Keepaway

Mike Burakoff who created the video version of our collage book Free Fall (featured on Nick Manning's The Continental Review)
plays in a band called Keepaway with a new release out now titled "Family of the Son" Keepaway

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When Keepaway was IN

Jezebelmusic.com

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Contradicta

The best winners learn much when they lose, the great discoverers are challenged when lost, to know having is to feel deeply when bereft.


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If memory is the cake, nostalgia is the icing, the icing that no one can resist licking off their fingers.

O Beautiful Obscurity...

Obscure Poet of Obscure Writing Discussed on Anything But Obscure Website

Nada Gordon on the Huffington Post!

Ululations

Pageant by Joanna Fuhrman

On a stormy night in Williamsburg, poet friends and admirers of Joanna Fuhrman's poetry gathered in a lovely loft to read from and celebrate Joanna's terrific new book Pageant, with cover art by famed Ida Applebroog. Readers included poetry celebrities Adeena Karasick, Safie Karasick, Adeena's 7 year old daughter, to the great delight of the audience, Sharon Mesmer, David Shapiro, and, of course, Joanna. After the reading, the packed gathering shared a birthday cake in honor of poet/performer Sharon Mesmer.

We are proud that Joanna Fuhrman's witty, wise, politically savvy, captivating poetry was featured in our recent issue of Ocho, 21. If you haven't yet checked out this collection, I strongly urge you to do so now. The issue included Joanna, plus Gregory Vincent St. Thomasino, Christina Strong, Bill Marsh,Douglas Messerli, MIchael Lally, Jessica Grim, Drew Gardner, Anthony Hawley, Elizabeth Fodaski, Laura Elrick, Joe Elliot, Abigail Child and Laynie Browne.

Sharon Mesmer's work was included in OCHO 14 along with Mark Young, Nico Vassilakis, Gary Sullivan, Jerome Sala, Corinne Robins, Tim Peterson, Kimberly Lyons, Brenda Iijima, Mitch Highfill, Nada Gordon, Elane Equi, Ray DiPalma, Alan Davies and Charles Bernstein. Cover art for both issues by Toni Simon

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I was sorry not to make it to the closing reading for Emilie Clark's awesome show at the Morgan Lehman Gallery that included Lytle Shaw, Brandon Downing, Rob Fitterman, Kim Rosenfield, Monica de la Torre and others. This successful and popular show was extended at least an extra week at the gallery.

Artbeat review

Artnetwork review

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On Friday, December 4, Toni and I attended the opening party for the Generations 7 Show at the A. I. R. Gallery. This extensive show, a silent auction of small works included work by Toni Simon, Susan Bee, Yoko Ono, Francie Shaw and many others, continues through January.

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Contradicta




Books are our companions not only because they gave us knowledge and experience but also because they remain tiny monuments of the moments of its transfer.



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Poems and poets may remain unknown, and the action of their poetic work may cause poets to remain at least partially unrecognizable to themselves.

New Review of Ray DiPalma's The Ancient Use of Stone by Terence Winch

Best American Poetry


As you know doubt know, if you have been reading this blog over the years, I am excessively fond of temporal convergences, coincidences, and the like. The early years of fait accompli consisted of a conscious effort to create synchronicities by blogging from my journals and selecting moments that felt similar to those in the here and now.

There is something special about the Thanksgiving holiday for me. For many years, Toni and I have been visiting her sister and brother-in-law and spending a few days. Bob and Beryl tend to indulge my need to be near books, so I am usually transported to one or more bookstores in the course of the several days visit. A few years ago during the Thanksgiving visit we travelled up to Gloucester, checked out some terrific bookstores and I found a book by Gerrit Lansing I enjoyed very much. After I blogged about it to my surprise Lansing called me. Gerrit is reading on Sunday at the BPC hosted by Mitch Highfill and I am certainly looking forward to that reading.

Yesterday Toni's sister took us to the Brandeis Rose Museum, which has an excellent collection, notably a great Rauchenberg, a fine DeKooning, terrific paintings by Matta, Reginald Marsh, Stettheimer, Max Ernst and many others. Unfortunately the whole collection may have to be sold off due to some bad investments on the part of University with Madoff.

Then Beryl took us to Back Pages Books owned by Alex Green. When I entered the store I noticed Pariah by Dave Zeltserman was on display in the front of the store. I just finished reading the book and found it to be a page turner, a strange but interestingly twisted story about a gangster , having already read and enjoyed his earlier book, Small Crimes. Turns out Zeltserman lives in the area and has read at Back Pages Books. Alex told me Dave likes to hear from readers, so maybe I can track him down and get in touch.

The Final Beginning (Poets and Artists 12/09)

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National Book Award for Keith Waldrop

It isn't often that a major literary award goes to a poet whose work I've always enjoyed and admired.

Keith Waldrop on the EPC

"Sing fast. Voices fail."

[from Semiramis If I Remember (self-portrait as mask)]

"An uncertain line we walk, the line- ill-marked and slippery-between inhibition and exhibition."

[from The Silhouette of the Bridge (Memory Stand-Ins)]

"(you are more im-
portant to me
than words or
melody)

we will not remember
the word
return"

[from The Locality Principle]

Poets and Artists (O & S) December 2009

I am pleased and proud to announce that some of my work has been included in the latest issue of Poets and Artists December 2009 edited and produced by Didi Menendez


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Contradicta



Information plus passion=knowledge; information minus passion= document


* * *



Success consists of 1% holding forth and 99% holding back.



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Contradicta



Feelings are the language of experience; words tell us what the world wants-and needs- from us and are maps to what we want and need from the world.



* * *



Silence in response to biting words helps make thought into a kind of music.



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OCHO 27

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l'amour fou

Tom Beckett's latest blog

Which I found by reading all the latest posts on dbqp, Geof Huth's blog, including his detailed review/memoir concerning a recent reading at Bard by Rachel Blau Duplessis

Proving once again, that information is best discovered by means of avid reading, in which case it is usually no longer simply information, but knowledge (information plus passion=knowledge; information minus passion=hot air)

* * * * * *



Otoliths Issue 15

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Troubles Swapped for Something Fresh- sample pages (PDF)

buy it from
Salt Publishing It's a great book and Salt could use the help- Let's keep this valued press alive!

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New Paintings by Susan Bee (posted on Charles Bernstein's Web Log- via Ron Silliman's Blog)

by Susan Bee 2009
* * * * * *

Paul Auster's terrific new novel Invisible is a must-read

"The reason to read this book is that it's a startling tale of how a life can be wasted through being ruled by the past".


Read more: Auster's Invisible

* * * * * *

Drew Gardner from Second Avenue Volume 2

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Steve Buscemi was the lead in Fiona Templeton's First Play- see photo in this fascinating post about Templeton's work


The Kenning Anthology of Poet's Theater

David Bromige Memorial At Poet's House, Friday October 16, 2009

Ron Silliman has posted a terrific essay on David Bromige, in celebration of what would have been David's 76th birthday, here:Silliman's Blog.

I understand there is more to come about David from both Ron and Bob Perelman in the Grand Piano series. This is something I am eagerly looking forward to.

Here is a version of the talk I gave about David B at Poet's House:

David Bromige is difficult to describe because he was a fascinating person of contrasts and complex contradictions. Solitary thinker and and social charmer, mild man and wild man, diabetic and dionysian, respected professor and perennial rebel, poet of love and longing and poet of language, poetics and thought, urban wit and country squire, California and Canadian American and European, his many facets shifted in the changing moment of perception. I think part of the reason for this was his wariness of "tight corners" and his determination to see and experience what lies around them.

David and I had one of those mutually supportive poet relationships so hard to stay with later in life. As an editor of Avec, in the late 80's and into the 90's, he featured and supported my work at a significant moment in my own career. Some months after he retired from teaching in 1993 he wrote me an enthusiastic letter about a chapbook of mine published around that time [by Peter Ganick in his Abacus series]. David wrote that he had become dispirited after retiring, to his suprise, but that when he had come across my chapbook that he had tossed into a box (probably packing up at Sonoma State) he had to write to me about it. This is a letter I treasured, read and reread.

A favorite moment in my relationship with David took place once when we were discussing irony. I was saying that at one point in my life I did things deliberately differently each and every day, but that with a busier schedule of commitments I could no longer do this. For some reason I had switched into doing the opposite, doing things almost identically each and every day. David said, "But that is a kind of irony too. An irony of action." David''s conversation was replete with such insights and compressed wisdom. You will find it in abundance in his writing.

Preparing for this celebration I came across a poem in his book The Harbormaster of Hong Kong called Lines. The poem consists of a series of short poems in a call and answer mode, like this: "a poem should not mean but be [underlined]whereas the opposite is true [below the line], club universe [underlined] before the universe club you [below the line] kiss me quick[underlined] too late[below the line] unconscious [underlinesd] we have only the present moment to be unconscious in [below the line] life is brief [underlined] it says here [below the line]" Only after rereading this work the other day did I realize what an influence this poem had on my series of aphorisms titled Contradicta that I have been writing for several years now.

[after this I read two poems of David's: "Soul Mates" and "The End of The Stranger" from Desire]

Toni Simon work and interview in November issue of Poets and Artists

Poets and Artists Nov 2009



Contradicta




What happens, I think, is that you start thinking more about credit than substance and then you are not a writer anymore, you're a promoter.



* * * * *




Try to remember your dreams.

EOAGH 5

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M.C Blakeman (San Francisco Chronicle) opines on the public (library) option (via The Casual Tee)

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Wood s Lot: Raymond Federman (1928-2009)

* * * * *

Friday, October 9

John Lennon's birthday

via wood s lot

* * * * *

This is What A (Pro) Feminist [Man Poet] Looks Like

Delirious Lapel

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The Only Known Video of Anne Frank

Daniel Menaker, the now retired longtime Executive Editor-in-Chief at Random House opines on the roulette-like nature of publishing: Redactor Agonistes

I'm in the middle of reading Menaker's damn good novel The Treatment (1998), so I was googling Menaker. Some of the best writing in recent years comes from publishers. I've been waiting for four years to see a new novel from Joseph Kanon, having recommended his Alibi to anyone who will listen. Those who took me up on it liked it. Menaker's The Treament has those Yates-like qualities I've been searching for lately. I sure hope Menaker is working on another one. Menaker's novel contains the most gutsy, straightforward, unsentimental, useful presentation of contemporary psychoanalysis I have ever read by a non-analyst. And that's by far not the only fine thing about it.

* * * * *

Another notable read: Will Clark's 2006 book The Worthy. A murdered frat pledge's ghost contemplates revenge on his murderer. Will Clarke's hilarious Lord Vishnu's Love Handles was published in 2005.

Paul Carson's 2005 book Betrayal is a fairly exciting, politically savvy revenge saga concerning the life of a prison doctor in Ireland.

* * * * *

Stop Smiling: online record reviews.

* * * * *

Recently received: De Witt Henry's memoir Safe Suicide published by the Los Angeles Red Hen press in 2008.

* * * * *

John Latta on Ray DiPalma's The Ancient Use of Stone
Isola di Rifuiti

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Nico Vassilakis Notes on Staring

Word for /Word # 15

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Mira Schor (editor of " The Extreme of the Middle: The Journals of Jack Tworkov) interview and performance on

Art on Air

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Contradicta


Caring and loving are the food, achievement and success are the condiments; hard to believe for many, whose lives are therefore tragic.


* * *



In the USA, where aging is feared and hated, skepticism about the traditional goals of old age flourishes: wisdom, prudence, compassion, etc

Rough, Raw, Rowdy, Ribald, Raucous, Raunchy, Randy, Risky, Rebellious, Resplendent, Reckless, Rich, Robust, Rousing, Rude, Rare, Ravishing, Readable, Real

Lynn Behrendt's Luminous Flux
Lines Chapbooks 2009
23 Linden Avenue
Red Hook, NY 12571

"Am I coarse linen?
A harangued form?
Am I a harpoon or sharp dog?
Do I plunder?
Do I cook words like animal entrails
then serve them
kneeling on a cushion in church?
Are you spear-shaped & plunged?
Does a long chain mail coat clang around your ankles?
Where is your stem? Can we go now?
Can you breathe? Why is everything
Covered in petty Socratic white questions?...
Could anyone wade through my thought-infested marsh?
Can you?
Am I supposed to screw whatever it is you worship & fear?
Am I an instrument for counting or something?
Don't I bleed?...
Do you think I'm a liar?
Are you squinting in the dark?
Sweating hail the size of golf balls?
Is this my hip-thrust hierogram, hinged on everything
That's happened?
Do you not love my corruption and scheming?"

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Shampoo #36

Contradicta


Until information and experience are minted into insight and direction they are like food and drink without taste
and texture.



* *



Purpose, not pleasure, provides the greatest ongoing satisfactions of existence.




* * * * *

Review of the Jack Tworkov show and his recently published book of journals, edited by Mira Schor

The New Criterion

UBS Gallery review in The New York Times

Jack Tworkov

Examiner.com review

* * * * *

The Current Assignment-in the new issue of Poets and Artists (Oranges and Sardines)

The Current Assignment

* * * * *

Never Neutral-Ernesto Priego-Bloggng and Narcissism- Five Years Later

Many thanks to Ernesto Priego

Blogging and Narcissism- January 2004

* * * * *

Twitter Art

whatar


* * * * *



Contradicta

Those perfectionists who pride themselves on their tastes refuse to admit when they are satisfied and then wonder why they are often unhappy


* * * * *


We fill ourselves with the brilliant accomplishments of others forgetting that it is others that are filling us,not only the accomplishments


*************

Lately, I've been developing the Contradicta on Twitter

Profile


************

Poets and Artists- The Self-Portrait Issue

Poets and Artists: The Self-Portrait Issue

***********

La Comunidad Inconfesable Septiembre 2009

The Ancient Use of Stone by Ray DiPalma, Seismicity Editions, 2009. (Distributed by SPD)

While contemporary poets and critics opine and debate about whether or not originality is still possible, contemporary poet Ray DiPalma has been quietly at work on a project for 10 years that demonstrates that not only is creativity and originality by poets alive and well, but Otis Books/Seismicity Editions has presented The Ancient Use of Stone, DiPalma’s superb new book, subtitled Journals and Daybooks 1998-2008, in a form that defies comparison with any other book of new writing for sheer visual and typographical beauty. The book includes six separate journals, all considerably varied in their approaches, and arranged in chronological order: The Ancient Use of Stone (1998), Jihadgraphy (2002), An August Daybook (2005), Mules at the Wake (2006), Ascoso (2006) and Salt in the Rock (2008), 213 pages in all, published in an ample 8" by 10" softcover format. Two of the sections contain considerable visual work. In addition to writings both Jihadgraphy and An August Daybook include DiPalma's graphically complex and frequently witty collages throughout. Jihadgraphy, a 43 page long journal, was written in a succession of 3 juxtaposed vertical entries per page. It has a series of collages running down the right hand side of all the pages in 2" by 8" columns. These have a cinematic and iconographic quality, while the text reflects on DiPalma’s life and literary concerns, including poems and comments on the piece itself as it emerges. DiPalma writes in the opening lines of Ascoso [Hermetic Anonymity], the sixth piece in the book: “There is nothing here to be measured—/simply take your share. Pensa, lettor”. As DiPalma explained to me recently, this means, “reader, give this some thought”; and this is then balanced in turn by the words a few lines later: “Prenda, lettor”—“reader, take this occasion in hand.” Both invitations are essentially derived from DiPalma’s reading of Dante. Collected here are opportunities I am sure many present readers as well as readers to come will avail themselves of with great pleasure as they delve into DiPalma’s generous and masterful The Ancient Use of Stone.

twitter

profile

The Enthusiast, a novel by Charlie Haas

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The Summer 2009 Oranges and Sardine Is up!

* * * * *

Bits

Sven Birkerts
via wood s lot

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Writing as Thinking

Silliman's Blog

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Otoliths 14

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La Comunidad Inconfesable Agosto 2009

* * * * *

Contradicta


The dissemination of creativity and productivity gradually grinds to a stop in the universal contagion of hurt feelings.



* * *


Perfection is an aroma best applied in tiny doses. Employ more and your day will reek of it like perfume in small room.

Contradicta



The stairways go higher between some of the floors, that's all. And every now and then, you've got to take a break from all that climbing.



* * * * *



What do I feel, what could it mean, what do I think, what do I do



* * * *

Contradicta are being developed/posted on twitter now

* * * *

"Why is writing important? Mainly, out of egotism, I suppose. Because I want to be that persona, a writer, and because there is something I must say. Yet why not that, too? With a little ego building- such as the fait accompli this journal provides- I shall win through to the confidence that I (I) have something to say, that should be said."

Susan Sontag,12/31/57, from Reborn, Journals & Notebooks, 1947-1963

* * * * *

William Shatner reads Sara Palin's farewell speech as a Beat nature poem

Via Al Filreis on Twitter

* * * * *
Richard Baker

Toni and I visited Richard, Liz and their two daughters yesterday in Wellfleet. I've never met anyone more excited about hunting for great used books than Richard. And not only is he looking for great books, but he's looking for subjects for his portraits as well.

Check out some of Richard's book portraits here::poets and writers http://www.pw.org/content/richard_baker039s_book_portraits


* * * * *

This just gets it

Leonard Cohen on poetry and life

Jobless Checks Delayed for Millions of Americans

Feeding America


* * * * *

Destined for You Tube Fame: The Catcerto played by Nora the Cat

Nora


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Tom Beckett: Sitting Shirtless Under a Ceiling Fan

Slim Windows

Ryan MacDonald video on

The Continental Review

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William Kentridge

Automatic Writing

* * * * *

Somerset Maugham on Life and Art

* * * * *

Contradicta on Twitter

Contradicta

Contradicta

* * * * *

Laughter

FreeSound

* * * * *

Didi Menendez

For Love of an Armadillo
illustrations by Jeremy Baum

Ideas that Work

"In the presence of some people we inevitably depart from ourselves: we are inaccurate, we say things we do not feel, and talk nonsense. When we get home we are conscious that we have made fools of ourselves. Never go near these people".
Mark Rutherford More Pages from a Journal, 1910