Notes On The New Issue of Diagram

Diagram 10.2 is up!


I just had a reason to learn that this thing is called a Teddy.

I think "Entropy" by Jim Benz shows one thing I like about repeating lines. The poem becomes more and more enjoyable, though you might assume more boring, as it continues because the lines, if written right, play off one another and often build something really strong. Basically, what this poem lacks in variety, it makes up for in placement and solidity.

The story behind this poem and the "project" seemed more interesting than this poem itself.

"Olivewood Cemetery" by Ching-In Chen really struck me as a cool and emotional poem, both in form and function. The part about the Developer and the footnotes distracted me from the seriousness of the poem, wrapping up.

Why would you need a new version of Poetry? What would it look like? Is a new version always or always never being produced? These are interesting questions Katherine Coles tackled in her poem "Poetry 2.0."

I am noticing a "science-y/math-y" feel to this issue. Did I miss something?

Love this story by Matthew Kirkpatrick. Don't get the title.

To my memory, this is the least enjoyable thing I've ever read from Diagram.

"Alley Queen" by Alissa Nutting is my favorite piece thus far from the issue. Two things I really appreciate in short fiction: cool openings and purposeful plot points. This story: check and check. Another thing: what a clever pimp with the calendar thing for "I wasn't born yesterday."

Part 3 of this is killer cool. The primal feeling of the language and the metaphor are a nice mix.

I like the way "Eggs" by Valerie Suffron revolves around one thing (eggs) of various kinds. That last line brings it all together really well.

I'm kind of surprised Diagram published this poem. It is not a bad poem at all, but 1) there is an "egg" poem in this issue already and 2) this is pretty straightforward for Diagram, it seems.

I thought this Temptations diagram was going to be more like these Temptations.

Another good issue.