenced poetics essay in prior post, "Educating the Shih....", will need to adjust per:

--from Tom: "the idea of getting out of the way of the poem, and yet, and yet that doesn't always mean Ginsberg's "first thought, best thought"; whether in your case, it involves extensive revision, it could. Getting out of the way is to separate greater from lesser desires in the act of composition and revision, not necessarily "automatic writing" a la the surrealists"

--from John: move up the reference to Filipino indigenous myth as that is central.

"Getting out of the way is to separate greater from lesser desires in the act of composition and revision" is key, moithinks.

Final version likely will be posted at "Babaylan Poetics."

Blog As File Cabinet.

THE POETICS OF EDUCATING "SHIH"

This photo of Filipinas and an American Soldier (from Univ. of Wisconsin Archives)

is a provocative illustration to a fabulous presentation of "Pinay Poets" at The Bakery, curated by Barbara Jane Reyes.  I'm honored to be part of the group: Joi Barrios, Arlene Biala, Sasha Pimentel Chacon, Rachelle Cruz, Luisa A. Igloria, Karen Llagas, Melissa Roxas, Melissa Sipin, Eileen Tabios, and Jean Vengua.

"Pinay Poets" is The Bakery's monthly feature and as part of such, poetics essays by the participants also will be featured throughout the month.  So far, two have appeared: Jean Vengua's "Notes on a Poetics of Individuality and Community" is over HERE, and my "Educating the Shih: A Filipina Poetics" also just appeared HERE. 

My two sample poems (on boxing, haha) are from a manuscript-in-progress that could be my first long-poem book, 147 Million Orphans: A Haybun.

And as my poetics essay moves from Sun Tzu's The Art of War to Michael Gerard Tyson (of the recent menage a troi Brad Pitt and Robin Givens fame, sigh), it seems appropriate to me that the poetics statements are featured on The Bakery's "Dirty Pans" Blog ... coz if your poetics don't get dirty, it ain't particularly ... tasty.  

MOI FAVORITE 2012 POETRY READ!

I think I just read what just would become my FAVORITE 2012 POETRY READ: the latest poetry collection from John Olson, LARYNX GALAXY (Black Widow Press). Do yourself a favor and CHECK IT OUT!


I also recently read Rene Ricards’ LOVE POEMS. What’s interesting, too, is that I happened to have the book lying on the dining table. Well, Michael saw it and picked it and drew this...on the proverbial napkin!

I believe he liked the image of the turkey-heart.  Then, coz he's a boy-chick, he also drew this:

Sigh.  Anyway, if he can focus, he's such a talented hijo! And here’s the latest update of my Recently Relished W(h)ine List below (a tad heavy on airport reading). Also, please note that in the Publications section, if you see an asterisk before the title, that means a review copy is available for Galatea Resurrects! More info on that HERE.


PUBLICATIONS
LARYNX GALAXY, poems by John Olson (so multi-layered and multi-referential in a loose way so that disjunction always maintains an inherent harmony)

LOVE POEMS by Rene Ricard with drawings by Robert Hawkins

* EYELID LICK, poems by Donald Dunbar (interesting technique)

* THE PRACTICE OF RESIDUE, poems by Kimberly Lyons

* MATERIAL GIRL, poems by Laura Jaramillo

* YOUR INVITATION TO A MODEST BREAKFAST, poems by Hannah Gamble

PUTI/WHITE, poems by Patria Rivera

* BONE BOUQUET, Vol. 3, Issue 2, poetry journal curated by Krystal Languell, Elizabeth Brasher, and Allison Layfield

* TRANSFEMINISM & LITERATURE, with work from T.L. Cowan, Joy Ladin and Tim Trace Peterson

* HOMAGE TO ETEL ADNAN, prose homages by Ammiel Alcalay, Jen Benka, David Buuck, Steve Dickison, Thom Donovan, Sharon Doubiago, Simone Fattal, Robert Grenier, Benjamin Hollander, Joanne Kyger, Michael McClure, Stephen Motika, Nancy J. Peters, Csava Polony, Megan Pruiett, Brandon Shimoda, Roger Snell, Cole Swensen, Stacy Szymaszek, Lynne Tillman, Fawwz Traboulski, and Anne Waldman

SEASONS AT EAGLE POND, essays/memoir by Donald Hall

LEARNING TO DRIVE, essays by Katha Pollitt

KISSES FROM KATIE, memoir by Katie Davison with Beth Clarke

OUTCASTS UNITED: AN AMERICAN TOWN, A REFUGEE TEAM, AND ONE WOMAN’S QUEST TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, journalism by Warren St. John

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, novel by Cormac McCarthy

THE MEMORY KEEPER’S DAUGHTER, novel by Kim Edwards

THE NEGOTIATOR, novel by Frederick Forsythe

THE DETACHMENT, novel by Barry Eisler

THE SIXTH MAN, novel by David Baldacci

BALLISTIC, novel by Mark Greaney

THE GEMINI MAN, novel by Richard Steinberg

OFFICIAL DUTY, novel by Dorene Roberts

CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS, four linked novellas by Paige Winship Dooly, Kristy Tykes, Pamela Griffin & Debby Mayne

THE NEXT ALWAYS, novel by Nora Roberts

THE RESCUE, novel by Nicholas Sparks

REMEMBER WHEN, novel by Anne Laurence

ANSWERED PRAYERS, novel by Danielle Steele (godawful but….when you’re stuck in lines at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, you read whatever’s about…)


WINES
2007 Serra Barbaresco Paiti
2004 Trevor Jones shiraz Barossa
2003 Ch. Rauzan Despagne
2006 Astrale e Terra "Atlas Peak" syrah NV
2008 WH Smith pinot noir Sonoma Coast

GALATEA RESURRECTS IN 2013

I've set the new deadline for the first 2013 issue of Galatea Resurrects: April 10, 2013!

I'm working now on the next issue but can continue to take reviews through the end of this week as it takes me a while to do formatting and stuff ...

I keep wondering what to do next with GR.  It seems like I've made my point as regards this project--which is a larger point than just being a medium for poetry reviews.  But there seems such a need for a venue for, simply, more poetry reviews--especially a venue which doesn't believe in gate-keeping so much as matchmaking (matching a reader with a poetry book, that is).  It's all good, but I just don't like repeating myself for long.  If any of you have an idea for further enlivening GR, email at GalateaTen@aol.com

A GREAT HEAD START!

For years now, I've been participating in giving Xmas toys to kids in one of San Francisco's Headstart communities.  This is the first time I'm mentioning it because I am so so pleased(!!!!) with the kid assigned to me.  The kids usually suggest what kind of toys they'd like (often, parents insert themselves by suggesting clothes they can't afford).  Moi kid this year is a three-year-old girl and guess what's on her list!  Not Barbies. Not various pink objects.  Not mini cells or karaoke objects.  Not play kitchens et al.  She had a one-word list:

                 "BOOKS"

I. LOVE. IT!  Girl after moi own heart!  What a great start to an enlivened life for this child!  Reading, reading, reading makes such a difference!

By the way, it's the first--FIRST!--time in years that books have been requested.  What does that suggest...?! 

Anyway, here's Galatea's elf below preparing a big box for this girl ahead of the game.  It's a big box, yes, because ... while I love the idea, I don't necessarily believe a three-year-old ordered books.  And that's okay: at that age, it's the parents' responsibility(!) to ensure books abound in the child's environment.  So, it's a big box because in addition to the books I tossed in a plush teddy bear for the three year old.  One who loves books should be ... rewarded, in more ways than one!

That's what I call, the Holiday Spirit!



THE ANGUISH OF OBJECTIFICATION

Mom was a pack rat--she didn't throw away much of anything.  That this characteristic no doubt relates to her history as a WWII survivor, immigrant, frugal daughter of a frugal single-Mom, etc. is a story for another day.  What I'm focused on now is the power (and lack thereof) of objects.

After being widowed in 2006 and, thus, moving into my house, Mom's possessions furnished two other houses of relatives.  And she still moved into her own bedroom at Galatea surrounded by boxes.  At one point, I chided her, "Mom, you're living like a homeless person in your room.  Can you unpack some of those boxes and give things away?"

Over time, I managed to loosen bags and bags of clothes, shoes and bags for charity.  But she still left a lot behind.  She just couldn't let go.  The hubby's theory is that she built a nest around her as a widow, a nest formed from objects from her prior life--"prior" meaning before she left her own home behind to enter mine. 

I'm not unsympathetic.  But I can't tell you how many times I, or the hubby, has dismantled one of her boxes, thinking, "The contents must be special given how conscientiously this is wrapped or packed...." only to discover things like used hangers, old plastic planters, a bunch of old-fashioned shoulder pads (in case they returned to fashion...?), plastic bags, broken bits of ceramic tchotchkes, paper bags, old small bottles of lotions and shampoos from past hotel stays, and some unmentionables which I don't want to reveal but would astound you as they astounded me at their presence.

Since I've began clearing Mom's things, I've given away about 20 bags of books to the library, a dozen large suitcases worth of clothes, shoes and bags to those who might need them in the local community as well as the Philippines, as well as cleared out at least five huge trash bags of trash and at least the same amount for recycling!  Yet, when one enters her bedroom, it doesn't look like I've cleared out much--there's still a lot to sift through!  I'm fearful it'll take at least a year to finish going through her things.  I'm not sure how my psyche will weather this ... journey.

It's painful going through her things.  Not because the clearing reminds me of her death (which is what I thought the process would be like).  It's painful because I see reminders of neediness and of searches-for-compensation (e.g., "retail therapy")--all of which evoke a life of desire and short-lived succor to such desires.  The volume of the objects today, among other things, even evoke (even if not the case during their years of accumulation but as a total today evoke) a life of unfilled aspirations.  It's like there was such a big hole in her life that she had to cram as many acquisitions as she can manage into it, and yet never got filled.

It's one reason why I am so happy she managed to see her book, DAWAC, before (just about a month! before) she died.  I can point to so many of her accomplishments and yet I know that she always felt a bit insecure because she felt unfulfilled.  She was bedridden in the Philippines for about five months prior to passing away.  At one point, she was asked by one of my cousins what, if anything, she wishes she could have accomplished.  Mom replied, "I wish I had been a lawyer."

Imagine that.  Nearly 83 years old with accomplishments as a young literary critic and an English teacher (I once was stopped by one of her English students on the steps of Low Memorial Library at Columbia University when I was a sophomore or junior; her former elementary school student remembered my Mom because she was such an effective teacher! I was so proud of her!).  Plus she helped so many people--during her funeral services, so many people she'd sent to various theological seminaries, colleges and other schools, as well as two of the people she had housed for free while they were college students in Baguio, spoke on her behalf.  The latter two are now a principal of a school and a current candidate for Mayor in her hometown.  Not to mention her service at various churches.  And of course she was the mother of four children. 

But she ignored what she'd accomplished during the majority of her life to focus on a childhood dream that her own mother prevented.  My grandmother, you see, did not think the legal profession to be a "ladylike" profession, and thus did not support her studying law.  I also vaguely recall how, shortly after we immigrated to the U.S. (she must have been in her mid to late 30s), she attempted to study law while struggling to help support four children as a low-paid immigrant worker (much of her professional pedigree in the Philippines was not useful in the U.S.) and mothering us.  Needless to say, she couldn't continue her law studies, though I suspect it's just as well as I do wonder whether that "law school" that accepted her was a bona fide accredited organization.

Later on during her bedridden state, someone else asked her about how she felt about her life.  And Mom replied, "I've done everything I want to do."  I was so happy to hear that....but I'll never know whether she really believed what she was saying.  I do know that she was just ecstatic over her book and hearing how some people (thank you Joi for thinking it a text and thank you Barbara for suggesting a reading and thank you John for your critical praise which she so relished) have responded so far to it.  I'll never forget how she kept slowly thumbing through the pages of the book, and how she kept re-reading her bio as if that would prove that her life has been meaningful.

That's been one of the blessings of poetry for me--I know that when I reach my death bed I'll never have the thought, "What if I had done ..." because I managed to be what I feel I should be: a poet.  And I know the difference of a life lived doing and not doing what one wants--what one is meant--to do.  I began attempting poetry at age 35: I know my life "before" and "after" age 35.  "After" is definitely better, because I know it's what I should have been doing with my life.

Mom was nearly 83 when she died.  Did she spend most of that life wanting something which she eventually started to hide from herself by distracting herself with other things (that would manifest partly in so many object-acquisitions)?  It's impossible to know, but impossible not to wonder as one looks at all of her ... "stuff"!

Yes, I'm sure many of these objects really offered their own (emotional) values to her.  But now?  Many of these objects are trashed, recycled or given away--they have no value to me, which is to say, the objects are inherently value-less and are just receptacles for desires we (Mom) choose to throw upon them.  Some of these clothes still carry price tags.  Many of the items were not used.  I don't think she was a typical hoarder as we envision those we see on TV shows surrounded by stacks of objects.  But she did have a lot of stuff that I feel were meant to compensate for never having achieved her dream of practicing law.  (Parents--guide your kids but never decide for them how they should live!).

Every day, I do a little bit of clearing.  Every day, I feel like I'm just starting.  Every day, I am confronted by the uselessness or inconsequentiality of something she treasured.  It can be debilitating.  I only know the process won't defeat me because I have put on my "distancing" eye--to see this experience as raw material for ... Poetry.

*****

Fortunately, there are the exceptions.  In some dim corner of a drawer, in some box deep within the closet, there occasionally resides a real treasure.  Here's one, a music-box ornament for a Christmas tree with the Nutcracker theme:

You open the ornament and you see:

Turn the knob, and music plays and the people start to dance...